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Author Topic:   Hour Meter Wiring

fishin8tor posted 02-21-2006 11:07 PM ET (US)
I have a 2005 Merc 90 hp 4 stroke on my Montauk 170 and am trying to wire up the hour meter. I got under the console and saw way too many wires coming from the ignition. So, which one do I hook up to the hour meter? Any help would help? Thanks
LHG posted 02-21-2006 11:11 PM ET (US)
There will be a purple (ignition) wire terminal on the back of the tach, and a black (ground) wire terminal on the back of the tach. Just run wires from each of these, to the hour meter, purple +, black -. It's that simple. The hour meter will "tick" whenever the ignition key is "ON".
fishin8tor posted 02-22-2006 12:05 PM ET (US)
Thanks for the quick reply. This website is a big reason why I bought my Whaler.
swist posted 02-26-2006 08:37 PM ET (US)
Of course if you want to be picky, just because the ignition circuit is on doesn't mean the engine is running. But it's difficult (or impossible) to rig an hourmeter such that it will only record time the motor is actually turning.
fishinchips posted 03-04-2006 10:44 PM ET (US)
On mine, I put the hour meter in a black plastic box and put it next to the battery.
So when I open the door to the center console, I can see it. This way, I don't have to drill a hole in the dash for it.
Ken
fishin8tor posted 03-04-2006 11:59 PM ET (US)
I did kind of the same thing and put the hour meter in an electrical box and placed it under the console, so it wouldn't take any more console space. Thanks for the advice.
SpeedBump posted 03-05-2006 09:30 AM ET (US)
I recall someone referencing a small unit that would mount under the engine cover and pick up impulses from the engine when it was running. May want to do a search for this.
seahorse posted 03-05-2006 01:00 PM ET (US)
The selfcontained hourmeter that senses spark plug voltage pulses is sold by Evinrude-Johnson dealers in their Genuine Parts and Accessories Catalog. It also has a maintenance reminder in it as it flashes at 100 hr intervals to remind you that service is due on most motors.
I believe it is around $49.95.
davej14 posted 03-06-2006 09:58 AM ET (US)
How about this one from Sendec, power is built via self contained battery and hours are counted when the electrical field of a spark plug is sensed by a wrap of the pick up wire. It can be mounted up to 8 feet from the motor. Price is about $37.00.
http://www.sendec.com/Maintenance+and+Meter+Products/806-10x+ Tachometer-Hour+Meter/default.aspx
I hope the the URL works, it is my first attempt.
Fish Stick posted 03-06-2006 07:18 PM ET (US)
It is not the least expensive method, but a Smart Craft gauge is a digital tach replacement and has the hour meter built in. It will also show all the other information available from the engine.
-Joe
LHG posted 03-06-2006 07:55 PM ET (US)
The Yamaha furnished powerhead on his 90 4-stroke is not Smartcraft enabled. But it's replacement, the new Baby Verado based engine, will be.
SpeedBump posted 03-08-2006 01:35 PM ET (US)
I'll be adding a Sendec unit to my Nissan OB this spring. I only have my FF or GPS to calculate running time on the boat and they include drifting time when the engine is not running. A dedicated unit like the 806-101-1031 for $36.00 will be perfect for determining how much run time I actually put on my OB. I am going to mount it inside the engine cover with double sided tape for easy installation, don't need it on the console I can check the accumulation of hours when I fill the oil tank or during routine maintenance through out the boating season.
Thanks for the link.
davej14 posted 03-08-2006 02:53 PM ET (US)
SpeedBump,
You might want to check with Sendec about mounting inside the engine cover to see if it will be cool enough. I think there is a temperature limit, something like "if you can hold your hand in the location then it is ok". Not sure inside the cover would qualify. I plan to run the pickup wire to an area behind the bilge cover where it can be easily seen and is out of the elements.
swist posted 03-10-2006 07:23 AM ET (US)
On the other hand, boat ignition switches are not like cars, where the ignition has to be on (whether or not the engine is started) for a lot of electrical things to work. Unless you are really [obsessive] about accurate engine hours, the difference between measuring "ignition on" time and actual motor running time is probably insignificant for normally-operated boats.

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Author	Topic: Hour Meter Wiring
fishin8tor	posted 02-21-2006 11:07 PM ET (US) I have a 2005 Merc 90 hp 4 stroke on my Montauk 170 and am trying to wire up the hour meter. I got under the console and saw way too many wires coming from the ignition. So, which one do I hook up to the hour meter? Any help would help? Thanks
LHG	posted 02-21-2006 11:11 PM ET (US) There will be a purple (ignition) wire terminal on the back of the tach, and a black (ground) wire terminal on the back of the tach. Just run wires from each of these, to the hour meter, purple +, black -. It's that simple. The hour meter will "tick" whenever the ignition key is "ON".
fishin8tor	posted 02-22-2006 12:05 PM ET (US) Thanks for the quick reply. This website is a big reason why I bought my Whaler.
swist	posted 02-26-2006 08:37 PM ET (US) Of course if you want to be picky, just because the ignition circuit is on doesn't mean the engine is running. But it's difficult (or impossible) to rig an hourmeter such that it will only record time the motor is actually turning.
fishinchips	posted 03-04-2006 10:44 PM ET (US) On mine, I put the hour meter in a black plastic box and put it next to the battery. So when I open the door to the center console, I can see it. This way, I don't have to drill a hole in the dash for it. Ken
fishin8tor	posted 03-04-2006 11:59 PM ET (US) I did kind of the same thing and put the hour meter in an electrical box and placed it under the console, so it wouldn't take any more console space. Thanks for the advice.
SpeedBump	posted 03-05-2006 09:30 AM ET (US) I recall someone referencing a small unit that would mount under the engine cover and pick up impulses from the engine when it was running. May want to do a search for this.
seahorse	posted 03-05-2006 01:00 PM ET (US) The selfcontained hourmeter that senses spark plug voltage pulses is sold by Evinrude-Johnson dealers in their Genuine Parts and Accessories Catalog. It also has a maintenance reminder in it as it flashes at 100 hr intervals to remind you that service is due on most motors. I believe it is around $49.95.
davej14	posted 03-06-2006 09:58 AM ET (US) How about this one from Sendec, power is built via self contained battery and hours are counted when the electrical field of a spark plug is sensed by a wrap of the pick up wire. It can be mounted up to 8 feet from the motor. Price is about $37.00. http://www.sendec.com/Maintenance+and+Meter+Products/806-10x+ Tachometer-Hour+Meter/default.aspx I hope the the URL works, it is my first attempt.
Fish Stick	posted 03-06-2006 07:18 PM ET (US) It is not the least expensive method, but a Smart Craft gauge is a digital tach replacement and has the hour meter built in. It will also show all the other information available from the engine. -Joe
LHG	posted 03-06-2006 07:55 PM ET (US) The Yamaha furnished powerhead on his 90 4-stroke is not Smartcraft enabled. But it's replacement, the new Baby Verado based engine, will be.
SpeedBump	posted 03-08-2006 01:35 PM ET (US) I'll be adding a Sendec unit to my Nissan OB this spring. I only have my FF or GPS to calculate running time on the boat and they include drifting time when the engine is not running. A dedicated unit like the 806-101-1031 for $36.00 will be perfect for determining how much run time I actually put on my OB. I am going to mount it inside the engine cover with double sided tape for easy installation, don't need it on the console I can check the accumulation of hours when I fill the oil tank or during routine maintenance through out the boating season. Thanks for the link.
davej14	posted 03-08-2006 02:53 PM ET (US) SpeedBump, You might want to check with Sendec about mounting inside the engine cover to see if it will be cool enough. I think there is a temperature limit, something like "if you can hold your hand in the location then it is ok". Not sure inside the cover would qualify. I plan to run the pickup wire to an area behind the bilge cover where it can be easily seen and is out of the elements.
swist	posted 03-10-2006 07:23 AM ET (US) On the other hand, boat ignition switches are not like cars, where the ignition has to be on (whether or not the engine is started) for a lot of electrical things to work. Unless you are really [obsessive] about accurate engine hours, the difference between measuring "ignition on" time and actual motor running time is probably insignificant for normally-operated boats.