Installing Hour Meter in Yanmar type B panel?

[Anthony Bavuso]

Greetings,Has anyone with a yanmar type B control panel installed an engine hour meter? Where did you get your ground?The hour meter instrument has two inputs, +12VDC and ground. I can easily attach the +12VDC to the ignition switch terminal. But my problem is I don't know where I should get the ground from.I could for example cut the ground conductor going to the tachometer and splice a 3 way butt crimp back on and then attach the 3rd conductor to the engine hour meter. Or I suppose I could run a whole new ground conductor all the way back to the electrical distribution box. Any suggestions? Thanks.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Not quite understanding this.

I have not seen a Yanmar wiring diagram that did not have a ground in the panel. Do you not have a diagram of the 'B' panel? Some months ago I placed an old wiring diagram in the "Photo Forum". You will have to use a "search" argument, probably "early wiring" will locate it. But using X1 on your ohm meter from any panel black wire to ground(engine) should clarify this.

 

[Anthony Bavuso]

Clarification...

Ed,You are correct there are several ground conductors that go to the panel instruments and lights. The problem is that they all terminate in a connector that goes straight into the instrument. So I don't have a easy way (like a terminal strip) of attaching another ground conductor to go to the hour instrument. So my question has to do with how to make a good connection to a ground conductor in the panel and which ground conductor did they choose.Does that help clarify?

 

[red coles]

connections

Hi Anthony: My suggestion is to use a crimp butt connector. Choose a nearby lamp grd, remove from light,cut and crimp grd feed to one end of butt(may have to use large connector and double wire),connect new wires to lamp and meter to other end of butt. Make sure you use tinned wire, and a little silicon wouldn't hurt. Good luck red