My oil pressure buzzer is too loud
- Thread starter caltom
- Start date
Relax and be grateful. If the engine starts you will know. If not you have a problem.
But I can't hear what the problem is. Starter dragging? Engine turning over but not starting?
My Oil Pressure Buzzer is to loud.
Try a rheostat in series to see the sound will fade or just disappear altogether. If that works, a resistor may be a little more durable if you intend to wire this in the cockpit.
Re: My Oil Pressure Buzzer is to loud.
Cal,
Just my personal thoughts but, a proper engine should turn over on the first 2-5 revolutions/cranks. If the buzzer is bothering you, I must assume that you are cranking for too long a time and/or more than just the first attempt. My engine starts within 2 to 3 cranks. I would look at getting your engine to start quicker. I would check fuel quality, tank sludge, filters, fuel pump battery power & maybe glo plugs.
How long & how many times does it take to start?
CR
Cal,
Just my personal thoughts but, a proper engine should turn over on the first 2-5 revolutions/cranks. If the buzzer is bothering you, I must assume that you are cranking for too long a time and/or more than just the first attempt. My engine starts within 2 to 3 cranks. I would look at getting your engine to start quicker. I would check fuel quality, tank sludge, filters, fuel pump battery power & maybe glo plugs.
How long & how many times does it take to start?
CR
Re: My Oil Pressure Buzzer is to loud.
my panel has a toggle switch to silence the alarm buzzer put one on yours and if you are cranking more than one or two rotations you may need to think about finding out why ...i think you have glow plugs on your engine ..use them and then bump the starter button and it should fire up if not you need to find out what is a miss theses little engines are the best things that ever came out manufacturing mine pops when i hit the starter and runs right now and it is 30+ years old good luck
my panel has a toggle switch to silence the alarm buzzer put one on yours and if you are cranking more than one or two rotations you may need to think about finding out why ...i think you have glow plugs on your engine ..use them and then bump the starter button and it should fire up if not you need to find out what is a miss theses little engines are the best things that ever came out manufacturing mine pops when i hit the starter and runs right now and it is 30+ years old good luck
Mine didn't have a buzzer at all. Didn't like that. especially since the little red LED that lights up is impossible to see during the day, even if you're looking right at it - a task that requires my bending down to look, since the panel is on the side of the cockpit.
Anyway, I put in an obnoxious little siren from Radio Shack, and connected it in parallel to the same circuit as the LED. Works fabulous. I wanted a hideous alarm, for I want to hear it and know what it is if it trips, no matter what other noise is occuring. It's actually inside the lazerette on the bulkhead, so it had to be extra loud.
To answer your question, I also installed a marine toggle switch in the same circuit and mounted it right next to the siren. With this setup, if I'm in a quiet anchorage leaving out early, I can start the motor, then flip the switch back on for safety. A switch might work for your issue too. They're dead easy to istall; you just need to get behind the panel.
Anyway, I put in an obnoxious little siren from Radio Shack, and connected it in parallel to the same circuit as the LED. Works fabulous. I wanted a hideous alarm, for I want to hear it and know what it is if it trips, no matter what other noise is occuring. It's actually inside the lazerette on the bulkhead, so it had to be extra loud.
To answer your question, I also installed a marine toggle switch in the same circuit and mounted it right next to the siren. With this setup, if I'm in a quiet anchorage leaving out early, I can start the motor, then flip the switch back on for safety. A switch might work for your issue too. They're dead easy to istall; you just need to get behind the panel.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 333
It's a good idea to have timed buzzer bypass switch if the sound is unbearable. It is crucial to have a loud alarm, you want to know trouble just as it starts. However, wiring a bypass will add circuit failure points.
A manual switch will work as mentioned above, however, you have to remember to turn it on.
Ideally the engine should come alive very quickly.
A manual switch will work as mentioned above, however, you have to remember to turn it on.
Ideally the engine should come alive very quickly.
I didn't mention it earlier but, I rewired my Admiral Panel differently.
It was wired to keep energizing the glo plugs while cranking. I thought it dumb to keep extra glo plug drain to the battery while trying to start. Now, when using the key to crank it, the glo plugs are not energized. It may have been a mistake in factory assembly but, I drew my changes on the wiring diagram that came with the panel.
This is helpful if your battery is partially drained. Could mean the difference in getting your engine to start. Unfortunately on my newer 3M20A, there is no longer a decompression lever. This lever allowed me to start the engine a few times with a drained battery. I was disappointed as I just assumed there was one before ordering it.
CR
It was wired to keep energizing the glo plugs while cranking. I thought it dumb to keep extra glo plug drain to the battery while trying to start. Now, when using the key to crank it, the glo plugs are not energized. It may have been a mistake in factory assembly but, I drew my changes on the wiring diagram that came with the panel.
This is helpful if your battery is partially drained. Could mean the difference in getting your engine to start. Unfortunately on my newer 3M20A, there is no longer a decompression lever. This lever allowed me to start the engine a few times with a drained battery. I was disappointed as I just assumed there was one before ordering it.
CR
Thanks for all the great input. I don't have any problem starting the engine. Sometimes I have to turn the key twice to get the starter to engage. It doesn't seem to happen if I wait a count of one after releasing the glow plug switch.
The boat is new to me and it's my first inboard boat. I would feel more comfortable if I could hear it crank.
I think a momentary N.C, switch would be the best solution. I agree it adds a failure point but chances are if the buzzer is working when I press the switch it will work when I release it.
The boat is new to me and it's my first inboard boat. I would feel more comfortable if I could hear it crank.
I think a momentary N.C, switch would be the best solution. I agree it adds a failure point but chances are if the buzzer is working when I press the switch it will work when I release it.
Cal,
An important part of starting is holding the key to energize/heat the glo plugs.
Here's what I do that has always worked.
Depending on ambient temps., if over 70°, I hold the key heating up the plug for 12 seconds, then I hit the start button. Colder than this, I hold the key 20 seconds to heat the glo plugs. This has always worked for me. Depending on temps. & ranges in your area, the time to heat differs. Warmer temps, 12 sec., colder temps, 20 sec.
Try this & see if it works for you pal.
CR
An important part of starting is holding the key to energize/heat the glo plugs.
Here's what I do that has always worked.
Depending on ambient temps., if over 70°, I hold the key heating up the plug for 12 seconds, then I hit the start button. Colder than this, I hold the key 20 seconds to heat the glo plugs. This has always worked for me. Depending on temps. & ranges in your area, the time to heat differs. Warmer temps, 12 sec., colder temps, 20 sec.
Try this & see if it works for you pal.
CR
Cat,
I would try this, what have you got to lose pal.
The secret is finding the optimal parameters for starting your engine. One thought I had was to first make sure your fuel line hose clamps are tightened properly. Your fuel lines from the tank thru the filters to the suction side of your fuel pump are under SUCTION.
If any clamps are loose. you WILL/CAN be sucking air into your lines., when sitting idle, you may NOT see a leak. This effect will make it harder to start. Remember, Do NOT over-tighten the clamps, if you can tighten them by 1/2 to one full turn, they are TOO loose. Take care that you don't over tighten them. You should feel when to stop, it's a question of feel.
Let us know if this makes a difference man.
CR
It is designed to be heard at a distance and over changing weather and background noises. Considering the short time it usually activates then it is a small price to pay. I do sympathize with your plight having motored for about an hour with a somewhat overheated engine listening to the darn thing. Had picked up a partial obstruction in the raw water intake reducing flow; the temperature gauge never got into the critical zone and remained at a steady but higher temperature. We were entering shallows and it was starting to get dark.