Tachometer Installation

[primetime]

Hi everyone,

Thanks in advance for reading this post.

I picked up a 1980 Catalina 30 and I would like to install a tachometer. Currently I just have an AMP meter and a Water Temp meter but there is space for an additional cutout.

Engine is an 18 hp Universal Diesel.

Any advice or suggestions, specifically how to wire to the engine would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Alex K.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

The Easiest Way ..................

......................... to research this would be to do a search for "tachometers in the "Search" menu. You will be overloaded with technical details.

Here is a blurb I put in a few months ago .........................


http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=896626&highlight=johnstone

Easy as falling overboard to install . Good luck.

 

[Maine Sail]

Hi everyone,

Thanks in advance for reading this post.

I picked up a 1980 Catalina 30 and I would like to install a tachometer. Currently I just have an AMP meter and a Water Temp meter but there is space for an additional cutout.

Engine is an 18 hp Universal Diesel.

Any advice or suggestions, specifically how to wire to the engine would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Alex K.

Alex,

#1 Please read about the upgrade to the Universal wiring harnesses. The fact that anyone still has an "ammeter" in a Universal or Westerbeke engine panel scares me a little. You really should get that out of the circuit.

Universal Engines Wiring Harness Upgrade

#2 The Universal engines send a tach signal via the alternators AC tap or stator output. It is a simple connection.

The Telefelx Amega 68358P 0-4000 RPM diesel/alternator tach works great and can be purchased for about $60.00. You can then convert the rest of your gauges to the Amega series and make them match. You already need a volt meter to replace that ammeter and then all you'd need is a temp gauge and you'd have a full set. You can do all three gauges, tach, temp and volts for about $120.00 or less.. The calibration on these tachs is fairly straight forward and the stock alts are 12 pole..