Can anyone tell me if there is an easy and inexpensive way to equip a diesel engine with a meter that would record the hours of operations? Thanks, Dave...
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hour meter
Dave what you want is an engine hour meter - check with your auto parts dealer or west marine for a diesel engine hour meter.
Dave what you want is an engine hour meter - check with your auto parts dealer or west marine for a diesel engine hour meter.
It's easy
West Marine has a Teleflex hour meter for $46. It records the hours your switch is on. It is very easy to install; one wire to the ground and the other wire to the side of your switch that has 12v dc power when the engine is operating. Technically, it doesn't record hours of engine operation, but I suspect that your switch will always be on when your engine is running, and off when it isn't.
West Marine has a Teleflex hour meter for $46. It records the hours your switch is on. It is very easy to install; one wire to the ground and the other wire to the side of your switch that has 12v dc power when the engine is operating. Technically, it doesn't record hours of engine operation, but I suspect that your switch will always be on when your engine is running, and off when it isn't.
Its Easy
Mount the engine hour meter inside the cabin on the engine cover. Run one wire to ground and the other to your alternater. I don't have the wiring diagram at home, it is on the boat. The meter runs when the cockpit switch is on.
Mount the engine hour meter inside the cabin on the engine cover. Run one wire to ground and the other to your alternater. I don't have the wiring diagram at home, it is on the boat. The meter runs when the cockpit switch is on.
On the Control Panel
I mounted mine on the engine control panel. I removed the whistle/alarm and let it hang inside behind the panel (actually I secured it with electrical tape). The hole from the whistle/alarm is the exact size needed for the hour meter. The whistle/alarm is still plenty loud enough to hear it. Just hook one of the prongs on the back of the clock to the red lead of the ignition switch and the other to any of the existing grounds. I spliced into a negative lead of the running lights. Now I can get my clock readings from the console. But you should always maintain an engine log, with hours, for any engine operations of work done on the engine.
I mounted mine on the engine control panel. I removed the whistle/alarm and let it hang inside behind the panel (actually I secured it with electrical tape). The hole from the whistle/alarm is the exact size needed for the hour meter. The whistle/alarm is still plenty loud enough to hear it. Just hook one of the prongs on the back of the clock to the red lead of the ignition switch and the other to any of the existing grounds. I spliced into a negative lead of the running lights. Now I can get my clock readings from the console. But you should always maintain an engine log, with hours, for any engine operations of work done on the engine.
TinyTach
You might want to consider the TinyTach...its very easy to instal, keeps track of actual service hours that engine is running, but also gives you a very accurate tachometer. I have no connection to them other than being a customer.
You might want to consider the TinyTach...its very easy to instal, keeps track of actual service hours that engine is running, but also gives you a very accurate tachometer. I have no connection to them other than being a customer.
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