simonfraser
Well-Known Member
with the engine not running ?
its a diesel KAD 44, i have shore power charging the batteries
its a diesel KAD 44, i have shore power charging the batteries
any harm in leaving the ignition on for days ?
- Thread starter simonfraser
- Start date
alant
Well-Known Member
If the solenoid is taking power & not doing anything with it, it could overheat & catch fire.
I've had it happen when after starting, the key didn't return to original position & dense smoke/knackered solenoid (red hot & melting) resulted. Not good with a boat full of punters.
dpb
Well-Known Member
That wouldn't happen with the ignition just left in the on position though would it?
simonfraser
Well-Known Member
hm, ok fire risk unlikely but fair point.
as far as the engine itself is concerned, does the ECU run with the ignition on ?
as far as the engine itself is concerned, does the ECU run with the ignition on ?
NorthUp
Well-Known Member
The field coil in the alternator will be energised, but no flow of cooling air. Dunno if it will do damage though! Probably not.
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alant
Well-Known Member
Well it did.
Key didn't spring back & starter was still being powered after engine start.
It wasn't a key & button.
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adey
Well-Known Member
Will the engine hours be going up?
Bigplumbs
Well-Known Member
I am confused by the original post. Is leaving the ignition something you did by accident or have you got a reason for doing it.
You mention shore power charging the batteries. You don't need the ignition on to do this on most boats.
Dennis
You mention shore power charging the batteries. You don't need the ignition on to do this on most boats.
Dennis
simonfraser
Well-Known Member
reason is forwarding the hours on the tacho.
these are lagging behind the hours stored in the diesel engine.
i can power up the hours display from a separate 12V 24/7 feed and let it run, this should work. spannerman has kindly confirmed the wire color codes.
i will experiment over the weekend, initially just leaving the ignition on for an hour to check it does advance the hours recorded.
i then have the choice of setting up a separate feed or just leaving the ignition on for about 15 days.
second option is simpler & allows me to still use the boat without extra wires / hassle of removing and installing the tacho again.
so assuming i don't have relay / wire faults, is there any harm in leaving the ignition on for the required time ?
these are lagging behind the hours stored in the diesel engine.
i can power up the hours display from a separate 12V 24/7 feed and let it run, this should work. spannerman has kindly confirmed the wire color codes.
i will experiment over the weekend, initially just leaving the ignition on for an hour to check it does advance the hours recorded.
i then have the choice of setting up a separate feed or just leaving the ignition on for about 15 days.
second option is simpler & allows me to still use the boat without extra wires / hassle of removing and installing the tacho again.
so assuming i don't have relay / wire faults, is there any harm in leaving the ignition on for the required time ?
Bigplumbs
Well-Known Member
I am wondering why this matters. Is it wise to be doing all this just so that the hours on one thing match the other
BruceK
Well-Known Member
just throwing a question out there. Does it have to be 12V? Could you not just temporarily hook up a 9V PP3 battery instead and save yourself the doubt?
simonfraser
Well-Known Member
yeh just thinking that too.
got a small 12v battery, and a spare 3 way toggle switch.
with that i can switch it to record the hours its connected to the engine or to the battery.
will probably only use it for one session, but its the safer way to go.
Scubadoo
Well-Known Member
And what about security, not worried that someone may just take the boat with the keys left in it and maybe a problem then with insurance. Just a thought.
I wouldn't leave the ignition on in the way you have describe, I would either as you say install a separate feed or take it out and do it at home.
MapisM
Well-Known Member
So what? Whatever the difference, it's sufficient to note what it is and be done with it.
I can see why you might find it annoying, but I'd rather not fiddle with the boat instruments to solve a problem that doesn't exist...
Just imho, obviously.
prv
Well-Known Member
Which is not what the OP is asking about. He’s not talking about running the starter for days (!), only powering up the ignition circuit.
(Though his subsequent idea of just powering the instrument he’s interested in seems like a better one.)
Pete
Sneds
Well-Known Member
Interesting scenario but as asked previously, why bother?
Just make a note of dates and hours when you made the change, most led displays I've seen don't work anyhow after a few years
Just make a note of dates and hours when you made the change, most led displays I've seen don't work anyhow after a few years
alant
Well-Known Member
And I clarified it in #2.
