quick engine hours question

[atlowers]

should the engine hours tick up on the tacho even though the engine is not actually running if you stupidly leave the ignition on. Have clocked up 3.4 hours and the boats not in the water yet. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[andyball]

yes, that's normal on many petrol inboards I've seen. Diesel too if wired that way.

 

[peterb26]

I asked Volvo that question on my new D4-260 and they said definitely not.

Leave it turned on for 10 minutes and see if it moves the hour meter by .1 or so.

 

[Kawasaki]

My Volvo records the hours when ticking over in nuetral but definately not when just ig on.
Thinking about it, none of My 5 boats owned have either.
That's Outboard, inboard petrol and inboard diesel. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[atlowers]

Thanks chaps but bugger, thats 1 yes and 1 no. Anybody else tip the balance? I think it seems a bit daft if it should as surely reading should only indicate actual hours running albeit its not normal to leave ignition switched on without running but will try the 10 minute test today. Think I will also check with Yamaha. Its an indoard diesel by the way. Thanks again for the replies.
cheers#
Andy

 

[dpb]

Agree that the ignition on set up is not unusual on petrols. With newer boats the audible alarms make it unlikely that you will have the ignition on for long without the engine running.

 

[peterb26]

Just turn the ignition on for 10 mins or so Andy and see if the clock ticks up on the hour meter. That way you will know one way or the other.

 

[tangofour]

If you are asking because yours does clock without the engine running ( which I suspect you are ) then its possibly because the engine installer was too lazy to come up with a proper solution.

They may have wired the hour meter to the ignition circuit and you are counting 'key on' time.

What you need is to wire the hour meter using an oil pressure switch and relay. Normally when the oil pressure is low its internal contact is made shorting the sender wire to the engine block ( ground ) this is the wrong way round for your hour meter. You need a relay with its coil connected to ignition 12v on one leg and the other leg connected to the oil pressure sender line ( engine ON but not running = relay energised ) when the oil pressure comes up the relay drops out, you use the common and the contact that is closed when the relay is de-energised to drive the hour meter.

If this is how your engine IS already wired then the relay has failed or the oil pressure to relay wire is disconnected.

 

[gimmesunshine]

why leave ingintion on and not start the motor for 3 hours, surely this is doing the battery and ignition circuit no favours...

 

[oldgit]

Volvo diesels circa 1980s

Mine are wired to activate when key is "On".Being older type system you can actually hear the hours meter quietly ticking away.But as others have said the whine from the alarms is very annoying and prompts you to turn the key off.

 

[atlowers]

Re: Volvo diesels circa 1980s

Checked it out yesterday and the wiring is set up that way. My alarm only beeps for about 10 seconds then stops. I had been checking the newly fitted leg and engine out prior to lift in and had switched on to drop the leg back down. when I went to stern to check position which was fine, got chatting about the new set up and got offered a cup of tea. Result 3 hours clocked up. What a silly billy. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif