Volvo hours counter

[geronimo]

The counter of hours on my Volvo Penta does not work (faded). If I buy a simple time totalizer what is the best way of installing it? Thank you

 

[MoodySabre]

I have a separate hours run meter that is wired into the back of the ignition switch (my VP Panel does not have the integral meter). When the ignition is on it runs. Simple.

 

[gjgm]

The counter of hours on my Volvo Penta does not work (faded). If I buy a simple time totalizer what is the best way of installing it? Thank you

Cant say it is a permanent fix, but if you can drive the damp out of the rev counter, the reading will come back. It does "read" , its just not displaying. You mind find it works in summer better for example.
You can of course buy a new rev counter, and someone had found a similar sized lcd component that with a not immodest amount of effort can be made to fit.

 

[Stork_III]

Here's how to do it, courtesy of nigelmercier. http://www.dolcetto.org.uk/downloads/Replace Volvo Penta Hours LCD.pdf

 

[geronimo]

Thank you very much

 

[Blue5]

Here's how to do it, courtesy of nigelmercier. http://www.dolcetto.org.uk/downloads/Replace Volvo Penta Hours LCD.pdf

Thanks very much for posting the link, a lot of owners with Volvo hourmeters suffer from this problem and on both of the two boats I have owned the LCD readout has failed.

I did contact Volvo as considering the rate of failure I questioned whether they were fit for purpose, the considered reply was that I wasnt a problem and either buy another one or put it in the airing cupboard to dry out...........at that point I gave up, good job Volvo dont build aircraft.........

Although looking at the link it looks a fairly straight forward repair I would be concered that given the fragility and failure rate of these LCDs it would fail fairly quickly again.

I have gone the route advised above by Moodysabre and although the simple hourmeter is connected to the ignition and not the alternator it gives me a better idea of engine hours run than a guesstimation based on my memory......

 

[Alpha22]

This may be of interest. Not Volvo, but an interesting modification.

http://www.kahawi.co.uk/hourmeter.html

 

[Cantata]

As per MoodySabre, the easiest solution is a separate unit mounted down below in the dry and warm. Several units available from RS Components.

 

[geronimo]

It would be good to install a new and simple unit down below, but it is clumsy to lead the wires from the ignition in the cockip to the chart table inside. Can I connect the clock to something else?

 

[Heckler]

Here's how to do it, courtesy of nigelmercier. http://www.dolcetto.org.uk/downloads/Replace Volvo Penta Hours LCD.pdf

Thats the article that was in the BOA magazine I got in to a kerfuffle over recently! I bought one of the LCDs, when I phoned up the company the first lady told me they didt sell such small amounts! I tried again and got thru to the other lady, she couldnt have been more helpful, it arrived the next day. Its been sitting on my bench connected to 12v winding up to the hours that are on mine!
Stu

 

[Cantata]

It would be good to install a new and simple unit down below, but it is clumsy to lead the wires from the ignition in the cockip to the chart table inside. Can I connect the clock to something else?

My boat has a fuel gauge nearby the new hours meter and I wired it up to an appropriate lead on that, after testing each for +12v with 'ignition' on.

 

[Ric]

My Volvo Penta MD2020 engine hours counter has failed AGAIN, after having replaced it three years ago (I should have done some googling before I paid Volvo for a new one).

Having now done some googling, and seen that this is a very frequent problem on many Volvo Penta engines, I am disgusted that Volvo do not recognise that their engine instruments are not fit for purpose, and replace them free of charge.

The first time it failed in 2008, I now realise that it was probably due to dampness, as the display simply faded in and out, though was illegible most of the time. This did not stop Volvo telling me that it was "broken" and charging me €300 to replace the entire tachometer....

However, this time the hour counter display has just entirely blanked, having worked fine until yesterday. It has not rained here for a few months, so dampness is not the issue this time.

 

[Tex]

My boat has a fuel gauge nearby the new hours meter and I wired it up to an appropriate lead on that, after testing each for +12v with 'ignition' on.

After trying the hair dryer trick, which failed, I did the same and installed a new meter taking power from the fuel gauge.

 

[Ric]

Looks like I am going to have to also install a new hour meter, and may install something like this
http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/produ...2267573743D3138352D363034302677633D4E4F4E4526

I will wire it up to the ignition switch. Has anybody got one of these? Does the display stay on even with the engine switched off?