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Placement and connection for hour meter on 30+

flycavalry

Junior Member
I want to add an hour meter on my 30+ to track maintenance. Where have others placed theirs? My engine instrument area does not have enough room to put it. Also how have others connected their hour meter? I was thinking about attaching the positive side to somewhere on the engine where it reads engine oil pressure but don't know where this is located yet. I have a Universal Marine 18 diesel. On my old Atomic 4 engine their was a pressure sender I attached it to and worked great. The reason I want to connect it to the oil pressure area versus the ignition switch area is that it will more accurately count the engine operating time.

Thanks all,

Brian

SV "Cordilia"
Ericson 30+
Moss Landing, CA
 

Loren Beach

O34 - Portland, OR
Senior Moderator
Blogs Author
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toddster

Curator of Broken Parts
Blogs Author
I thought about putting it at the chart table, but the wiring on this boat is already ludicrously complex. So I put it on the new inside engine control panel. Only two steps over from the chart table, and I (try to remember to) note the fuel level at the same time.

One thing that did not work for me was putting the hour meter outside in the (old) cockpit control panel. I am using a relatively expensive Ispro meter to match the other gauges. Allegedly weatherproof, but I went through two of them before deciding that they are simply not winter-proof.

I think it is safe and accurate enough to wire it to the engine switch. Due to oil pressure buzzers and the like, nobody is likely to leave the switch on while the engine is not running.
 

Glyn Judson

Moderator
Moderator
Hour meter placement.

Brian, I placed my meter in the port coaming just above the Yanmar instrument panel. It works well there, is waterproof and keeps on keeping on, see the attached image. Seen from top to bottom are the Autohelm head, hour meter, Yanmar panel and below that the fuel gauge. Cheers, Glyn Judson, E31 hull #55, Marina del Rey CA
 

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  • Hull #55, Cockpit insert #2.jpg
    Hull #55, Cockpit insert #2.jpg
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Captainken

Member I
engine hour meter

I bought a small one for my E32 and I was able to mount it near the top of my engine gauge panel. It sits under the lazerette edge and stays dry. It's been working since I installed it in 2003. Used about 1 foot of wire since I have it connected in parallel with the engine power switch which is right behind that location. I think I bought it at Radio Shack. Go figure.
 

toddster

Curator of Broken Parts
Blogs Author
Come to think of it, I've since bought several dirt-cheap Asian-import hour meters for different applications, and they haven't had any problems. I suspect it's the LCD display on the expensive one that can't stand freezing weather.
The ones I bought for the outboard motor and the scuba compressor simply have a sensor wire that wraps around a spark plug wire - they show you RPM when the motor is running and hours when it's off. Internal battery, so no other connections. Couldn't be simpler for small engines. Not much help for a diesel, though.
 

Captainken

Member I
engine hour meter

control panel.jpgThis seems to be one of those deals where simpler is better. Our sucessfull hour meters are mechanical.

I must mention an excellent side benifit of the installed hour meter! I use it a fuel gauge. My E32 came with a fuel gauge located under the quarter berth panel cover which is under the cushion which usually has plenty of other boating needs on top. Sooo….since my vessel burns just under 1/2 gal diesel per hour at full cruise, after 32 hours I know my tank is getting low. I also use it to time my oil changes. I consequently have a log(record keeping)of both events.

Photo attached needs to be rotated to the right(it won't upload correctly?!). Also note GPS shoved in there feeds chart plotter at helm.
 
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