Engine Hour Meter

nigel52 · 20 April 2013, 20:05

I have a (new to me) Piranha 6m RIB with a 90HP ETEC both about 12 months old.

The RIB is fitted with fuel gauge, Rev Counter, Trim indicator, (GPS/VHF etc)

What I really would like to see is an hour meter so I can keep track of hours run and therefore fuel used per hour.

Can anyone advise a suitable hour meter that would be suitable please.

(I was told that when one switched on the ignition initially the Evinrude Rev Counter indicated the hours run but I cannot see how this can be)

bliksem · 20 April 2013, 21:14

Please read the instructions of your engine and i am pretty sure you will beable to figure out there is a exact indication of how may hours the engine was on fire!!! much better and more accurate than on suz!!

nigel52 · 20 April 2013, 21:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by bliksem

Please read the instructions of your engine and i am pretty sure you will beable to figure out there is a exact indication of how may hours the engine was on fire!!! much better and more accurate than on suz!!

Sorry I do not understand your reply. I have read and reread the engine instruction manual and it does not mention how to see the number of engine hours. I know that an Evinrude engineer can plug a computer into the engine for engine hours etc but I want something I can do or read.

bliksem · 20 April 2013, 21:55

ok i think n hope you have a counter on your dashboard originally from Evinrude??
I sthere a small digital space beneath the analogue counter and two push buttons left and right on the counter??

If you have then you can see the number of hours; if not then ofcoz you will have to consult an engineer

jyasaki · 21 April 2013, 07:26

Some motors used the tach needle to show hours used when first switched on (the needle moved to indicate hundreds of hours on the rpm scale.

Later ones send it digitally to the meter group; you'll need to consult the manual for specifics on how to display it. On my Yam, for instance, there is a mode button that switches the display between voltage, hours, and something else I can't recall offhand (might be time, which I don't think I ever set up.)

jky

Pikey Dave · 21 April 2013, 11:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by nigel52

I have a (new to me) Piranha 6m RIB with a 90HP ETEC both about 12 months old.

The RIB is fitted with fuel gauge, Rev Counter, Trim indicator, (GPS/VHF etc)

What I really would like to see is an hour meter so I can keep track of hours run and therefore fuel used per hour.

Can anyone advise a suitable hour meter that would be suitable please.

(I was told that when one switched on the ignition initially the Evinrude Rev Counter indicated the hours run but I cannot see how this can be)

Which gauges are fitted to the boat, I-command or classic?

nigel52 · 21 April 2013, 17:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Which gauges are fitted to the boat, I-command or classic?

I am not sure whether they are classic or I-Command. I can take a photo but how can one tell?

Tim M · 21 April 2013, 18:11

Classic = old school analogue (some of which have the LCD screen which can tell you hours, some not)

I-command = digital gauges that tell you everything

Search on ebay for "engine hour meter" and you'll find lots of options. This will be pretty simple to install and wire up to your engine wiring. You might want to get an hour readout on a laptop first then plug your hour meter into a 12v supply (eg battery charger) for however many hours the engine has covered (this may take a very long time for an older engine!) so you've got an accurate indication on board. I did this one, took about a week to get the gauge to the correct readout!

jyasaki · 21 April 2013, 19:56

OP said the motor is a year old; I'd expect the data is already there (though admittedly that is a guess); just need to figure out how to display it. (i.e. no need for a discrete hour meter.)

jky

Locozodiac · 22 April 2013, 22:00

Or install inside engine a small induction Tiny Tach or Hardline Hour/Tach meter, simple to install and very reliable. Go for the ones that have programable multi spark firings.

Happy Boating

nigel52 · 23 April 2013, 07:58

Just ordered one off eBay. Did the same for our sail boat about 3 years ago and needed to get the meter to the current engine hours which was 1300 hours so left it connected to a battery but unfortunately overshot the number of hours anyway solution is another story.

I only really want the hour metre to work out fuel running costs.

My other issue is the fuel gauge is constantly showing full which is hopeless. Need to work out if it is the sender or the gauge.

Anyone any suggestions how I can test each part?

Pikey Dave · 23 April 2013, 13:26

Back to my original question re: I-command, your engine is nmea2000 compatible & will show all the info that you want, including fuel consumption, fuel remaining, engine hours etc. you can display this either via I-command gauges or by connecting to a N2k plotter. Much more elegant than adding gauges for this that & the other.

nigel52 · 23 April 2013, 15:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Back to my original question re: I-command, your engine is nmea2000 compatible & will show all the info that you want, including fuel consumption, fuel remaining, engine hours etc. you can display this either via I-command gauges or by connecting to a N2k plotter. Much more elegant than adding gauges for this that & the other.

Thanks - looks like I will look at that route and connect up to my Lowrance GPS plotter.