new tach/hourmeter ; howto set the hours

[gatorgitter]

Hey, Guys...

My tach/hourmeter went bad ( the tach part) on my I/O. I sent it in for repair, and it was lost in the mail, so I had to buy a new one. Faria is the manufacturer. This new one has 0.0 hrs ; my old one was showing 40.x hrs when I pulled it, and the boat prob has ~55 hrs on it now....

How can I set to hourmeter on the new one. I got 3 poles on the back : IGN , SIG , GRD . I hooked up 12v to IGN(+) and GRD(-) , and I got the hourmeter to power on and show me 0.0. hrs, but after a couple hrs connected, it was still @ 0.0 hrs. The only thing left I can think of would be to put 12v to SIG and GRD , or maybe 12v to IGN And SIG and GRD. But, I don't want to damage it, so I'd thought I'd solicit y'all opinion/advise.

Any ideas ? I've emailed the vendor, w/no response.

'03 Regal 2100
Volvo 5.0GXi / SX
Faria tach w/hourmeter

thanks,
gator

 

[Silvertip]

Re: new tach/hourmeter ; howto set the hours

DO NOT put 12V on the signal terminal or you will be looking for another new unit. The unit needs to be fully connected, meaning installed with the tach signal wire connected. That signal tells the hour meter that the engine is actually runniing and triggers the timer. Without the tach signal, the hour meter is simply sitting there. There is no way (at least that I'm aware of) for advancing the hour meter. Just use a sharpie or felt pen to log the accumulated hours on the back of the unit. Add that number to the displayed number for total.

 

[gatorgitter]

Re: new tach/hourmeter ; howto set the hours

Hey, Silvertip...
thanks for the reply... I read in a thread on another site that I would need a 'signal generator' set run up the hrs. I dont Know, but can guess that this would simulate the tach singal, and therefore allow the hourmeter to think the engines running. Unfortunately, the post did not say what type of signal or give any paramaters. Anybody have any ideas ? Still no response from the vendor. I called my local speedometer shop, but once they heard 'boat' , they didn't want anything to do w/it.

I realize this isn't a BIG deal , but I'd like to have it close, just so I don't have to remember to add 50 hrs, each time I look at it.

jeff

 

[Silvertip]

Re: new tach/hourmeter ; howto set the hours

tachs generally run from a 6 pulse signal from a 12 pole stator so it is a modified sine wave. Frequency is not real important but one can figure that the 6 pulses are generated with each flywheel rev so any signal between 3600 cycles per minute or 60 cycles/sec (600 RPM) and 36,000 cycles per minute or 600 cycles/sec (6000 RPM) should work. Don't know about the signal amplitude but I would think 3V would be sufficient. Your standard wall outlet provides 60 Hz but at 117V AC so the voltage is way high for the tach.
Radio Shack or any electronic surplus store can provide a small transformer that would knock that down to whatever you want so look for a transformer with 117V input and 3V - 5 volt secondary output. Leave it connected for 40 hours and you should show 40 hours on the clock. If you hatch your tach, I don't know you.