Adding LED on dash in conjunction with overheat alarm

[scottmm73]

Gentlemen,

I know I'm just brain farting here, but bear with me. I've decided to add an LED warning indicator light on the dash of my 1989 Maxum 1700 that will illuminate at the same time the overheat alarm would sound. I've got one bad ear and I just like the assurance of having a visual indication of an overheat.

I figured all I would need to do is run the light in series, however when I test the alarm, depending on where in the chain the light is wired, the light will not illuminate (if located after the horn) or it will illuminate and horn will not sound (if located before the horn).

What am I missing? I guess by asking the question, I've realized wiring it in parallel would work. Would it?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Adding LED on dash in conjunction with overheat alarm

Yes. Make sure you have the polarity of LED correct as well.

 

[Don S]

Re: Adding LED on dash in conjunction with overheat alarm

Run LED in parallel, not series with the alarm horn. If you do it in series, you will have to run all the amperage through the LED, and you don't want that.

 

[marlinpruett]

Re: Adding LED on dash in conjunction with overheat alarm

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Adding LED on dash in conjunction with overheat alarm

Here is another diagram that allows you to add a temp/oil alarm light/LED. This is for an outboard but the same principle applies to I/O's. The low oil indication would actually be "oil pressure" on an I/O.