Could someone tell me which switch the instrument lights (tach,volts,temp,oil pressure)normally connect too. Mine have never worked and this past weekend I found out why when I had the panel off for the first time to replace the tach/hour meter. They weren't connected to anything and all but two of the bulb sockets were missing.I'm thinking that the running lights circuit would be a logical place, but what is the norm?
Mike
Mike - I think mine are wired to the ignition, so they're on when the key is on.
Craig
Concur with Craig.
A good reason to burn the engine instrument lights all the time is to keep the gauges from fogging up. But that is kind of like the chicken and the egg. Do the cooling lights/instruments cause moisture to be drawn in necessitating burn off the next time? Or does fogging up occur anyway? Since yours have been disconnected, after you get them working please give us some feedback.
Mike,
I hope that tach/hour meter work for you...... I don't know why it wouldn't, it worked fine when I changed out my panel. I still have the rest of my old panel. Do you need some light sockets. The price is right, you pay the postage and they are yours.
Steve
The engine wiring harness article has a good diagram for cockpit engine panel wiring to the instruments, and is here: http://www.c34.org/wiki/index.php?title=Engine_Harness_Upgrade
Mike, most all I've seen have been ON all the time once the ignition key is turned on. As Ken mentioned, one of the way-old tech notes mentioned the value of having them on all the time to prevent fogging. Since then, Teleflex has come out with new anti-fogging dials, but I've seen no need to replace them with these more expensive models. I did replace the voltmeter pretty soon after we got the boat in '98. For other instruments you may have, you may want to consider having them turn on only when the running lights come on. My compass light, for instance, only comes on when the running lights are switched on.
"Behind the panel" whether in the cockpit or the main panel, is something you should become somewhat familiar with - fun stuff back there! :D
Steve,
Yes, your tach/hourmeter worked just fine, however at first I didn't think it was. In trying to test it at home, I thought I could simply connect 12 volts to the hour meter part of the gauge and verify that it would count the hours and it didn't. Then I took it to a local automotive shop and it tested just fine. Apparently you must also have a signal from the Tach input (alternator)for the hour meter to work. I was able to confirm that the light also works on the Tach so all will be fine once I get the lights connected to a 12 volt source. It should be a simple mater to run a short jumper from the switch to the lights.
I may consider buying the rest of the instruments from you if their still available.
Mike
Mike,
I've read the suggestions about keeping the instrument lights on whenever the engine (ignition switch) is on. I resepectfully disagree. About 12 years ago I rewired my engine panel (at the same time I put in the wiring harness upgrade), and decided to tie the engine panel lights into the running lights breaker. I'm very happy that I did. I used to see fog inside the instruments often, which would "burn off" after running the engine for an hour or two. Since I made the change, the instruments hardly fog up at all.
Thanks for the input Tom.
Drats, another wiring change to deal with.
Tom - Ok, so wouldn't the ideal thing be a relay that the ingition energizes? So you're not burning amps lighting the gauges whilst sailing at night and not being real concerned about the water temperature of the engine? :think
Craig
p.s. yet another opinion from us wanna-be enigineers without the real talent to do it professionally....
Or maybe just wire in a toggle switch on the panel off the ignition switch to the lights.
Mike,
Yes, it is available. I am curious, were you able to figure out how to set the hour meter to match the hours of your failed tach instead of the hours that were on my engine?
Steve
Steve, no I wasn't. I'll just have to add the appropriate hours on paper. At least I'll be able to keep track of my fuel usage. Your dip switch settings were all the same as mine.
Mike
Guys, Susan & D.G. : A couple of years ago I wrote a Mainsheet article about changing out the auto type 194 instrument bulbs to Red LED lights. I point out that the 194 bulbs put out tooo much heat !! and will burn the bulb holder.
I have mine wired to the ignition switch and have no problem.
Great information in those Mainsheet tech notes, but only if they are read !! A thought
Ron,
That sounds like a good idea with the red LED lights. I'm sure there allot cooler but are they bright enough to see the gauges clearly?
Also, do you have a part number and a source where their you can buy them, or are they a common item?
Mike
Mike : What you ask, is all written up in that Mainsheet article !! :thumb:
Ron, I looked for it but I couldn't find it.
what was the date of the article?
Guys : I'll look up the article date when I'm back home on Monday, but it was published in the last 2 or 3 years.
I think it's in the November 2007 issue. It's entitled: "Engine Instrument Light LED Replacement Bulbs."
I don't have an original copy of that and haven't yet posted those that I do have to the TNOs. I again apologize. I am working on learning the html and posting stuff.
I have a copy of the original and can post it by scan on a pdf tomorrow or the next day.
I found this website on LED's and the prices seem good but there are a lot of 194 type LED's starting at 79 cents.
http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/commerce.cgi?product=CAR
Which one will work?
Mike : I'm back home now and the article was in the Nov 07 Mainsheet.
I went to the web site you mentioned and got a "4 LED Red" for each of the three small instruments (water temp/Vmeter/Fuel) and a "5 LED Wide angle Red" for the tach. They all have the 194 type base.
All work great and are still working now with no problems.
As I mentioned in the article I got new twist in "holders" for the new bulbs at an auto dealer.
I'll post that article in the projects, so others can find it.
Thanks, Ron