best circuit to use for a hour meter

jlboers · Feb 9, 2006

I have a hobbs hour meter I wish to install to keep track of engine (on) hours. My initial thought was to wire it into the oil pressure circuit however I do not have access to a wiring diagram for my 06 V6. For this circuit to work, the oil pressure switch should be normally open and closed when oil pressure is present. This would give an accurate hour measurement without false times if I were to just wire it into an ignition switch ON circuit.

My other thought was to tap power off the fuel pump circuit

Can someone with access to wiring schematics tell me how the oil pressure switch is configured? or suggest a decent circuit to tap into?

Much appreciated.

JL

Kmvreter · Feb 9, 2006

Search for the writeup I did on my meter install. I just used an IGN ON circuit but good thinking about using the oil pressure switch circuit. The only reference I could find to it is in the Combination Meter section (pg. 341 of the '03 manual.) Not sure how easy it is to tap the wire but you should add an extra relay for protection. Forum user GoodTimes has a link to download the manual (search for it.)

jlboers · Feb 15, 2006

grrr. aside from it being difficult to get to the switch with the engine running to check it with a fluke meter, it seems that using the toyota oil pressure switch will not work in this application. I'm going to look into using a tee fitting and a separate switch that provides a ground when oil pressure is present.

I may have to just keep it wired to the circuit i have it on (ignition is on).

<<<< · Feb 16, 2006

Tap into dash lights. Why make it so extreamely accurate anyway? 1 hour off after a year shouldnt be that big deal.

jlboers · Feb 16, 2006

<<<< said:
Tap into dash lights. Why make it so extreamely accurate anyway? 1 hour off after a year shouldnt be that big deal.

Well... there is the way to make it just work and then there is *my way* aka the hard headed way.

I'm just going to keep it on the "ignition on" circuit i have. I'll be dressing the wiring up instead.

Thanks for the input!

Kmvreter · Feb 16, 2006

jlboers,
Do you have a part # for the meter and where did you locate it? Any pics? The only meter I could find was analog so it's noisy. Ended up putting it in the engine bay. I'd rather have a quiet one that I can mount near the dash.

jlboers · Feb 17, 2006

Kmvreter said:
jlboers,
Do you have a part # for the meter and where did you locate it? Any pics? The only meter I could find was analog so it's noisy. Ended up putting it in the engine bay. I'd rather have a quiet one that I can mount near the dash.

I have the analog one as well. I too located it in the engine compartment, left fender, just aft of the fusebox. I made a bracket for it from 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" aluminium angle. Mine is the rectangular shaped one made by Hobbs. Sounds like we have the same ones.

If you still want the part number, i'll have to pull the meter. Let me know.

EDIT: I just found your post on the hour meter. Our meters look alike except mine just says Hobbs. Mine is pretty much in the same area as yours but I placed it on the left fender.

Kmvreter · Feb 17, 2006

jlboers said:
If you still want the part number, i'll have to pull the meter. Let me know.

Thanks for the info. I was hoping for a digital meter so no need for the part number.

pwinski · Mar 4, 2006

I just saw this thread. Pardon me if my reply is a repeat. If you REALLY want accuracy of engine on time, you could purchase an automatic headlights on device from J.C. Whitney that uses a wire wrapped around the coil wire to sense when the engine is running. It turns on your headlights based on sensing the high voltage travelling through the coil wire. You could use the headlight or (parking light) output wire from this device to provide 12v positive to your hour meter. -Paul-

Kmvreter · Mar 4, 2006

pwinski said:
If you REALLY want accuracy of engine on time, you could purchase an automatic headlights on device from J.C. Whitney that uses a wire wrapped around the coil wire to sense when the engine is running. It turns on your headlights based on sensing the high voltage travelling through the coil wire. You could use the headlight or (parking light) output wire from this device to provide 12v positive to your hour meter. -Paul-

Good idea but the problem is our engines are distributorless so there is no coil wire. How could you make it work otherwise? Now I have to start thinking some more...

pwinski · Mar 5, 2006

O.K., you got me on that one !

jlboers · Mar 5, 2006

we could use a hobbs vacuum switch to make it all happen. there is bound to be a vacuum port empty of a vacuum line we could tee in to. the switches are about 20 dollars. i am thinking about getting one. i just want to look closely at the V6 engine as I want a clean installation.

Heya.. kmvreter..... do me a favor if you would.... how many miles have you driven vs. hours logged on the engine? I am curious what your average miles per hour is. right now I am ~40 miles per hour.

Kmvreter · Mar 5, 2006

Looked closer at the wiring diagrams. No need to get that fancy. You can try the oil pressure switch as mentioned before (may still be an option but could be difficult) or another option is the power steering pressure switch. It is right near the front and easy to get at (on the V6.) I will look at this in the spring. Too busy and it's cold out now.

I currently have 59321 Km (36861 Mi) with 1248.2 hrs for an average of 47.53 Kmh (29.53 Mph.)

jlboers · Mar 5, 2006

never thought of (or knew of) the power steering pressure switch. I will look at it myself too. thanks for the heads up and the mph info.

JL

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