kicker running light.

[Georgesalmon]

I have a new 2012 4 stroke 9.9 merc pro-kicker I just installed this spring. Had it out a couple of times now and everything worked fine. I don't have a tach and really don't see a need nor do I have any room left to put one in the dash. Can I put a small light on the tach lead? I just want to know when the kicker is running. I can not hear it start or run from the console with the main engine running. Heck, I can't hear it idle even with the main engine shut off. I can turn around and stand up and see it shake a little but can't hear it. Will a LED or something work? Just want some way to see if the darn thing is running.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: kicker running light.

Since the engine is apparently electric start, it apparently also has a charging circuit. Connect any 12 volt light to the ignition switch "A" terminal. That terminal has 12 volts on it when the key is on.

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: kicker running light.

Thank you for the reply, and I though of that. What I want to know is when the engine is running, not just the key on. I have my hour meter hooked up that way which I think is good enough. I really want to know when the engine starts and stays running. I don't have to use the tach wire, just that its already in the harness and close to the dash so i thought it might be a good choice. I don't want to mess up my stator with to much load though.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: kicker running light.

The tach wire is a 'pulsed" signal -- not steady state DC. That said, an indicator from Radio Shack may work on that circuit. It won't be 12 volts however. Probably more in the 3 - 5 volt range. Since that signal is also a :"reference" signal rather than a "driving" signal the regulator circuitry may not like having a load placed on it. Tiny Tach makes a very small tach that has the sense wire simply wrapped around a spark plug wire. Some of them even have an hour meter built in which does run only when the engine is actually running. If the engine has an oil pressure switch you might look into using it as a trigger. However, depending on how sophisticated the engine management is on that engine, that circuit my be a 5 volt "reference" as well and hooking anything to it may upset the system. If it is a 12 volt system, the next thing to check would be if the switch closes with oil pressure or opens with oil pressure. If it closes with oil pressure then you simply need a 12 volt feed to an indicator with the ground for indicator going to the oil pressure switch. Engine starts, you have oil pressure, swtich closes and light comes on. Again, that won't work if the oil pressure "sender" is a resistive element which would feed an oil pressure gauge. Lastly, a low pressure switch in the tell tale line would work. It would need to hold the circuit closed down to 3-5 psi. Upper end is not an issue.

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: kicker running light.

Thanks for all the ideas. There is a red light on the front of the motor for oil pressure so probably not a resistive element. I'm going to look into a low pressure switch for the water tell tale. Sounds like that is the only thing so far that won't mess up the motor warranty. Do you happen to know if there is an inexpensive 2" tach around that would work? I can't get a standard size merc tach in the dash.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: kicker running light.

Thanks for all the ideas. There is a red light on the front of the motor for oil pressure so probably not a resistive element. I'm going to look into a low pressure switch for the water tell tale. Sounds like that is the only thing so far that won't mess up the motor warranty. Do you happen to know if there is an inexpensive 2" tach around that would work? I can't get a standard size merc tach in the dash.

Here ya go! Cheap too.


http://greatlakesskipper.com/produc...ria-maxum-outboard-boat-tachometer-gauge.html

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: kicker running light.

Thank you. I couldn't find one. Now I wonder if I have an 8 pole alternator. But even if not accurate it will still tell me if engines running.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: kicker running light.

You probably have a 12 pole alternator. I didn't read the specs on the one in the link so if it's an 8-pole my bad. It would provide an indication the motor is running but it obviously wouldn't be accurate.