Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Adding an hour meter to Honda EU2000i - another project file

Another project done, I have a list of projects I would like to do. I have time, and materials, so another project off the list, and a couple added, someday the list may be empty... Then I will have no motivation to get out of bed. :o(

I belong to a yahoo group called Honda EU2000 Generators

One of the discussions has been adding an hour meter, there are many different styles of hour meters, I had bought an electronic trigger LCD meter/tach off Amazon with it's own battery, but found a mechanical hour meter at Harbor Freight Tools. An hour meter gives you an accurate time span so the oil can be properly changed, not just guessed at. It can also help monitor your usage and calculate future fuel expenses.

From Honda EU2000i genset hour meter


Here is the working face of the Honda EU2000i genset, including the basically useless 8 AMP 12 volt connector/circuit breaker in the lower right corner. Really who needs an 8 AMP/12 volt charger (and you have to have a "special" connector, a trailer converter/charger will put out 30 to 100 amps of 12 volt power when plugged into the 120 volt outlet.

For those with a Honda Companion model and no 12v connector, try searching for "
REDINGTON 722-0001" , "Hobbs 20001-17" or even "AC hour meter" on eBay.. and just connect the available 120v to the AC powered (90-240VAC) Quartz Hour Meter.



From Honda EU2000i genset hour meter


dropping the face reveals the connections and components


From Honda EU2000i genset hour meter


12 volt connector comes out easily


From Honda EU2000i genset hour meter


leaving a square hole


From Honda EU2000i genset hour meter


The 12 volt connector unconnects easily, just press the little pink rectangle tab and the 2 wires just slip out. Make note of the positive (red/white) and negative (red/black) wires.


From Honda EU2000i genset hour meter


Japanese for press here to release?


From Honda EU2000i genset hour meter


depth of meter vs. 12 volt connector, notice the Jan 06 date code on the 12v connector?


From Honda EU2000i genset hour meter


Specs on the Harbor Freight meter #66754 http://www.harborfreight.com/hour-meter-66754.html


From Honda EU2000i genset hour meter


Bonus, NOT MADE in CHINA, hope India is better. We'll see how it holds up.


From Honda EU2000i genset hour meter


sizing ring and meter clamp included, ready to cut, I actually cut the three corners at an angle so the meter wouldn't turn.


From Honda EU2000i genset hour meter


Small cuts with multi-tool and it fits


From Honda EU2000i genset hour meter


clamped in and a bit of permanent marker coverup


From Honda EU2000i genset hour meter


Good physical connection, ready for solder


From Honda EU2000i genset hour meter


Soldered and placed with correct polarity, red/white is positive, red/black is Neg.
Be sure no metal is sticking out, there is a green ground fitting in the back wall of the component enclosure



From Honda EU2000i genset hour meter


With genset running, hundredths and tenths show, tenths are 6 minutes , and hundredths are 36 seconds.


From Honda EU2000i genset hour meter


aha, caught the little red blinky LED showing the genset is running, like I couldn't tell. (but I can tell the meter is running)


From Honda EU2000i genset hour meter


Finished project with tools

1 comment:

  1. Now that you've had this for some time, have you decided whether products from India or China are better?

    Thanks for the awesome write-up and pictures showing what you did to make this work!

    Andrew
    Mattress Insider

    ReplyDelete