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

Cleaning a Fiberglass roof in Hagerman, ID.

I've been cleaning up the New Horizons fifth wheel which has been sitting in my mothers driveway since April 2008, the last time Diesel shot up over $4... Since getting my lot in Seaview, WA. I have been planning to move the 5th wheel up. I am cleaning it up a bit, checking all the seams, getting the tubes of Dicor ready, or maybe just Eternabond the seams, that should keep any Washington weather out....

The roof (fiberglass) was sprayed with a mix of Dawn and Bleach, allowed to set for a minute or so and then pressure washed, as you can see the dirt and grime just fly off and the roof is restored to the white beauty.

I'll get it loaded up and out of here, I should be back up in Washington by July 15th, but I'm missing a bunch of my friends comedy up in Seattle, Check out Abbey Drake on Facebook.. or on YouTube (p.s. I knew her when...)

Workin' on the Lot

A while back I wrote about buying an RV lot in Seaview, Washington, the lot is about a mile from the beach. I've been working on the lot getting it ready for my New Horizons fifth wheel to be moved onto it. Below are the photos from the Safari Associations website, it already had a 1991 thirty one (31) foot Dutchman trailer on it, which is in poor shape, as a tree had fallen on it a couple of years ago, but someone rebuilt the front part of the trailer. I'm making it into a storage area and workshop.





Below is the same lot, I turned the Dutchman around and have been fighting the weeds, I am down to gravel in some places now. The small Nash trailer will be moved so I can fit the larger New Horizons fifth wheel in it's place. I'll get the fifth wheel set up sometime in mid-July. So Saturday or Sunday I'll be heading back down to Hagerman, ID. to get the fifth wheel ready.