Engine hour meter

[snoopy]

I recently installed a Quartz-Teleflex engine hour meter on my boat.
I hooked the positive lead into the gages power supply lead and the negative to ground.
This will cause the engine meter to record when ever the key is in the run position.
What is happening is when the quarty unit pulsates to record run time it is also causing
my gas gage to deflect towards empty.
Have I incorrectly hooked up the unit. Is it causing and damage to the gas gauge?
Is there a better way to install this meter?
Thanks for any advice.

[HOTSPOT]

Most engine wiring harnesses have a lead especially for the hour meter.

What engine do you have?

[snoopy]

I have a 03 Trophy with a 03 125 Merc

[HOTSPOT]

This is right off of Mercury's website. What color wire did you hook your gage to?

Mercury/Mariner Standard Outboard Wiring Color Code
Color Where Used / Function
Black All Ground
Brown Reference Electrode MerCathode System
Orange Anode Electrode MerCathode System
Lt. Blue/White Stripe Trim UP Switch

Lt. Green/White Stripe Trim DOWN Switch
Brown/White Stripe Trim Sender to Trim Gauge
Purple/White Stripe Trim "Trailer" Switch
Gray Tachometer Signal
Black/Yellow Stripe Shorting or Stop Circuit
Pink Fuel Sender to Gauge
Red Unprotected Wire from Battery
Red/Purple Stripe Protected (Fused) Wire from Battery
Red/Purple Stripe Protected (12 Volt +) to Trim Panel Control
Purple Ignition (Switch) to 12 Volt Positive
Tan Temperature Switch to Warning Horn
Tan Temperature Sender to Temperature Gauge
Tan/Blue Stripe Temperature Switch to Warning Horn
Yellow Starter Solenoid to Starter Motor
Yellow Starter to Regulator (Charging Circuit)
Yellow/Red Stripe Start Switch to Start Solenoid to Neutral Start Switch
Yellow/Black Stripe Choke (Enrichener System)
Green with Color Stripe Switch Box to Coil - Striped and Numbered
White/Black Stripe Bias Circuit (Switch Boxes)

The ABYC Recommended Colors
Color Where Used / Function
Yellow/Red Starting Circuits
Brown/Yellow or Yellow Bilge Blowers
Dark Grey Navigation Lights & Tach Signals
Orange Accessory Feeds
Brown Pumps
Purple Instrument Feeds
Dark Blue Cabin and instrument Lights
Light Blue Oil Pressure
Tan Water Temperature
Pink Fuel Gauge Sender

[lciummo]

Is the hour meter close to the gas gauge? It sounds like either the winding of the motor are deflecting the gas gauge magnetically or the current drop when the motor energizes in causing the gas gauge to jiggle. If it's not the magnetic influence, then using a current source that doesn't slit off another instrument should work.

I hooked mine up like you, but I think it used another instrument - maybe an accessory light or something.


Good luck,
lc

[welder]

hook it up to the key itself, basically your shorting out you instruments.

[White Bear]

Check for poor ground on the fuel gauge.