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Hobbs Meter

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vetdrem

Joined: 20 Nov 2007
Posts: 62

Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 4:12 pm Post subject: Hobbs Meter

Is there any way to "back up" a Hobbs meter.  Mine runs whenever the master switch is on, and I forgot to turn it off after checking a few things the other day.  It racked up about 20 hours that the engine wasn't really running.  



Since that is about 10% of the total time on the plane, I would rather not leave it that way.  



I don't think that there is a way to reverse it, but if there is, someone here will know how.

helili(at)chahtatushka.ne
Guest

Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 4:24 pm Post subject: Hobbs Meter

What most rental airplanes have is an oil pressure activated switch in

series with the Hobbs meter voltage supply.  If your oil pressure

sending unit has 12 VDC on it while the engine is running and drops to

nothing when the engine is stopped, power your Hobbs meter from it.  In

other words, the Hobbs meter don't run if the engine does not have

operating oil pressure, therefore if the engine is not running, no Hobbs

meter running.



John Hart

On Tue, 2010-02-23 at 16:12 -0800, vetdrem wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   

 

 Is there any way to "back up" a Hobbs meter.  Mine runs whenever the master switch is on, and I forgot to turn it off after checking a few things the other day.  It racked up about 20 hours that the engine wasn't really running.  

 

 Since that is about 10% of the total time on the plane, I would rather not leave it that way.  

 

 I don't think that there is a way to reverse it, but if there is, someone here will know how.

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=287901#287901

Float Flyr

Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 2704
Location: Campbellton, Newfoundland

Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 4:40 pm Post subject: Hobbs Meter

No way I know of to reverse the meter but before you start your engine again

log the master on.



Noel



--

_________________
Noel Loveys
Kitfox III-A
Aerocet 1100 Floats

matronics(at)bob.brennan.
Guest

Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 4:43 pm Post subject: Hobbs Meter

How about running your engine for the next 20 hours with the Hobbs

unplugged? It's your airplane, it's legal to do that. Use your watch

(digital with timers) to keep track of the hours instead, and after 20 hours

plug it back in. 



Sometimes the simple solutions are the easiest...



Bob Brennan - N717GB

ELSA Repairman, inspection rated

1991 UK Model 2 ELSA Kitfox taildragger

Rotax 582 with 3 blade GSC prop

Wrightsville Pa 



--

vetdrem

Joined: 20 Nov 2007
Posts: 62

Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 5:18 pm Post subject: Re: Hobbs Meter

Yea, that's what I thought that I would do. That would get it back in sync, and that is what I really want.



thanks.

Dick Maddux

Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Posts: 516
Location: Milton, Fl

Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2010 6:55 am Post subject: Hobbs Meter

I had that problem with my Hobbs also. Once in a while I would leave the master on to work on something and forget the Hobbs was running. I solved it by buying a tach that has a power wire that goes to the Hobbs. It applies power only when the engine is running . I believe it was a UMA tach. It sure works nice and problem solved.

                                                 Dick Maddux

                                                 Fox 4

                                                 912UL

                                                 Milton,Fl

  [quote][b]

Tom Jones

Joined: 12 Mar 2006
Posts: 752
Location: Ellensburg, WA

Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2010 7:16 am Post subject: Re: Hobbs Meter

On a two stroke engine you can install a micro switch that gets turned on by the oil pump lever.  Make a bracket and place the switch so it gets turned on when the throttle is advanced above idle.

_________________
Tom Jones
Classic IV
503 Rotax, 72 inch Two blade Warp
Ellensburg, WA

napierm(at)cisco.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 8:03 am Post subject: Hobbs Meter

Skystar sold a kit that mostly solved the problem.  It consisted of a

wiring diagram and a bridge rectifier.



The idea is to connect the two yellow "AC" wires from lighting coil to

the "~" inputs on the bridge and then the + and - connections from the

bridge to the Hobbs meter.  These yellow wires are already connected to

the battery regulator so you have to tee off of them.



Problem was it didn't work as is.  The voltage regulator works by

actually shorting the leads from the lighting coil as needed to regulate

the charging voltage to the battery.  That means under low electrical

loads the voltage on the AC pair is usually zero with the occasional 30V

spikes.  The Hobbs wouldn't run except under a few RPM ranges with stuff

turned on in the panel.



The answer is to add a capacitor across the Hobbs meter to store up

enough charge to run it.  I used a 50V 200uF cap and that was plenty.



Be sure your Hobbs will run on 5V to 40V.  Most of them will.



Also note: Don't ground the "-" connection of the Hobbs to the airframe

ground.  I know is seems wrong but that will interfere with the battery

regulator.  Just let the circuit float with respect to ground.  It works

great.



Also, whatever wires (either AC or + and -) you have coming through the

firewall, be sure to have in-line fuses on them in the engine

compartment *before* they go through the metal firewall.



Cheers,



Mark Napier

----------------------------------------------------------

Time: 06:55:22 AM PST US

From: Catz631(at)AOL.COM

Subject: Re: Hobbs Meter



I had that problem with my Hobbs also. Once in a while I would leave the



master on to work on something and forget the Hobbs was running. I

solved it 

by buying a tach that has a power wire that goes to the Hobbs. It

applies 

power only when the engine is running . I believe it was a UMA tach. It

sure 

works nice and problem solved.

                                                Dick Maddux

                                                Fox 4

                                                912UL

                                                Milton,Fl



________________________________  Message 2

_____________________________________

Time: 07:17:21 AM PST US

Subject: Re: Hobbs Meter

From: "Tom Jones" <nahsikhs(at)elltel.net>

On a two stroke engine you can install a micro switch that gets turned

on by the

oil pump lever.  Make a bracket and place the switch so it gets turned

on when

the throttle is advanced above idle.



--------

Tom Jones

Classic IV

503 Rotax, 72 inch Two blade Warp

Ellensburg, WA

Read this topic online here:



http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=287962#287962

larry huntley

Joined: 19 Jul 2008
Posts: 149

Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 8:17 am Post subject: Hobbs Meter

A friend just picked up a hour meter for his Taylorcraft because the tach 

was not a recording tach. Runs on a battery and is activated by vibration. 

Sounds good to me.   Larry

_________________
Larry Huntley,Dundee,NY
Kitfox 4-1200 N234EE
EA81,AMAX Redrive Warp 3 blade

akflyer

Joined: 07 May 2007
Posts: 574
Location: Soldotna AK

Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 9:31 am Post subject: Re: Hobbs Meter

you can buy an ac tach that hooks into the yellow power wires coming off the stator.  It will only run when the engine is running.



http://www.rotaxparts.net/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=447



I installed one in mine after I left my master on when I was rebuilding it and racked up about 100 hrs before the battery went dead while I was away at work.

_________________
DO NOT ARCHIVE
Leonard Perry aka SNAKE
Soldotna AK
Avid "C" / Mk IV
582 (147 hrs and counting on the rebuild)
IVO IFA
Full Lotus 1450
#1 snake oil salesman since 1-22-2009

I would rather die trying to live, than to live trying not to die....

Float Flyr

Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 2704
Location: Campbellton, Newfoundland

Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 11:20 am Post subject: Hobbs Meter

Get another rectifier regulator and wire it up in parallel with the original

rectifier but sent the output leads only to the hobbs and the loading

capacitor.  That will give you a consistent 13.8V only when the engine is

running. 



I'm sure you will be able to find an automotive rectifier regulator that

will be a lot cheaper than the Rotax unit. 



Noel



--

_________________
Noel Loveys
Kitfox III-A
Aerocet 1100 Floats

Pat Reilly

Joined: 06 Aug 2009
Posts: 345

Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2010 10:03 am Post subject: Hobbs Meter

Len, You said "ac tach", I think you meant hour meter. Is this one different from most? I have an hour meter in my plane hooked up to the ign switch. I see the one you showed requires 4-40 volts. I imagine most run on 12 volts and somehow this one can handle the high range in voltage and others need a constant 12 volts. Is this correct?

   

 Pat Reilly

 Mod 3 Rebuild

 Rockford, IL 

 On Thu, Feb 25, 2010 at 11:31 AM, akflyer <akflyer_2000(at)yahoo.com (akflyer_2000(at)yahoo.com)> wrote:

  	  Quote: 	
		  --> Kitfox-List message posted by: "akflyer" <akflyer_2000(at)yahoo.com (akflyer_2000(at)yahoo.com)>

 

you can buy an ac tach that hooks into the yellow power wires coming off the stator.  It will only run when the engine is running.



http://www.rotaxparts.net/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=447

 

I installed one in mine after I left my master on when I was rebuilding it and racked up about 100 hrs before the battery went dead while I was away at work.



--------

DO NOT ARCHIVE

Leonard Perry aka SNAKE

 Soldotna AK

Avid "C" / Mk IV

582 (100 hrs and counting on the rebuild)

IVO IFA

Full Lotus 1450

#1 snake oil salesman since 1-22-2009



I would rather die trying to live, than to live trying not to die....

 



Read this topic online here:



http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=288175#288175



 ,

 www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List" target="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List

 ronics.com/" target="_blank">http://forums.matronics.com

 Matt Dralle, List Admin.

 =====



	




 

-- 

Pat Reilly

Mod 3 582 Rebuild

Rockford,IL

  [quote][b]

Lynn Matteson

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 2778
Location: Grass Lake, Michigan

Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2010 1:16 pm Post subject: Hobbs Meter

*a*ir *c*raft tach Pat?



Lynn Matteson

Kitfox IV Speedster, taildragger

Jabiru 2200, #2062, 858.3 hrs (since 3-27-2006)

Countdown to 1000 hrs~142 to go(148 days to go)

Sensenich 62"x46" Wood (summer)

Sensenich 55.5" x 46" Wood (winter)

Electroair direct-fire ignition system

Rotec TBI-40 injection

Status: flying (and learning)

do not archive



On Feb 26, 2010, at 1:03 PM, Patrick Reilly wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   Len, You said "ac tach", I think you meant hour meter. Is this one  

 different from most? I have an hour meter in my plane hooked up to  

 the ign switch. I see the one you showed requires 4-40 volts. I  

 imagine most run on 12 volts and somehow this one can handle the  

 high range in voltage and others need a constant 12 volts. Is this  

 correct?



 Pat Reilly

 Mod 3 Rebuild

 Rockford, IL



 On Thu, Feb 25, 2010 at 11:31 AM, akflyer <akflyer_2000(at)yahoo.com>  

 wrote:

 



 you can buy an ac tach that hooks into the yellow power wires  

 coming off the stator.  It will only run when the engine is running.



 http://www.rotaxparts.net/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=447



 I installed one in mine after I left my master on when I was  

 rebuilding it and racked up about 100 hrs before the battery went  

 dead while I was away at work.



 --------

 DO NOT ARCHIVE

 Leonard Perry aka SNAKE

 Soldotna AK

 Avid "C" / Mk IV

 582 (100 hrs and counting on the rebuild)

 IVO IFA

 Full Lotus 1450

 #1 snake oil salesman since 1-22-2009



 I would rather die trying to live, than to live trying not to die....





 Read this topic online here:



 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=288175#288175



 ,

 www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List" target="_blank">http:// 

 www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List

 ronics.com/" target="_blank">http://forums.matronics.com

 Matt Dralle, List Admin.

 =====

 -- 

 Pat Reilly

 Mod 3 582 Rebuild

 Rockford,IL

 www.matronics.com/contribution _- 

 ============================================================

_________________
Lynn
Kitfox IV-Jabiru 2200
N369LM

Lion8

Joined: 21 Jun 2009
Posts: 31

Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2010 1:51 pm Post subject: Hobbs Meter

I've read several posts on the Hobbs meter. I have one in an instrument panel that is not wired up. It has two long  threaded studs 180 degress apart, and two male stabs in the center. Anyone have an idea how to wiree this up? 

---

_________________
Tom (Lion8), Currently Flying an LSA Trike
Rebuilding a Kitfox IV Speedster
Southern New Jersey

Pat Reilly

Joined: 06 Aug 2009
Posts: 345

Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2010 2:54 pm Post subject: Hobbs Meter

Lynn, Thanks. I understand....I guess. Is this just a standard hour meter, and do all have the cabability of 5-40 volts?

  

  

  

 Pat

 do not archive

 On Fri, Feb 26, 2010 at 3:14 PM, Lynn Matteson <lynnmatt(at)jps.net (lynnmatt(at)jps.net)> wrote:

  	  Quote: 	
		  --> Kitfox-List message posted by: Lynn Matteson <lynnmatt(at)jps.net (lynnmatt(at)jps.net)>

 

*a*ir *c*raft tach Pat?



Lynn Matteson

Kitfox IV Speedster, taildragger

Jabiru 2200, #2062, 858.3 hrs (since 3-27-2006)

Countdown to 1000 hrs~142 to go(148 days to go)

Sensenich 62"x46" Wood (summer)

 Sensenich 55.5" x 46" Wood (winter)

Electroair direct-fire ignition system

Rotec TBI-40 injection

Status: flying (and learning)

do not archive  



On Feb 26, 2010, at 1:03 PM, Patrick Reilly wrote:

  	  Quote: 	
		   Len, You said "ac tach", I think you meant hour meter. Is this one different from most? I have an hour meter in my plane hooked up to the ign switch. I see the one you showed requires 4-40 volts. I imagine most run on 12 volts and somehow this one can handle the high range in voltage and others need a constant 12 volts. Is this correct?

 

Pat Reilly

Mod 3 Rebuild

Rockford, IL



On Thu, Feb 25, 2010 at 11:31 AM, akflyer <akflyer_2000(at)yahoo.com (akflyer_2000(at)yahoo.com)> wrote:

--> Kitfox-List message posted by: "akflyer" <akflyer_2000(at)yahoo.com (akflyer_2000(at)yahoo.com)>

 

you can buy an ac tach that hooks into the yellow power wires coming off the stator.  It will only run when the engine is running.



http://www.rotaxparts.net/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=447

 

I installed one in mine after I left my master on when I was rebuilding it and racked up about 100 hrs before the battery went dead while I was away at work.



--------

DO NOT ARCHIVE

Leonard Perry aka SNAKE

 Soldotna AK

Avid "C" / Mk IV

582 (100 hrs and counting on the rebuild)

IVO IFA

Full Lotus 1450

#1 snake oil salesman since 1-22-2009



I would rather die trying to live, than to live trying not to die....

 



Read this topic online here:



http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=288175#288175



 

,

www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List" target="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List

 ronics.com/" target="_blank">http://forums.matronics.com

Matt Dralle, List Admin.  

=====

-- 

Pat Reilly

Mod 3 582 Rebuild

Rockford,IL



www.matronics.com/contributio=============

 	
  

 ist Un/Subscription,

 www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List" target="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List

 ronics.com/" target="_blank">http://forums.matronics.com

 Matt Dralle, List Admin.

 =====



	
 

-- 

Pat Reilly

Mod 3 582 Rebuild

Rockford,IL

  [quote][b]

akflyer

Joined: 07 May 2007
Posts: 574
Location: Soldotna AK

Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 8:54 am Post subject: Re: Hobbs Meter

[quote="Pat Reilly"]Len, You said "ac tach", I think you meant hour meter. Is this one different from most? I have an hour meter in my plane hooked up to the ign switch. Iï¿½see the one you showed requires 4-40 volts. I imagine most run on 12 volts and somehow this one can handle the high range in voltage and others need a constant 12 volts. Is this correct?

  ï¿½

 Pat Reilly

 Mod 3 Rebuild

 Rockford, ILï¿½

 On Thu, Feb 25, 2010 at 11:31 AM, akflyer <akflyer_2000> wrote:

  	  Quote: 	
		  --> Kitfox-List message posted by: "akflyer" <akflyer_2000>

 

you can buy an ac tach that hooks into the yellow power wires coming off the stator. ï¿½It will only run when the engine is running.



http://www.rotaxparts.net/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=447

 

I installed one in mine after I left my master on when I was rebuilding it and racked up about 100 hrs before the battery went dead while I was away at work.



--------

DO NOT ARCHIVE

Leonard Perry aka SNAKE

 Soldotna AK

Avid "C" / Mk IV

582 (100 hrs and counting on the rebuild)

IVO IFA

Full Lotus 1450

#1 snake oil salesman since 1-22-2009



I would rather die trying to live, than to live trying not to die....

 



Read this topic online here:



http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=288175#288175



 ,

 www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List" target="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List

 ronics.com/" target="_blank">http://forums.matronics.com

 Matt Dralle, List Admin.

 =====



	




 

-- 

Pat Reilly

Mod 3 582 Rebuild

Rockford,IL

   	  Quote: 	
		  [b] 	




My bad I ment AC (as in AC current)  hour meter

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