Generator hour meter not working

Mandalay Parr wrote:
Some hour meters run off of 12vdc and others off of 120vac.
Do a google search on the brand you have then hook up a wire accordingly.
Others will be willing to help if you need it.

I just checked mine. It is Quartz brand and runs off of 120vac.

I assume you have a Onan Diesel and you are talking about the hourmeter built in to the Onan. IF you have a remote hourmeter on your model, it will be 12 volt not 120 volt. A LOT of motorhomes have 2 hourmeters. ON the Onan and then the remote meter. If the OP has a remote meter, it will be 12 volt and runs off the 12 volt indicator light at the remote panel. Doug

How the hour meter is worked very much depends on the generator model. The Onan RV generators (well, the 4KY models at least) use a 12V DC line from the generator's control board to power the hour meter and the "running" pilot light on the remote panel. It's a standard 12V hour meter/counter.

Moved from Forum Technical Support

happycamper002 wrote:
Are you asking me or telling me?

I'm asking. But also pointing out how others use product names in their posts.

Are you asking me or telling me?

happycamper002 wrote:
I have a non-battery type which (because of forum restriction) cannot endorse.

Just tell us the name/type you have. That's not endorsing the product.
If that was the case, no one could comment on the make/model of their RV or any other equipment they use. ;)

Look at how many of us tell others how good Eternabond and Dicor is for roof repairs.

Other brands have 1.5 volts battery/ies similar to calculators or weather stations etc. They still require the pulse signal "wrapped around wire" at the spark plug.

Look under online flea market---the selection is enormous you'd have a hard time deciding which one to buy--that is if you decide to replace yours, which I assume mounted on the dash?.

I have a non-battery type which (because of forum restriction) cannot endorse.

Designed mostly for motorcycles and other engines with one to two cylinders.

All the best.

Some hour meters run off of 12vdc and others off of 120vac.
Do a google search on the brand you have then hook up a wire accordingly.
Others will be willing to help if you need it.

I just checked my 8kw Onan diesel remote hour meter in my dash. It is Quartz brand and runs off of 120vac according to Google.

For gasoline generators, the hour meters typically have a sense wire that is wrapped around a spark plug cable. Check on the generator and look for a wire that appears to be loose, maybe it's just not wrapped around the spark plug cable enough times.

No idea how diesel generators measure time, since there's no spark plugs?