R21 owners added any 'extra' engine gauges?

[sheral]

Thinking of adding a V-P engine temp gauge to our tug. Has anyone added one or any other engine gauges that they have found are extremely worthwhile on the 21? If so where did you end up having the gauge(s) mounted.

Thanks...

 

[SGIDAVE]

Thinking of adding a V-P engine temp gauge to our tug. Has anyone added one or any other engine gauges that they have found are extremely worthwhile on the 21? If so where did you end up having the gauge(s) mounted.

Thanks...

Hello Sheral,

I have not added any additional guages. I would consider adding more gauges but haven't gotten to it yet. The Yanmar is made in Japan and has metric threads...so all of the gauge inserts (like for temp and/or oil pressure) are in Imperial threads, so an adaptor is required to get them screwed into the engine. I DO like to know my engine's temp accurately and frequently carry an IR gun to measure temp. One like this:

I read a post on Active Captain a year or two ago about their procedures for 'engine checks' whilst underway. They use an IR gun and have several spots on the engine and running gear where a small RED dot is painted. The temps are quickly measured at each of these RED DOTS on the engine/transmission/exhaust/etc and recorded in the boat's log. It's very easy and, by marking your "spot" on the engine, etc, the measurements are repeatable. Thus, you end up with data trends which will quickly show any outliers...like you check temp on the end of the oil filter...mine ALWAYS reads 197-198 degrees F. When that temp gets high, I KNOW something is awry and needs further investigation.

An added plus, the red laser in the IR gun is a great toy to play with the dog or cat back at the house. :lol:

dave

 

[sheral]

haha... looks like a neat toy alright.

 

[tlkenyon]

The previous owner was a long-haul trucker and added oil pressure and water temp gauges. For the oil pressure gauge, he inserted a nipple with tee between the factory sender and put the after-market sender on the tee. Unfortunately, he used an SAE-thread nipple that only screwed two threads into the block and it broke, sending oil everywhere. I caught it pretty quickly due to the drop in oil pressure on the gauge, the Yanmar alarm, and the oil slick in our wake. I too the tee off and reinserted the factory sender. The oil pressure gauge is still inop, as a metric to SAE close nipple is hard to find, as equally hard to find as a metric sender unit.

The water temp gauge was added using various tees and nipples as shown in the photo. It works very well...usually running ay 160 or so a low revs, climbing to the 200 range above 3200 or so.

The gauges were mounted to the overhead to stbd of the stereo, not here I would have put them, but it is what it is. The light for the gauges is wired into the running light circuit.

gallery2.php?g2_itemId=41358

gallery2.php?g2_itemId=41355

 

[sheral]

The previous owner was a long-haul trucker and added oil pressure and water temp gauges. For the oil pressure gauge, he inserted a nipple with tee between the factory sender and put the after-market sender on the tee. Unfortunately, he used an SAE-thread nipple that only screwed two threads into the block and it broke, sending oil everywhere. I caught it pretty quickly due to the drop in oil pressure on the gauge, the Yanmar alarm, and the oil slick in our wake. I too the tee off and reinserted the factory sender. The oil pressure gauge is still inop, as a metric to SAE close nipple is hard to find, as equally hard to find as a metric sender unit.

The water temp gauge was added using various tees and nipples as shown in the photo. It works very well...usually running ay 160 or so a low revs, climbing to the 200 range above 3200 or so.

The gauges were mounted to the overhead to stbd of the stereo, not here I would have put them, but it is what it is. The light for the gauges is wired into the running light circuit.

gallery2.php?g2_itemId=41358

gallery2.php?g2_itemId=41355

Very nice. I think that oil pressure and water temperature gauges are on the top of my list.

Can I ask, did you have the ability to add 'EVC' gauges? I was told today by the Volvo-Penta dealer that he thinks I need 'EVC' gauges versus the mechanical V-P gauges, which I would actually prefer. I'm a bit confused here. Are EVC gauges totally separate from the ability to view your engine stats via the Garmin? (If you have the sensors to allow for this). Or do you need the EVC gauges in order to view your engine stats via the Garmin?

Would love to learn more, should someone have time to educate... Just re-read my post and I'm even more confused...

 

[SGIDAVE]

Can I ask, did you have the ability to add 'EVC' gauges? I was told today by the Volvo-Penta dealer that he thinks I need 'EVC' gauges versus the mechanical V-P gauges, which I would actually prefer. I'm a bit confused here. Are EVC gauges totally separate from the ability to view your engine stats via the Garmin? (If you have the sensors to allow for this). Or do you need the EVC gauges in order to view your engine stats via the Garmin?

Would love to learn more, should someone have time to educate... Just re-read my post and I'm even more confused...

What is meant by the terms "EVC" gauges? and "V-P" gauges?

dave

 

[sheral]

Well the best I can relate is that the EVC gauges are electronic and are displayed via an EVC display or via your Garmin - if equipped. The V-P gauges were meant to mean Volvo-Penta mechanical gauges, like the ones I grew up with on my cars and motorbikes....

 

[tlkenyon]

My R21 Classic is all mechanical with no electronic monitoring whatsoever,so no chance for any monitoring other than the mechanical gauges. Be careful in adding the oil pressure gauge. The shaking of the engine at idle and low speed hastened the demise of the tee structure for the oil pressure gauge.

 

[sheral]

My R21 Classic is all mechanical with no electronic monitoring whatsoever,so no chance for any monitoring other than the mechanical gauges. Be careful in adding the oil pressure gauge. The shaking of the engine at idle and low speed hastened the demise of the tee structure for the oil pressure gauge.

copy on the 't-fitting'... thanks.

 

[baz]

My understanding here is that for the Volvo D1 engine an analog-to-digital device can be added to extract engine analog data and digitize it and can then be integrated with/into the NMEA 2000. With this hookup the Garmin 741XS for example can have its NMEA 2000 backbone modified to accept the converted analog-to-digital data and display the various engine data on the display. Andrew tells me that the Fusion radio and the VHF radio can also be hooked into the NMEA 2000 as well that would allow controlling them via the Garmin 741XS display.

I'm not sure I've got all the technical terms and connectivitty lingo correct above.... but no matter, this would be the way to go if I were wanting to add the Volvo D1 engine data etc to be conveniently displayed on the Garmin screen, as well as having the bonus for the Fusion and VHF radio display/controls.

Andrew tells me the analog-to-digital device runs at around $400. 😱 :shock:

 

[Pilotnavigator]

So.... Can Andrew jump in and provide a diagram with parts indentified and wiring info so mortals can upgrade and integrate all these devices. Seems to me we got a lot more power that we are using.
Thanks

 

[SGIDAVE]

So.... Can Andrew jump in and provide a diagram with parts indentified and wiring info so mortals can upgrade and integrate all these devices. Seems to me we got a lot more power that we are using.
Thanks

Yes Andrew please tell...

My research last year (for a non-electronic, mechanical Yanmar 3YM30), appeared to require

1. Maretron EMS100 Analog Engine Monitor System

This item available here (http://www.blueheronmarine.com/maretron ... or-system/) for $689.95. It is shown elsewhere as "This product has been obsoleted by Maretron and is no longer in production. (3/9/2015)" so I'm not sure it's REALLY available.

I would think the Volvo D1 is similarly 'mechanical' like the 3YM engine, so they may utilize a similar analog-to-N2K interface?

dave

 

[sheral]

aha... we are onto something now. thanks gang, makes sense. we await....

 

[SGIDAVE]

For us "analog" boats, this might be another option. I found an Ebay merchant named ACDCMARINEINC. He builds custom panels to include one he calls a "yanmar" panel.

Here is a link to his listing: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Yanmar-Engines- ... 1911368417

At $500 shipped it is pricey but appears well made. One of the panel listings claims it is made with marine grade wire. I know nothing about this merchant other that what the listings say...I'm not sure where something like this would fit on my boat.

Anyway, just another consideration for additional gauges on the 21EC.

dave

 

[sheral]

Well after figuring out that our 2015 R21-EC is compatible for the NMEA 2000 interface (to give us a range of engine operation functions without the need to add any sensors) we learned that here in Canada the interface, required harness, etc. will run about $800. The closest V-P dealer hasn't installed one before so guesses about 1K installed.

Yup, thinking about just getting an electronic engine temp gauge.

 

[daviduphoff]

Thinking of adding a V-P engine temp gauge to our tug. Has anyone added one or any other engine gauges that they have found are extremely worthwhile on the 21? If so where did you end up having the gauge(s) mounted.

Thanks...

My 21 has the Yanmar engine. We mounted temperature gauge directly above the fuel gauge. We drilled a hole and it looks like the factory put it there. I wired the light in with the dash lights too. mine is a cheap aftermarket one. If I was to do it again I think I would get one with a built in alarm. If you want a picture let me know by PM.