The warning horns on my last three boats would go on only after the
ignition switch was on (engine not started) for 20-45 seconds or so.
Not right away.

Hmmm. If you lost all oil pressure, would it take 20-45 seconds for suich a
system to sound off? I think you'd be stopped dead in the water by or about
then.

Hmmm, I guess in this case, the warning horn would be sounding to let
you know why your engine is now hosed. :^)

-JimL


Gould 0738 wrote:

Hmmm. If you lost all oil pressure, would it take 20-45 seconds for suich a
system to sound off? I think you'd be stopped dead in the water by or about
then.

Mine have the same delay and that's as per the manual. I just figured it was
the "Mercruiser way", circa 1989.

My understanding is that it is the test circuit that has the delay built in.
I *assume* that the alarm would go off right away during a fault with the
engine running.

"Gould 0738" wrote in message
...
The warning horns on my last three boats would go on only after the
ignition switch was on (engine not started) for 20-45 seconds or so.
Not right away.

Hmmm. If you lost all oil pressure, would it take 20-45 seconds for suich
a
system to sound off? I think you'd be stopped dead in the water by or
about
then.

Let's all hope your assumption is correct and we won't ever need to find
out.

Back when my engine used to run :-(,
the warning buzzer for low oil pressure (and overheat) would come on as soon as
the key was turned. It would remain on for a second after the start button was
activated until the oil pressure climbed to about 40 pounds (enroute to 60-70)
and then shut off. I think this is a better system, only because it
demonstrates that it is working every time the engine starts.

Who waits 30-45 seconds after turning the key part way to crank an engine?
Probably nobody. The entire system could be gunny sack and you wouldn't know
it.