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Testing a trim gauge E-TEC Service & Parts
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168 posts 11beforesunrise 168 posts
11beforesunrise
How would you go about bench testing a analog omc trim gauge ? Is it possible without it connected to the harness?
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seahorse Moderator 8,972 posts
seahorse
TRIM SENDER RESISTANCE
        Ohms: Up / Mid /Down
EVINRUDE: 10 / 44 / 88


https://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/document.do?docId=839
...possessing more tools than talent !


My sarcasm and my sincerity sound surprisingly similar !
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jimh 7,578 posts
jimh
For authoritative information provided from a gauge manufacturer about resistive values, see my article (and presentation of the data) at

http://continuouswave.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=3043

For an example of creating a suitable range of resistance for simulating a TRIM SENDER for an Evinrude E-TEC engine, see my article

SIMULATING AN EVINRUDE TRIM SENSOR
http://continuouswave.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3226


Quote:
Is [testing of a TRIM GAUGE] possible without [the TRIM GAUGE to be tested] connected to the [engine wiring] harness?


Yes. A list of components needed and a step-by-step test procedure is give in the article

SIMULATING AN EVINRUDE TRIM SENSOR
http://continuouswave.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3226
As of 2024 I am no longer making legacy E-TEC engine EV-Diagnostic cables .
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jimh 7,578 posts
jimh
seahorse wrote:
TRIM SENDER RESISTANCE
        Ohms: Up / Mid /Down
EVINRUDE: 10 / 44 / 88


I believe you have taken that information from my article due to the style of presentation. The source you cited uses a much different presentation of that data.
As of 2024 I am no longer making legacy E-TEC engine EV-Diagnostic cables .
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11beforesunrise 168 posts
11beforesunrise
So I checked my 30 yo omc gauge. It’s bad..... on the back of the gauge is a bridge of wrapped copper wires. It is stamped 88. Is this the resistor? If so can I use that for the bypass to send a signal to my lorance. Or at least to test the bypass. I’m a little apprehensive to try that without advice.
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jimh 7,578 posts
jimh
On OMC trim gauges it is typical to find an externally mounted resistor wired between two terminal posts on the rear face of the gauge housing.

A marking of 88 on a component that may be a resistor suggests the resistor may be 88-Ohms, but until you measure its resistance there is no guarantee the unknown component is a resistor and has a value of 88-Ohms. 

I am not familiar with your proposed re-use of the unknown component as "the bypass to send a signal to [a] lorance [sic]" or to use to "test the bypass", and I cannot give you an answer about the suitability of the component you found on your older OMC gauge for your purposes

In terms of using a component from a device that has failed as part of testing a new device or new circuit, I don't recommend that approach, particularly since the cause of the failure of the other device might be due to a defect in the component you are removing from the failed device. Before you re-use a component from a failed device in another situation, you should test that component.
As of 2024 I am no longer making legacy E-TEC engine EV-Diagnostic cables .
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11beforesunrise 168 posts
11beforesunrise
. When I purchased my lorance elite ti they advertised it as Evinrude plug n play. I was very curious to see if after the 47 ohm bypass installed. Would I receive the trim data on said unit without a trip to a dealer to tell the emm to send trim info.
So I removed the the resistor from the old trim gauge . I cleaned the resistor and checked it’s value . The resistor measured 88ohm. After hooking up the resistor into my mws harness I then checked the resistor value. It measured about 24ohm. Before turning ignition on.
I figured for a test that it would give me the info I was looking for. Which was to find out if the lorance would give me a trim reading.
My results showed conclusive that I indeed have a trim reading. 13.1 reading on the lorance. A success. I will now Order the 47 ohm resistor and make a permanent connection. Thanks guy.
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rickmcd53 4,034 posts
rickmcd53
We appreciate your testing and reporting results.
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11beforesunrise 168 posts
11beforesunrise
Rick thanks for all the advice you and others give. I didn’t tilt the motor. I just got a static reading where it was.. that’s all I needed to see.
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jimh 7,578 posts
jimh
I don't think the 47-Ohm resistor value is sacrosanct. You could use the 88-Ohm resistor if you wanted. The resistor is just in series with the 12-Volts to the trim sender, and it limits the current that can flow when the trim sender resistance is at minimum.

I believe the reason the older trim gauges used an 88-Ohm resistor was due to the circuitry in the gauge. I think the gauge actually has a four-resistor bridge circuit and the meter is connected across the bridge arms. The effective resistance between the trim sender and the 12-Volts was then a combination of the 88-Ohm resistor and an internal resistor in the gauge. 

Generally the TRIM signal won't show up from the EMM until it is calibrated--or at least that was how the older EMM units worked.

To calibrate the EMM for trim, you need the EV-Diagnostics software. During the calibration, and influence of the series resistor value being different from 47-Ohms will be eliminated by the calibration. 

I would not use a resistor of less than 47-Ohms, but using an 88-Ohm should work just as well.
As of 2024 I am no longer making legacy E-TEC engine EV-Diagnostic cables .
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11beforesunrise 168 posts
11beforesunrise
Thank you Jim. Lorance now has integrated Evinrude software into some of their newer stuff. So now stuff like trim ,water pressure etc can now show up without going to a dealer. My test was to determine if the claim was true. My plan is to install the 47 ohm resistor. Like you said those old components are old and suspect. That resistor seems to jump around while testing and it’s not worth it to use it.
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ElderSparky 1,542 posts
ElderSparky
Trim & water pressure are standard PGNs and aren’t new to the Lowrance products. EvDiag is still required to enable water pressure on engine after installation of sender. Data will certainly be available to you though
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11beforesunrise 168 posts
11beforesunrise
So the 47 ohm resistor is installed. My Lowrance unit now give me a reading of 66,67 only. Whether I’m up or down on the trim. Does this mean it needs to be calibrated with oem software at the dealer?
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jimh 7,578 posts
jimh
11beforesunrise wrote:
...47 ohm resistor is installed...Lowrance...reading of 66,67 only. Whether I’m up or down on the trim.  Does this mean [the EMM] needs to be calibrated with [EV-Diagnostics] software at the dealer?


It is difficult to deduce with certainty from your narrative if the reason the data shown on your Lowrance display does not change with engine position is due to lack of calibration of the E-TEC EMM.

Regarding calibration of the trim gauge, use of EV-Diagnostics software is needed on the legacy E-TEC engines. On the E-TEC G2 engines the calibration can be done in the field by the user if an Evinrude NMEA-2000 gauge like the ICON Touch 7.0 or ICON Touch 4.3 is available. There is another smaller G2 gauge--the NAUTILUS 3.5 Color display--and it might be able to do the trim calibration; I am not certain about that as the literature I have is a bit ambiguous on that topic.

For a comprehensive review of the capabilities of the Evinrude ICON Touch 7.0 CTS, see my article at

Evinrude ICON Touch 7.0 CTS Display
http://continuouswave.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2762

What engine do you have?

If a legacy E-TEC, you probably will need EV-Diagnostics.
If an E-TEC G2, and you have an ICON Touch display, you may not need EV-Diagnostics software.
As of 2024 I am no longer making legacy E-TEC engine EV-Diagnostic cables .
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11beforesunrise 168 posts
11beforesunrise
Yea I guess I need to get the ev diagnostic software or take it to the dealer. 135 v6 purchased in 2018. Thanks Jim
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