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Author Topic: Tach recommendation  (Read 1799 times)

Offline Tim Chenevert

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Tach recommendation
« on: January 02, 2018, 04:34:26 PM »
I am wanting to get a hand held tach to set engine RPM’s, any suggestions and where to buy? Thanks, Tim
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Offline Peter Nevai

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Re: Tach recommendation
« Reply #1 on: January 02, 2018, 07:15:08 PM »
OMG... The silence is deafening. For people who love to prattle just about everything this is unacceptable! I for one am also interested in the community consensus. There are a ton of posts about all the tachometers that are no good or worthless. How about some suggestions for those that work? And NO, the VibraTach does not count. :)
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Offline George Truett

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Re: Tach recommendation
« Reply #2 on: January 02, 2018, 07:25:05 PM »
Kind of depends on how much you want to spend.  I have a Fromeco, before that a TNC until it died.  Great tach, accurate and has good range but they are pricey at around $150 now.

Offline Peter Nevai

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Re: Tach recommendation
« Reply #3 on: January 02, 2018, 07:34:23 PM »
Kind of depends on how much you want to spend.  I have a Fromeco, before that a TNC until it died.  Great tach, accurate and has good range but they are pricey at around $150 now.
Thank You George, Pricey maybe, but some things are worth the money, These days with most late model engines really designed for RC it is almost a requirement to have a decent tach in order to dial the engine in before release. You can not easily get by using ears only like back in the old days, not at least if you want flight to flight consistency. I would consider it to be a huge time saver as you want to fly and not twiddle with needle settings half the day. OK we have one candidate any others?

https://fromeco-scale-avionics-llc.myshopify.com/products/tnc-tachometer

Seems like it is out of stock

These people seem to have it in stock for $95.00

http://www.aircraftinternational.com/Home/ProductDetails/tabid/84/ProdID/869/RtnTab/119/PageIndex/1/CatID/127/Default.aspx

or

http://www.darrolcady.com/Accessories/accessories.htm#TNC
« Last Edit: January 02, 2018, 07:54:54 PM by Peter Nevai »
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Offline Steve Helmick

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Re: Tach recommendation
« Reply #4 on: January 02, 2018, 08:41:07 PM »
A lot of us poor folks use the Mini-Tach from Horizon Hobby. I made a tube/shield thing for the lens...seems to help with sunshine & reflections in some conditions. You may be able to find them at your local hobby shop. Here it is on the Horizon Hobby website:  https://www.horizonhobby.com/micro-digital-tachometer-han156    H^^ Steve
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Offline BYU

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Re: Tach recommendation
« Reply #5 on: January 02, 2018, 09:02:36 PM »
Do not buy a fromeco tach

I bought 2 of them and both died in short order.

Tried to get them repaired by Fromeco, no email response and pretend phone service only on Thursday with no answer. Before you buy, go and look at their site and look for contact details.

If you manage to buy one (delivery is over 6 weeks from them direct) do not expect support, or for your shiny new Tach to work for long.

I now use the Cheap Hangar 9 Tach with a black plastic sleeve over the sensor

Offline Dan McEntee

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Re: Tach recommendation
« Reply #6 on: January 02, 2018, 09:26:06 PM »
  For us average Joe Bellcrank types, the less expensive units from Tower Hobbies and Horizon will fill the bill. You have to think about what you actually want the tach for. For the reason you want it for, stunt flying, you need to know a certain RPM to set your needle and engine to. You just need a reference point for repeat-ability and some sort of consistency. You are not looking for peak RPM, and you really don't care if your engine is turning 9,500 RPM or not. You just need a consistent reading of the same RPM you set your engine for the last awesome engine run you had! The cheaper units have gotten better and I have no complaints about mine.
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Offline Larry Renger

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Re: Tach recommendation
« Reply #7 on: January 02, 2018, 11:21:20 PM »
My brother built me a tach checker. Crystal controlled timing, settings up to 60,000 rpm.

The only tachs I ever found to be off were a TNC and an ancient Heathkit.

The issue is detection. I have an old Glowbee tach to which I added a “snoot” with an extra lens focused on the detector. Works great!
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Offline Tim Chenevert

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Re: Tach recommendation
« Reply #8 on: January 03, 2018, 12:02:23 AM »
I appreciate all the information and ranges on the different tachs. Tim
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Offline James Holford

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Re: Tach recommendation
« Reply #9 on: January 03, 2018, 05:20:12 AM »
I use an old tower hobbies. Works fine n only paid 15 bucks

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Offline Perry Rose

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Re: Tach recommendation
« Reply #10 on: January 03, 2018, 05:22:44 AM »
Tower Hobbies tach's are just fine for what we do. To calibrate or check the calibration just point it at a light bulb. It should read 3600.
I may be wrong but I doubt it.
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Offline FLOYD CARTER

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Re: Tach recommendation
« Reply #11 on: January 04, 2018, 01:51:05 PM »
I launch for a lot of flyers.  I have to giggle when they "tach" their engines. I watch, and the RPM jumps 500 or more RPM, back and forth.  They seem satisfied, and signal for launch.  So, what are they looking for?  What RPM satisfies them?  The tach reading tells not much more than my ears indicate.  For some, a tach reading is only a ritual, and the results vary all over the place.

(I do have a tach, but I only use it when checking engines at home on the test bench,)
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Offline Tim Chenevert

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Re: Tach recommendation
« Reply #12 on: January 06, 2018, 04:11:42 AM »
 James, is this the tach that you are using? Tim
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Offline john e. holliday

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Re: Tach recommendation
« Reply #13 on: January 06, 2018, 10:43:44 AM »
I have a tach in my pit box I use to set engines on the bench.   Lets me know when I've went too far with needle setting.  But , I did use it to preset the engines on the B-25.   9800 rpm on both.  Then I get the plane ready, fill tanks, start in board engine first and then out board, clear the circle and fly.  D>K 
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Offline Tim Chenevert

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Re: Tach recommendation
« Reply #14 on: January 08, 2018, 04:53:11 PM »
 Well I just got a used one like the one pictured above off the bay for $8....we will see. Tim
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Offline B Norton

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Re: Tach recommendation
« Reply #15 on: January 08, 2018, 05:58:49 PM »
That's the tach I've been using had for about eight or nine years .Just don't leave it lying in hot sun face up numbers disappear until screen is cooled off.

Offline Tim Chenevert

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Re: Tach recommendation
« Reply #16 on: January 08, 2018, 09:23:28 PM »
Thanks. I hope it lasts. Sometimes the older stuff is better than the newer stuff! Lol Tim
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