Tachometer~what about these?
06-18-2010 | 06:03 PM
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From: Up in the Mountains AZ
Tachometer~what about these?
From what I have read many disagree you don't need one but I think it's a handy device to waste my money on anyway.
I am looking at a couple. I have a voltmeter but this combo looked interesting to throw into my box.
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...?ProdID=HAN111
And this one is justa straight tach~
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...?ProdID=HAN156
Any comments one way or the other? Both by Hangar I see.
I am looking at a couple. I have a voltmeter but this combo looked interesting to throw into my box.
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...?ProdID=HAN111
And this one is justa straight tach~
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...?ProdID=HAN156
Any comments one way or the other? Both by Hangar I see.
06-18-2010 | 06:55 PM
#2
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RE: Tachometer~what about these?
I work on so many different types of engines from gas to glow I finally had to break down and spend the money for a good tach. I spent the $100.00 on a TNC and love it. I have a couple of the smaller cheap ones tossed under the bench that were total crap. Then I did a side by side test with my TNC and a buddys H-9 combo, was I ever impressed and surprised, they were both so close together I was in shock. Sense then I have done the same thing with several of those H-9 tach volt meter combos, anyone at the field I see with one I do the side by side test. I could have saved myself some money and gotten a new volt meter at the same time!! Very good unit. I haven't tried the small meter from H-9 but the Glowbee and the Tower/Hobbico for the most part are junk. I have found a couple that work but it's a rare thing. Good choice!!
06-18-2010 | 07:00 PM
#3
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RE: Tachometer~what about these?
No matter what, a tach is a tool to be used as necessary, but not absolutely necessary for flight. Proper tuning can be attained without one.
They are handy to have in your flight box and can help under certain circumstances, however, it is not required, just nice to have.
The price of the combination tach/ESV is a good thing but it is a bit pricey if you are watching your $$$. If it doesn't matter to you, then, hey, it's a great combination.
I have the second item, the tach only, and it comes in handy at times, but I tune by ear and seldom go to the tach unless I change props. Then I use it to see where the engine is at max throttle. My goal is not to over-rev the engine if I lower the pitch, and that's about it.
Lots of folks will say that it's required for four stroke engines, but others will say it's unnecessary. I don't own a four stroke so I can't comment on that, but from what I've read from other poster comments, again, it's not required, just nice to have.
More advanced pilots, Pattern folks, for instance, can tell from the sound and the tach how their engines are running. Most of us are not that advanced, and can tune them by ear just fine for our purposes.
Remember, this is a beginners forum, and advice passed here is for beginner to intermediate pilots.
CGr.
They are handy to have in your flight box and can help under certain circumstances, however, it is not required, just nice to have.
The price of the combination tach/ESV is a good thing but it is a bit pricey if you are watching your $$$. If it doesn't matter to you, then, hey, it's a great combination.
I have the second item, the tach only, and it comes in handy at times, but I tune by ear and seldom go to the tach unless I change props. Then I use it to see where the engine is at max throttle. My goal is not to over-rev the engine if I lower the pitch, and that's about it.
Lots of folks will say that it's required for four stroke engines, but others will say it's unnecessary. I don't own a four stroke so I can't comment on that, but from what I've read from other poster comments, again, it's not required, just nice to have.
More advanced pilots, Pattern folks, for instance, can tell from the sound and the tach how their engines are running. Most of us are not that advanced, and can tune them by ear just fine for our purposes.
Remember, this is a beginners forum, and advice passed here is for beginner to intermediate pilots.
CGr.
06-18-2010 | 07:04 PM
#4
RE: Tachometer~what about these?
this is one of those "ask a hundred different people and you'll get a hundred different answers" I have the DVT and use it on my all my engines, my hearing is not that good anymore so I have to have a good tach, I was shocked at what my ears were missing and as Gray Beard said, this H9 combo work so good, that now some of the other guys I fly with have them
06-18-2010 | 07:46 PM
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From: Homestead,
FL
RE: Tachometer~what about these?
I have a tach and will use it to tune quite often. After I bring the engine to peak rpm for a given prop then I adjust the needle valve to an rpm 4 to 500 less than that peak as a setting. Most glow engines lean out in the air due to the ram air into the carburetor inlet in flight sort of a supercharging effect. Doing so prevents running the engine too lean often causing glow plug burnouts and/or dead sticks due to overheating.
06-18-2010 | 07:53 PM
#9
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RE: Tachometer~what about these?
ORIGINAL: CGRetired
No matter what, a tach is a tool to be used as necessary, but not absolutely necessary for flight. Proper tuning can be attained without one.
They are handy to have in your flight box and can help under certain circumstances, however, it is not required, just nice to have.
The price of the combination tach/ESV is a good thing but it is a bit pricey if you are watching your $$$. If it doesn't matter to you, then, hey, it's a great combination.
I have the second item, the tach only, and it comes in handy at times, but I tune by ear and seldom go to the tach unless I change props. Then I use it to see where the engine is at max throttle. My goal is not to over-rev the engine if I lower the pitch, and that's about it.
Lots of folks will say that it's required for four stroke engines, but others will say it's unnecessary. I don't own a four stroke so I can't comment on that, but from what I've read from other poster comments, again, it's not required, just nice to have.
More advanced pilots, Pattern folks, for instance, can tell from the sound and the tach how their engines are running. Most of us are not that advanced, and can tune them by ear just fine for our purposes.
Remember, this is a beginners forum, and advice passed here is for beginner to intermediate pilots.
CGr.
No matter what, a tach is a tool to be used as necessary, but not absolutely necessary for flight. Proper tuning can be attained without one.
They are handy to have in your flight box and can help under certain circumstances, however, it is not required, just nice to have.
The price of the combination tach/ESV is a good thing but it is a bit pricey if you are watching your $$$. If it doesn't matter to you, then, hey, it's a great combination.
I have the second item, the tach only, and it comes in handy at times, but I tune by ear and seldom go to the tach unless I change props. Then I use it to see where the engine is at max throttle. My goal is not to over-rev the engine if I lower the pitch, and that's about it.
Lots of folks will say that it's required for four stroke engines, but others will say it's unnecessary. I don't own a four stroke so I can't comment on that, but from what I've read from other poster comments, again, it's not required, just nice to have.
More advanced pilots, Pattern folks, for instance, can tell from the sound and the tach how their engines are running. Most of us are not that advanced, and can tune them by ear just fine for our purposes.
Remember, this is a beginners forum, and advice passed here is for beginner to intermediate pilots.
CGr.
I was just very surprised at how good the tach was for that kind of money!!
Wish my eye sight was as good as me hearing, I may not be able to hear my wife but I can still hear an engine, I'm just tired of seeing two fuzzy planes when I know I'monly flying one!!!
06-18-2010 | 09:13 PM
#10
RE: Tachometer~what about these?
Like usual, I am with CGRetired on this. I own a tach and use it occasionally. Usually it is with a new glow engine that I am unfamiliar with. It is handy to find the max rpm so I can back off 200 or 400 rpm to avoid an overly lean run. It is also handy when "tweaking" with carb settings , prop swaps or even carb swaps when you get really knutz. But not at all necessary to fly well and tune properly. Just another tool that is helpful when needed.
