So I just got a Saito .72 for my Sig SE and bought a digital tack to help tune it. I can't get the tack to read the prop though. I am using a 13x6 APC. What could I be doing wrong. If I put it up to a flouresent light then it reads 360 which is correct as far as I know. Thanks for your help.

How close are you holding yours to the prop ? I just bought a used one, and was surprised that I have to hold it like an inch away .... The readings are all over the place for me, until it's an inch or less away from the prop... then the readings settle to numbers that I expect......

The lower-priced tachs being sold use an optical resistor as the sensing element. If the ambient light is not bright enough, they sometimes don't work well. Even the color of the prop can cause erratic readings if it is a dark color. In direct sunlight, they usually work reasonably well. The higher-priced units, like the TNC, use a focused optical diode which is much more sensitive. The TNC will work on cloudy days and you can read the RPM from several feet away. If you ever buy a TNC unit, you will never be sorry, even though they cost quite a bit more than the cheap units.

For what it's worth, Duane.

When I was trying to use it, it was in direct sunlight. I was holding it about 10" away. I guess I will have to try to hold it closer.

my hangar 9 digital says it is supposed to be held 2 inches away from the prop, but it will read to about 8 or 10 inches.

I used to have a glow bee. You had to hold it about 2" away to get a steady reding, even in sunlight.

So one day I was in front of the engine trying to get a reading when the engine tore up the motor mount and tore the eye off the end of the glow bee. I will ever be thankful for it saved my hand. But come to think of it if I didn't have a glow bee, i wouldn't have had my hand there.

The moral to this story is:
I bought a TNC and take all my readings from behind the prop.

enjoy

jim

I use a GloBee Intellitach, it will read the front of the prop at about four inches but will not read the back at all.

try pointing the tack in such a way that the main source of light shines through the prop into the tack..... so...point the tack in the direction of the light source !

TNC are really great tachs. There's no denying. My wife got tired of my complaining and bought one for me last year. We ordered one for dad last month to find out that TNC is out of business.

I was lucky enough to get a line on one of the last few hobby shops that had purchased a few. The very nice gentleman that produces them will no longer be able to fill his orders due to health problems. He explained to me that he regrets this but he had no other choice. He would notify the Mag folks with his ADs about this in the near future.

Moral...got a TNC...keep a TNC...Want a TNC..oh well....end of an era......

hawk

There's your problem. You were too far away.

It reads 3600 when pointed at an incandescent light because that's the only light in the room. The entire room is flashing at 3600 RPM. Outside, only the relatively small propeller disk (as compared to the whole wide world) is flashing.

Is the TNC Tach guy considering selling the design? If they're such great units, somebody should snap up the design and start making them again.

The TNC tach company was just a little mom and pop outfit that the guy made them in his basement

Jim

Thanks everyone for the advise. I will try out what I have learned this weekend.

For all you folks out there that LOVED the TNC Tach but HATED to see it be discontinued...

Skyborn Electronics / PowerfLite R/C Power Solutions is in negotiations for the design rights to the TNC Tach. Though we have not decided on a Product Name at this point, we are now taking orders for the first run due in January 2003. It will retail for $104.95 and will be the same design as the no-longer-available TNC Tach. Same high grade optics that allow you to accurately tach your heli, jet, or prop driven model from a safe distance, even in low light, to within 10 RPM accuracy. We expect, if negotiations are complete, for the first production run to be January 2003.


Best Regards

Rick Head
Marketing and Public Relations
Skyborn Electronics / PowerfLite
R/C Power Solutions
[email protected]
http://www.rcpowerflite.com
972-267-5099

I used a flash light along with a Hanger 9 tach. It worked perfectly with the added light. Both the tach and the light where on the same side of the prop i.e. the tach sensed the reflected light, not disrupted.

Jim... at the front or at the back of the prop?
I usually don't like to stand in front of the prop if I can help it
regards,
Patrick

At the back.

I use a Globee Intellitach. Had some problems with the rpm readings running all over the place under less than ideal lighting conditions in the field. I took the case apart, painted the sensor housing with black paint, and a coating of black sharpy ink on the perimeter of the clear plastic lens. This is to stop stray light and multiple internal reflections from entering the sensor. Now the tach works perfect in all conditions, even further from the prop, front or back...........

Heads_up,

Mr Criscimagna didn't remember any transaction selling his TNC. Be wary.

hmmmm,

hawk

That's strange...I spoke to him on the phone and he told me he was out of business, but someone would be producing them again shortly. At that time he said someone was going to start producing them after the first of the year, but didn't mention any names other than to ask for them at Don's Hobby Shop after the first of the year. I came away with the distinct impression he had sold the design.

I spoke with Tony, Mr. TNC, yesterday. We are currently in the negotiation progress of purchaing the design rights for the TNC Tach. I have edited my original post accordingly. Sorry for the confusion.

Best Regards

Rick Head
Marketing and Public Relations
Skyborn Electronics / PowerfLite
R/C Power Solutions
[email protected]
http://www.rcpowerflite.com
972-267-5099

Just out of courisoty does anyone know why the TNC tach is priced at between 4-5 times the cost of other tachs.

What components could possibly make the price so much more?? or is this the same pricing strategy that dubro uses when pricing 4 4-40 bolts for 3.95

I'm not trying to start a fuss here but what could possible make the TNC unit so much more expensive.

I'm in the market for a tach but 104.95 really sounds high

The TNC is made completly different electronically than the typical bargin tach.

Believe me, if you once use a TNC, you will never bother using one of those cheap ones again.

Jim

With the cost of electronic components what they are today I'm still trying to get an idea of what makes it cost so much more do you know specifically which components differ between TNC and the "cheap" models.

By cheap I'm assuming you are implying lowerquality and not just lower cost.

Why the Alpha 4 charger is $300 and a Hobbico is $30 (I didn't reasearch actual prices, just making a comparison)...they both do the same thing, basically, but there is a waiting list to get an Alpha 4.

So you're saying that because there is a waiting list the Alpha 4 is better and worth 260.00 more then the hobbico.??

I've found that alot of items we use in this hobby are borrowed from other applications and repackaged and marked up then sold at incredible prices examples adhesives and the small machine screws we use also fiber class cloth and resin

I was just interested in finding out what components make the TNC some better which justifies the cost.

How many people buy poleyster resin from the hobby store when NAPA , Wheels etc sell it for a fraction of the cost??

I don't mind paying a premium for specilaty items but when you can goto a industrial supply outlet and buy 100 4-40 machines screws for under 10.00 it gets annoying when the Hobby stores try to sell 4 for 3.00