europa-list
[Top] [All Lists]

Digital tachos (was Re: Temperature Gauges)

Subject: Digital tachos (was Re: Temperature Gauges)
From: Mark Burton <markb@ordern.com>
Date: Wed, 18 Sep 2002 20:28:05

> Fred said:
> RPM should be the most suspect of all.  Convenient to think digital is
> more accurate, but you can't just count pulses - accurate to within
> parts per million, but at even 50RPM resolution, the display update
> rate is unacceptable.  Other approaches then become dependent on
> mechanical and other issues in the stator ass'y from whence come the
> pulses, with accuracy attainable with $$, unless the higher price is
> just more profit.  Same for analog gauges.  Digital RPM checkers which
> read optically are very accurate and affordable.  Borrowing or buying
> one of these is arguably a must!  Or a freq counter from Radio Shack
> and do the math.

It is possible to construct a digital tacho that has better than 50
RPM resolution and an update time of no more than 0.25 second using 
about 20 quids (30 euros/dollars) worth of components.

That said, I agree with the view that an analog tacho is easier to
read. Pity the stability of the Rotax units is so poor.

Cheers,

Mark



<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>