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Futaba-RC . A Main Hobbies . Boca Bearings

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Tools and Field Equipment > Minature Optical Tach???
 
 
Ken B
Elite Veteran
Location: Phoenix, AZ

Minature Optical Tach-- What I want to know is just how in the blazes do you use this thing?

How do you get a good high RPM/High pitch reading? This has me baffled, does some one stand right under the machine? Do you use a run up stand?

Just how do I do this safely?

Obviously I would have some one take the reading. How useful is this piece of equipment.

Thanks... The main reason for asking is the thought that I might be able to get some use out of it. Just after I figure out how to use it.

Ken B
04-28-2002 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
Augusto
rrAdvertiser
Location: San Diego, CA

The Miniature tach uses a strobe disc. The disc's rotational speed is controlled by a button that you increase or decrease. By simply looking at the helicopter through the strobe you increase or decrease the speed of the strobe until the blades appear to stop. At that point you take a look at the reading on the display and that's the head speed.

It can be used from anywhere and you can check someone's head speed while in flight.

Augusto.

Avant Aurora Ultimate
04-28-2002 Over year old.
 
 
Ken B
Elite Veteran
Location: Phoenix, AZ

Now I get it... Or am going to get it

Thanks for clearing that one up for me.

Ken B
04-28-2002 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
RapidRaptor
Heliman
Location: San Diego

Just make sure that someone else is looking at your blades through the tach. It's really hard to fly it and tach it at the same time...
04-29-2002 Over year old.
 
 
BladeRunner
Elite Veteran
Location: Ontario Canada. Member of "some sort" s

MA Tach?

I'm trying to figure out what the difference is between "second design" and the original?
I think I must have the original that I bought last Aug. It is going back to get checked out as it dosen't always start when turned on (new batteries). I called Heliproz where I bought it and was told to send it to the manufacturer....Mini Hobbies, the one I have has 4 AAA batteries inside(6V) but, interestingly the batteries are in a "holder" with a 9V type connector clip on it?

Was this tach just before the "new style?" Does anyone know the difference in these tachs?? Thanks for any info.

Ken, you may want to check this out before you order yours.
04-29-2002 Over year old.
 
 
Alex Rodriguez
Senior Heliman
Location: Ohio

And I thought that I was the only one having the start up problem. Mine is supposedly the newer style with the 4 AA's in it. The older version had a 9V in it from what I am told. Mine does not start up all the time either (brand new batteries) I can hear the motor buzzing but the disc does not move. I'm just too lazy to send it in. I still have a couple months to before the warranty expires.
04-29-2002 Over year old.
 
 
BladeRunner
Elite Veteran
Location: Ontario Canada. Member of "some sort" s

MA Tach?

Thanks Alex, that's exactly what mine does. I also noticed a couple of days ago that mine would stop on it's own while running??
So you are saying the newer tach is the 6V one?
04-29-2002 Over year old.
 
 
Alex Rodriguez
Senior Heliman
Location: Ohio

That's what I was told when I bought it. It was supposed to be the new design that spools up faster. I still haven't tried to use a 9v in it just to see if it is a voltage issue.
04-29-2002 Over year old.
 
 
BladeRunner
Elite Veteran
Location: Ontario Canada. Member of "some sort" s

Tach?

That was my thinking as well, I did try it....no joy, the display was acting wierd and it would not start at all. Couldn't see all the charactors in the display either.
04-29-2002 Over year old.
 
 
Doug
Elite Veteran
Location: Naples Florida....

The Tach will "stop on it's own" after a min or so of use if the speed has not been changed (this is a bat saving feature. The digits not showing up is not good
04-29-2002 Over year old.
 
 
BladeRunner
Elite Veteran
Location: Ontario Canada. Member of "some sort" s

Tach?

Thanks Doug, I guess it's off to Mini Hobbies it goes!
04-29-2002 Over year old.
 
 
BladeRunner
Elite Veteran
Location: Ontario Canada. Member of "some sort" s

Tach?

DavidH, thanks for the info. I just tried your suggestions and it still dosen't work right. I knew the display would have a "1" and "0" until it reaches the "1500" default setting,but even if I try the rocker switch the wheel isn't turning
Pressing the rocker will increase/decrease the display speed and you can hear the motor "buzzing" but that stinking wheel won't turn.
Some times turning the power switch off/on will get the wheel turning,but that's obviously not the way it should work.
It's still under warranty so I guess it's going back for a "tune up".
04-29-2002 Over year old.
 
 
Alex Rodriguez
Senior Heliman
Location: Ohio

Same thing here. Once it is going it will stop after a minute as it should. But it will not start up all the time even after pressing the increase/decrease button. I have to keep turning it on and off till it gets going. I guess mine will go back soon as well.
04-29-2002 Over year old.
 
 
RapidRaptor
Heliman
Location: San Diego

Mine hangs on start up occasionally. I usually just turn it off then back on and it's OK, every once-in-a-while it takes a few tries and a light tap. Seems like the motor gets into a dead zone and can't swing the aperture disc.
04-29-2002 Over year old.
 
 
Gary Jenkins
Elite Veteran
Location: Wilmington, DE

Do they use a stepping motor?

I built my own with a stepping motor and had trouble getting it to start reliably. The mass of the disk is very critical. I redesigned the tach with an old servomotor and an LED tach to control the disk speed. It’s more expensive to build but you don't have the startup problem.

Good luck getting it fixed!
04-30-2002 Over year old.
 
 
Ehab
Senior Heliman
Location: Beautifll San Jose, CA, Good old USA

MA Skytach

The new optical tach has the 4 battery holder which is much bigger than the original 9v battery. If you are not careful when closing the cover after a battery replacement (Or thru shock or shipping) the disc can easily HANG on the battery box(it happened to me when I replaced the batt). This MAY be part of the problem that SOME of you are having!!

Regards, Ehab
05-14-2002 Over year old.
 
 
BladeRunner
Elite Veteran
Location: Ontario Canada. Member of "some sort" s

MA tach?

Ehab, that's a good call....thanks,but, if that were the case it wouldn't turn at all....even with repeated switching off/on.
05-14-2002 Over year old.
 
 
MR>>C.
Heliman
Location: Goldsboro NC

Tach

I understand Thunder Tiger makes on that clamps on the Tail boom.
I have ordered one two time i never got it.
The Hobby Shop i deal with has been trying to get one for a year.
Has any one seen the Thunder Tigher Tach ??
I tied a Tower Hobbies Hand Held Tach to a stick and was hovering over it, works great.
Till i got too close i think part of it is in the next state.
Dumb idea !!
05-21-2002 Over year old.
 
 
ncostes
Veteran
Location: US

Roll your own skytach...

Seems like all you need to do this is a motor, a slotted wheel, and an led emmiter/detector pair, a shmidt trigger (maybe) and a frequency counter?

Hook a pot up to the motor power supply, increase the voltage till you see the blades still, look at the frequency counter...

Am I missing anything? I might lay out a pcb for this if anyone's interested.
05-29-2002 Over year old.
 
 
brc007
Senior Heliman
Location: Scottsdale, AZ (half hour from Phoenix)

ncostes,
If you do that let me know. I would be very interisted!

Thanks,
05-29-2002 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
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Tools and Field Equipment > Minature Optical Tach???
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