T&T: Advice on Equalizing & Tackometer?

[Arild Jensen]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Scott H.E. Welch
>
> Use a programmable tachometer with your alternator.


REPLY
I would strongly urge anyone who is retro fitting an new tachometer to their
engine to avoid the ones that rely on th xpulses coming from the alternator.

If you already have a smart regulator, you wil experience the disappearing
reading  efect when the regulator senses ful charge and shuts of the field
circuit.
If you laster on  decide to upgrade t oa bigger better or different
alternatot with a different pole count your tacj needs recalibration.

Tach circuits are prone to sensing any spikes and electrical noise that may
get into the charge circuit. this may cause the tach to read incorrectly.


The best and most reliable tachometers read pulses directlly from some
rotating shaft on the engine.
Sensors are available to pick up gear teeth count or magnets added to a
shaft or crank pulley. some use eflective patches plus an optical sensor to
read RPM.
The more pulses per revolution the more accurate at low speed.  Which is why
ring gear tooth pickups are now the norm on most computer controlled
diesels. They can even tell if the starter circuit is working normally  by
the slow crank speed

Arild