Do I need a tachometer?

Little Dorrit

Little Dorrit

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Ok I can spend about £10 and get an infrared battery operated one for routine checks on engine which I was planning to do. However, then there is the issue of engine hours which an integrated tachometer wired to the alternator (w terminal) will give me, in addition to revs, for about £50. At the moment I have nothing other than a good ear for the engine sound and a manual record of engine hours. What should I do?
 
Nothing, I've been on many boats with no rev counter or engine hours, and the ones that have them I've rarely looked at. Engine hours are just a negotiating factor when buying or selling.
 
"What the eye doesn't see, the heart can't grieve."

When I have no dials, gauges or meters I don't seem to worry.
When I have the wretched things I'm constantly checking them wondering if the reading has gone up a bit, down a bit - or should it have done either?

I may have to succumb to an instrument panel when the new engine goes in, because my hearing is getting worse........
 
My engine (BUKH) was installed in 1982 and has neither tachometer or hour-meter. I do have a portable tachometer which I have used once in the 19 years I have owned her, to adjust the idling speed after an overhaul. I have no idea how many hours the engine has run and I don't need to know.
 
A rev counter is useful in helping you control the cruising speed and more importantly checking whether the engine is achieving maximum revs. Hour meter is less valuable as you can keep a manual log if you wish to know.
 
paella said:
Ok I can spend about £10 and get an infrared battery operated one for routine checks on engine which I was planning to do. However, then there is the issue of engine hours which an integrated tachometer wired to the alternator (w terminal) will give me, in addition to revs, for about £50. At the moment I have nothing other than a good ear for the engine sound and a manual record of engine hours. What should I do?
Click to expand...

For running hours i would look a simple timer that runs when the ignition is on

For a simple to install tachometer with running hours total i'd look at the Tiny Tach http://www.tinytachuk.com/
 
VicS said:
For running hours i would look a simple timer that runs when the ignition is on

For a simple to install tachometer with running hours total i'd look at the Tiny Tach http://www.tinytachuk.com/
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link. It's a nifty piece of equipment; using the fuel pipe and an earth magnet to send electrical pulses to the unit is a neat idea. Richard Dunn from
Tiny Tach UK has responded very promptly (within an hour) to my question about cost and availability, so all looking good in terms of customer service, although I may yet go for a cheaper and more conventional solution...or none at all!!
 
I fitted a tinytach to last boat. It wasn't essential but twas useful for setting the throttle to appropriate cruising revs
 
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