Thoughts on a digital tach

[Jeff J]

I was able to have the manufacturer set any time I wanted. I chose since major OH. I should have set it at total time on the airframe. But.....all is approximate.

Total or overhaul time isn’t what concerned me. Less convenient than having a tach that reads total time but simple math takes care of that. I used to work for a man who wanted overhaul time on his tachs. It’s the way the time is counted I don’t like. I set the digital tach to start counting time at 1100 rpm to approximate tach time. I don’t use the flight time function built into it because I use a portable GPS in that airplane. I may have to look into using the digital tach for flight time since Garmin doesn’t service the Aera 510 anymore and mine is acting up a little.

Anyway, I don’t miss the needle and would not replace a digital tach with an analog tach.

[cacctus]

Lots of great info in this thread! One of the "positives" I see with most any modern equipment is the weight savings, I'm of a "vintage age" but like all the new avionics...Tens of pounds replace by ounces is a good thing! I read in another post someone mentioned that they never got out of a plane and commented that it needed "less" power. I'm that way about weight...I never approach my plane with the thought of how to make it weigh more...