How to: Hook up a Diesel tachometer to a Briggs Opposed Twin or any Briggs with AC out.

This is a cheap 20$ Diesel engine boat tachometer, but it seems to update faster than some digital. Note: Make sure you get one that you can adjust the zero point on.
For this you can get a cheap bicycle computer with rpm counter on to use to zero the tach in.

That's pretty cool. Got a manufacturer/part number?

How does it work? Diesels don't have spark ignition systems. Do you have to install a magnetic sensor?

Doc Sprocket wrote:

That's pretty cool. Got a manufacturer/part number?

How does it work? Diesels don't have spark ignition systems. Do you have to install a magnetic sensor?

Yea and no. I'll get ebay links later.
but its all connected with 3 wires and only one from the engine/ Alternator. So the tach reads the pps i guess from the AC light power source.

So how would it connect to a Diesel normally? Also from the alternator? Is there a way to adjust for the number of pulses of different alternators?

Too bad it only goes to 4K.

Doc Sprocket wrote:

So how would it connect to a Diesel normally? Also from the alternator? Is there a way to adjust for the number of pulses of different alternators?

Too bad it only goes to 4K.

Yes via the alternator "W" connector. But like i found out the "W" is just the AC pulse. aka our light source.

Nope, you cant adjust for different pulses, then you want a digital one.

You can get Diesel Universal Tachs ranging from 0-6k also, but i wanted this cheap one for now.

Heres the closest link i found, its in the UK ebay, with a fanzy chrome bezel
http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem?itemId=221071660492&cmd=VIDESC

Ahh. Very interesting. While I was awaiting your reply, I did a little research and learned more. I hadn't thought of that. I just assumed that a diesel tach would require the use of either a photo sensor, or a magnetic one.

Doc Sprocket wrote:

Ahh. Very interesting. While I was awaiting your reply, I did a little research and learned more. I hadn't thought of that. I just assumed that a diesel tach would require the use of either a photo sensor, or a magnetic one.

Ya same here, and thats the beauty of it, its so easy.

Heres a link to mine: Euro version,
http://biltema.no/no/Bat/12-V/Elektrisk-tilbehor/Turteller-for-dieselmotorer-258005/

Thanks for the info!