TheSamba.com Forums
 
  View original topic: Tacho jumpy at idle unless multimeter connected?!?
shokwave2 Sun Aug 18, 2013 2:10 am

Just installed a VDO tachometer today and hooked up a multimeter to check the accuracy. It was spot on reading 850 at idle and spot on when reved. But when i removed the multimeter the tacho showed higher and jumping around at idle, anywhere from 1100-1500. All i did was attach the multimeter to - side of the coil and to a ground, and the tach works fine. Electrics are 12V, points, alternator, tacho is wired to the coil. Is this a grounding issue somewhere, with either the coil or tacho?

longboard511 Sun Aug 18, 2013 2:25 am

im sure sometimes they need a diode fitted in line do a search on jumpy rev counter im sure you will find the info

shokwave2 Sun Aug 18, 2013 2:31 am

Cheers, will do.

Quokka42 Sun Aug 18, 2013 2:36 am

Yes, that can help. two diodes such as 1N4004 back to back should fix it. The reverse breakdown should be enough to smooth it, otherwise, buy a couple of Zeners of 15V or more and do the same.

If it is an electronic ignition, you can also try sticking a condensor across it.

shokwave2 Sun Aug 18, 2013 3:25 am

Quokka42 wrote: Yes, that can help. two diodes such as 1N4004 back to back should fix it.

So i should install 2 diodes, not 1? I can't find 1N4005 on Jaycar's website, so would 2 x 1N4004's be equal?

Eric Hodges Sun Aug 18, 2013 12:26 pm

Yup.
Or 1N4001, 1N914, ... any diode.

Dale M. Sun Aug 18, 2013 1:22 pm

Radio Shack ..... Walk in, drop $1.98, walk out with diodes...

Dale

gt1953 Sun Aug 18, 2013 6:59 pm

Mine only needed the one diode, I have a small box of them. Any diode that can handle a couple of amps is fine.

shokwave2 Sun Aug 18, 2013 11:58 pm

Well got a pack of 4 diodes for $1, tried installing just one and it's done the trick. Thanks everyone. Although other guys have said their VDO tacho came with a diode included in the package. Mine didn't, oh well.



Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group