Well gents, it’s starting to feel like I’m waging war on a band of gremlins that have taken up residence within my airplane. Every time I turn around, something breaks. Today it was my tach cable. In lieu of replacing it and continuing on with a mechanical tach, I’m thinking of going digital. Between EI and Horizon, which does everyone like better and why? Does anyone have any specific negatives to share? EI is cheaper although the mag test feature isn’t as straightforward as with the Horizon. It also doesn’t fit a standard 3.25” hole without an adapter plate. To me the Horizon appears to be the better product, but I’m curious as to what others think and why.

Cost wise, the Horizon is more expensive new but there are plenty units around used for the same $$$ or less as a new EI unit.

Is there another digital tach worth considering? Preciate the help and input.

At this point, Horizon isn’t compatible with Surefly ignition. That would stop me right there. I believe electronic ignition will be the standard in years to come. Apparently Horizon is working on a fix.

This doesn’t confirm that EI is compatible. You’ll need to verify.

Back in December Surefly said they would have the Horizon fix in a week so it should be done by now.......

I've been calling and leaving messages for Horizon for over 6 months now to deal with an issue that I'm having with one of their tachs. I have yet to be able to talk to anyone or receive a call back from them. EI has always been quick to call back if they aren't available when I call, and I haven't had any problems with warranty from them so far. So for that reason I'd stick with the EI.

I have only used the digital but not computer tack. Absolute unusable piece of junk. The numbers were spinning too fast to read. I just used sound, which was mostly what I had been using with the regular tack.

Hopefully the software guys will make the computer one have a stable, readable number. They could, in addition, have a bar scale to show normal pulsing of the engine. It could look like "night rider's" car instrument panel. My son loved that show.

Interpretation of instruments should not be a two stroke thing. The Army mechanics twisted the analogue gauges so that normal operating indications would be at 12 o'clock. The newer bar scale gauges are level across the top when at normal operating range. Having to dwell on a gauge, map, or computer screen is dangerous in either the contact or the instrument environment.

For you helicopter pilots, how would you like to have to interpret "split needles" with digital rotor RPM and digital n2?

contactflying wrote:For you helicopter pilots, how would you like to have to interpret "split needles" with digital rotor RPM and digital n2?

That would be a huge PVI no-go!

Vertical scales are common on the platforms I fly, even those with digital screens.

I loved the Horizon digital techs I’ve owned and flown. Very viewable easy to read, and yes they all jump around some, but it’s not like rpm needs to be that precise anyway. You get used to them soon.

The small EI tachs (with the circle of lights around the TINY rpm display just flat suck in my experience. First, they need to be high and close to pilots line of vision to be readable. That tiny LCD display is hard to read. Secondly, two of them would periodically jump to 4000 rpm and stay there. Turn off master, reset tach and fine. Didn’t do this often, but PITA when it happens.

But the biggest issue is view ability, which is great in Horizon and awful in EI.

MTV

mtv wrote:I loved the Horizon digital techs I’ve owned and flown. Very viewable easy to read, and yes they all jump around some, but it’s not like rpm needs to be that precise anyway. You get used to them soon.

The small EI tachs (with the circle of lights around the TINY rpm display just flat suck in my experience. First, they need to be high and close to pilots line of vision to be readable. That tiny LCD display is hard to read. Secondly, two of them would periodically jump to 4000 rpm and stay there. Turn off master, reset tach and fine. Didn’t do this often, but PITA when it happens.

But the biggest issue is view ability, which is great in Horizon and awful in EI.

MTV

Interesting. I have a customer with a horizon that keeps freezing. Another that jumps 2-400 RPM. Makes mag checks tough. And no word back and unable to get ahold of the manufacturer. I agree that they are easier to read. Wish EI would make a 3" version.

After marriage I was still "making joyful noise" in church. After three months my wife leaned near my ear and whispered, "just move your lips." Tin ear, but I can still check a mag without ever looking down.

I have an EI and like it fine. Never had any problem reading it, and besides...how often do you check your tach anyway?

Might as well just bite the bullet and put in that cgr 30 or jpi 900 right now. Next year you will regret buying a digital tach now, because you will be wanting to get rid of the manifold pressure and cylinder temp gauges. A new tach cable is cheap.


I put a horizon in my 172 and loved it. Never a hiccup, I thought they went out of business??

Mark Y. wrote:Might as well just bite the bullet and put in that cgr 30 or jpi 900 right now. Next year you will regret buying a digital tach now, because you will be wanting to get rid of the manifold pressure and cylinder temp gauges. A new tach cable is cheap.


I put a horizon in my 172 and loved it. Never a hiccup, I thought they went out of business??

You just had to go there [cgr 30 - jpi 900] didn't you?!

I've been using a Horizon for over 20 years and never had an issue with it.

RE: a used one. Horizon will charge you $195 to reprogram it to your engine parameters if it doesn't come same type of engine. I had to pay that when I put the Pponk in a few years ago to make it compatible with the new engine parameters.

Rich

FDS T-30 has been reliable and accurate for going on 5 years now. “Just trying it out”, still have the mechanical on a shelf ready to go back in, any time now, maybe tomorrow...

Nushi wrote:

Mark Y. wrote:Might as well just bite the bullet and put in that cgr 30 or jpi 900 right now. Next year you will regret buying a digital tach now, because you will be wanting to get rid of the manifold pressure and cylinder temp gauges. A new tach cable is cheap.


I put a horizon in my 172 and loved it. Never a hiccup, I thought they went out of business??

You just had to go there [cgr 30 - jpi 900] didn't you?!

He’s got a great point. I put an all-in-one engine monitor last year after I lost the tach cable. I also happened to lose the oil temp gauge on the same trip, but had already made up my mind to replace them all when I got home.

No ragrets, as the kids say.

Well this sure escalated quickly. Chief had a special that ends today for a JPI-900 for $4k shipped to my door.....

"Honey, it just seemed to foolish to replace a $50 cable when I could go ahead and drop $4k and get so much more functionality...."

Thanks for the nudge boys.

Our R-1 tachometers are compatible with electronic ignitions and SureFly ignitions. Worth noting, the SureFly systems output a tach signal on the p-lead similar to a standard magneto. As such, our standard R-1 configured for magneto ignition works well when using a smaller isolator (resistor) than what we recommend for standard mags. I believe SureFly recommend a 18K ohm value. Additionally, our R-1 can also be order to work with an electronic ignitions which outputs a square wave tach signal. Viewability is subjective, but it is worth mentioning that our much older versions of the R-1 used a LCD screen which measured just under 3/4" diagonally and our current version measures just under 1-1/2".

I have had an analog tach, Horizon tach, EI R-1, and EI CGR-30P. They are listed in ascending order on the preference scale.

I realize of you likely require certified instruments but for those who don't here's an option; simple, not a lot of other bells and whistles but some may still prefer that look.

https://www.kanardia.eu/product/rpm/

I am considering this one. It is still analog, eliminates the tach cable and you have your choice of sensor at the mag or at the tach drive. I think I prefer the latter.

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/pages/in ... ometer.php