tachometer problem

[HerbertFriedman]

Sunday on my way motoring back to my slip, my tach stopped working. Later I used my clamp on ammeter to verify that the tack was putting out current, about 1.5 Amps for a nearly fully charged battery bank so the alternator is still working. Any idea how to check if the tach signal is still there, a new tachometer is available but not inexpensive.

 

[Pete the Cat]

Tach was "putting out current"? Not following you. Was getting current? There are trouble shooting videos for tachs on Youtube. Probably easier than back and forth here. The tachs do not fail as often as the wiring leading to them and the ground continuity. So that is where I would go first.

 

[HerbertFriedman]

Oops, I meant that the alternator was putting out current to the batteries but the tach was not reading. I did check the wiring to the tach, no loose connections on the tach wires at both the alternator and the tach, all were tight. I cannot get to the tach conntections on the alternator but I can put an ac volt meter on the terminals at the tach, wish I had a portable oscilloscope. Thanks for the tip, I will hunt up the videosl