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E-flite . Next D . Fast Lad Performance

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Tools and Field Equipment > Ray Tech Thermometer
 
 
gforce
Veteran
Location: Jacksonville FL

So give me the pro's and con's of the Ray Tech infared thermometer. I see Heli proz has them for 79.95. Do you like them. Are they really great and easy to use for setting your engine mixture?

They say you can do ff flight and then land and quickly check the temp. With air moving over the engine head, do you really get an actual temp. of the engine, or does it cool down quickly?

Are they as great as Heli proz says they are? Thanks for you input.
04-10-2002 Over year old.
 
 
Phil Cole
Veteran
Location: Redwood City CA

If you can't really tell how an engine is running from the way it sounds and smokes then you need to learn. The thermometer will help (but not guarantee) you avoid burning an engine due to excessive leaness at high throttle settings until you learn.

The engine will cool off while getting off the power, landing, spooling down then measuring. All you can do is keep the time for all this constant, and know how much the engine cools.

You still have to get the idle and main needles in the right combination to get good idling, transition and hover. Temperature does not tell the entire story under these conditions.

The easiest way is to have someone explain the symptoms and how the adjustments help while tuning your model. After it's right, measure the temp, then you can use the thermometer to do small adjustments as conditions change.

Unfortunately there is no magic way to learn engine tuning. You have to learn it through experience and instruction.

It is some help if you want to lean the engine to the limit. That's what the car guys use them for, once they have the engine running nicely after break in.
04-10-2002 Over year old.
 
 
rsilvers
Senior Heliman
Location: Marshfield, MA

The device does not give good readings on shiny surfaces like engine heads. There is little advantage to a non contact device. You can buy a multimeter probe for $10 or a contact thermometer for $30. That being said, I like my Raytek and can get a good reading out of it by aiming it around. You still have to know about tuning an engine, but if the engine bogs on full throttle and I read the temp at 160 degrees, I know for sure it is too rich. If it bogs and I get 270 degrees, I know to look for something else. If the engine is running cleanly but loses power and dies without bogging, and I see a reading of 280 degrees, I know I ran it too lean. It is just more useful info. Anyone who says you don't need one is overestimating their talent. Same deal with people who set rotor speed by ear.
04-10-2002 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
whrlybrd
Senior Heliman
Location: Little Rock, AR

I agree, it should not be the only indicator for tuning but just one more piece of data to confirm, reaffirm or dispute your suspicions.
04-14-2002 Over year old.
 
 
rsilvers
Senior Heliman
Location: Marshfield, MA

http://www.scientificsonline.com/Pr...?productid=8189

I would get this instead. Much cheaper, and works on shiny metal.

I am not certain the tip of this in contact with the engine will be enough to give a good reading, but it probably will.

I have a Raytek BTW. It is cool and all but non-contact is little advantage and not worth paying for.
04-14-2002 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
pipercopter
Senior Heliman
Location: Riverside, California

Infrared Thermometers

Radioshack carries an infrared thermometer ideal for model use. It does not have the laser pointer but works just fine in sensing the head temperature. It is priced at 50.00 and was on sale for 39.95 a week ago. Hobbyhorse has on board thermometer similar to MIP the car folks use but is one step better in that it records the highest temperature in flight. That one is priced at 34.95.
04-23-2002 Over year old.
 
 
gforce
Veteran
Location: Jacksonville FL

So what is a good temp. to look for on the engine. 200, 225, 250deg ?

I see from earlier posts that 160 is to cool, 270 to hot. What is the best temp to try to get?
04-23-2002 Over year old.
 
 
rsilvers
Senior Heliman
Location: Marshfield, MA

There are long discussions about why you cannot tune by temperature. But I think most engines that run well are at about 210.
04-23-2002 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
pipercopter
Senior Heliman
Location: Riverside, California

Engine Tuning

This is how I tune my engines. I first hover to get the temperature stabilized. Then I take a reading. I look for a temp of approximately 160-170F. Then I take it forward flight. If the high needle is on the rich side, the machine will bog down slightly. I will fly it around for a couple of circuits at full throttle to stabilize the temp. Next, I land and take another reading as soon as I get the rotor stopped. I looking for a temp of around 220 for the 32 to 46 engine and around 200 for the 60 - 91. These temperatures seem to be close to optimum (Good balance between economy and power). I repeat the circuits adjusting the needle 3-5 clicks at time until I acquire the desired temp. On the raptor 30 and 46, if the machine wahwahs during rapid descent richen the setting 2 clicks at a time until it disappears (provided the mod to eliminate the up and down play on main gear has been done).
04-23-2002 Over year old.
 
 
rsilvers
Senior Heliman
Location: Marshfield, MA

Can someone post if the Radio Shack unit reads 212 degrees when pointed at boiling water?

I give them zero credit after buying a humidity meter that said "Accuracy: +-4% typical, actual units may be outside this range."

Can you believe the nerve!
04-23-2002 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
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