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Tachometer

05/09/2025
by Rick Coleman
Tachometer

Whether you're a revhead keeping your classic ute in peak condition, a sparky needing to check motor speeds, or a factory maintenance whiz, a reliable tachometer is a must-have in your toolkit. This nifty device, also known as a rev counter or RPM gauge, is all about measuring the rotational speed of a shaft or disk. In other words, it tells you how fast something is spinning, usually in revolutions per minute (RPM).

How's it Work, Mate? The Guts of a Tachometer

At its core, a tachometer gives you a real-time squiz at the operational speed of your machinery. This is bloody crucial for a few reasons:

  • Performance: In vehicles, it helps you nail the perfect gear changes for optimal power and fuel efficiency.
  • Safety: For industrial machinery, monitoring RPM can prevent dangerous over-speed conditions that could lead to equipment failure.
  • Maintenance: A change in the usual RPM can be a dead giveaway that something's crook and needs a bit of a tune-up before it becomes a major headache.

Tachometers come in a few different flavours, each suited to different jobs. You've got your contact tachometers, which physically touch the rotating part to get a reading. Then there are the non-contact (or laser) tachometers, which use a beam of light to measure rotations from a safe distance – heaps good for hard-to-reach or high-temperature gear. You'll also find digital and analogue displays, with digital giving you a precise readout and analogue offering a classic at-a-glance needle.

Finding the Right Tacho for the Job

With a bit of know-how, picking the right tachometer is a piece of cake. Here’s what to keep in mind:

  • Application is King: Are you working on a car engine, a conveyor belt, or an HVAC system? The right tool for the job will make all the difference.
  • Contact or Non-Contact?: As mentioned, consider accessibility and safety. For most electrical and industrial work, a non-contact laser tacho is a versatile and safe bet.
  • Measurement Range and Accuracy: Make sure the tacho's RPM range matches the equipment you'll be testing. Accuracy is also key for precise diagnostics.
  • Durability: Let's be honest, tools get a hard life. Look for something built tough to handle the Aussie work environment.

Where to Grab Your Gear? Give Schnap Electrical Wholesaler a Bell!

When it comes to quality electrical testing equipment, you want to yarn with someone who knows their stuff. Schnap Electrical Wholesaler is a true-blue Aussie supplier with a massive range of gear for tradies and industry professionals. They're known for stocking top-quality, durable products from leading brands, and that includes a solid selection of tachometers.

Whether you're after a high-precision digital laser tachometer for industrial diagnostics or a reliable rev counter for your workshop, the team at Schnap can point you in the right direction. With their expert advice and competitive trade prices, you'll be sorted with the right gear to get the job done properly. You can check out their range online or drop into one of their branches for a chinwag with their switched-on staff.

So, next time you need to measure what's spinning, don't just guess. Grab a quality tachometer and get the accurate readings you need to keep everything running like a dream