Top Flite TOPQ5700 - Manual (Page 7)

MODIFICATION
In the years since its introduction, users
have informed us of various useful
modifications they have discovered. One
particularly useful one is to drill out the
Base Rod holes in one of the balancer
cases with a 3/16" drill bit, allowing the
two halves of the case to be positioned
closer together. Doing this makes it
possible to suspend a Great Planes
Fingertip Prop Balancer (GPMQ5000),
which has a threaded shaft that will hold
some items more securely.
HOW TO USE YOUR BALANCER AS
A WIND SPEED INDICATOR
(ANEMOMETER)
A unique feature of the Precision
Magnetic Balancer is its ability to read
the wind speed. Because of its nearly
friction-free design, it can determine
the wind speed to within 2 mph. All you
need is a photocell tachometer and a
balanced Top Flite 11 x 8 Power Point
prop. Any tachometer will work to read
the wind speed, but the Hobbico
Digital Mini Tach (HCAP0401) is ideal.
You can temporarily mount it on the
balancer which will allow you to set the
unit down and read the wind speed
without having to hold any of the
components.
PROCEDURE
Mount the 11 x 8 Power Point prop on
the balancer shaft and place the shaft
between the magnets. Adjust the
magnets if necessary until the shaft is
touching only one magnet. For stronger
winds, adjust the Magnets so they
touch both ends of the shaft.
Place the balancer unit on a flat surface
(or hold it) in free flowing air so the
back of the prop is facing the direction
the wind is coming from. Turn on the
tach and read the wind speed. The
wind speed with the 11 x 8 Power Point
prop will be the RPM divided by 100.
The Hobbico Digital Mini Tach reads
RPM in thousands so the wind speed
will be in tens. For example, a reading
of 0.5 on the tach is 5 mph. A reading
of 18.8 on the tach is 188 mph (in which
case you should not fly) and so on.
To temporarily mount the Hobbico Digital
Mini Tach on the balancer, use a piece of