Align Multi Function Tester
| Reviewer | Ashley Davis |
|---|---|
| Review Date | 09/06/2008 |
| Supplier | Align UK |
| Model | Align K10402TA RCE-MT8 Multi Function Tester |
| Unit Cost | £34.95 |
Box
RCE-MT8
Adjustment dial and mode button
Tacho sensor and servo output
TP style connector
Battery connector input
Review
The Align multi-function tester has the following capabilities:
- Test a battery pack to show individual cell voltages and overall pack fuel level (2S - 8S)
- Show highest voltage and lowest voltage cell in a pack and the delta difference in volts
- Servo testing, auto servo cycling as well as manual testing
- Tachometer for 2-7 blades
- Display BEC output voltage and rx signal output
Specification
- Voltage 2S - 8S
- Voltage resolution 0.001V
- PPM signal output 2270us to 770us
- PPM auto signal output 1520us (+/- 120-630us)
- Tacho 2-7 blades
- Prop rotating range 1-60000 RPM at a distance of 5-15cm
- BEC input range 4-7V
- Battery input terminal spec: 2.5mm pitch pins, compatible with Align compatible balance plugs
So, how does it work?
I'll take this in sections starting with the battery testing:
The unit comes with a balance connector which will accept 2S-8S balance connectors of the Thunder Power style (also Align, Flightpower). Just plug in the pack and the tester immediately displays the overall fuel level and the first couple of cells voltages. You can scroll through all cells by pressing the mode button. Double pressing the mode button reduces the font size to get four cells onto each screen. Single pressing also navigates to the screen showing the delta between highest and lowest cell and their respective voltages.
Overall voltage and fuel level
Individual cell voltages
More cell voltages to a screen
Highest / lowest voltage cells and delta
Next let's take a look at the servo testing function.
The way this works is a battery pack must be plugged into the balance connector, any voltage from 2S-8S is fine the tester will down convert it to 5V. The servo is plugged into the servo port next to the tacho sensor.
In order to enter servo testing mode the mode button must be held down for two seconds. Once done the tester enters servo test mode and the pulse width sent to the servo can then be altered using the adjustment dial on the side of the unit. Alternatively a single click of the mode button will enter auto cycling mode and the adjustment dial then acts as a speed selection for how fast the servo is cycled.
Manual servo testing
Auto cycling servo testing
A double click of the mode button will enter PPM test mode. Connect an rx to the tester servo input port and it will show the rx PPM signal output and the voltage output of the rx.
Lastly their is tachometer mode which will measure RPM for props of 2 blades through to 7 blades. Obviously for heli's we would mostly use the two blade option unless it is a scale model with a multi-bladed head. The tacho will show in real time the RPM plus the peak RPM reached since power up. The sensor must be held 5-15cm from the blades and cannot be used under household lights which tend to flicker at the AC current and interfere with the reading.
A pack connected to the tester
Tacho mode
| Pros |
|---|
| Small and easily carried in a flight box |
| Good set of functionality |
| Voltage checker shows fuel as a percentage as well as volts |
| Servo tester works extremely well |
| Very versatile device at a good price |
| Cons |
|---|
| Supplied balance connector only takes TP style plugs |
| Using the tacho on a heli means getting rather close to some big spinning blades |
Conclusion
Overall I really like this little multi-tester. Particularly the battery testing which shows voltage as a percentage like a fuel gauge. Also the delta display showing highest and lowest cell is an excellent idea. The servo tester works very well too. The only element that is not best suited to heli's is the tachometer which needs holding pretty close to the rotor blades and as such is a little dangerous to use with helicopters. However for planes it's no issue at all.
I'd recommend this just for the % fuel level functionality so the rest of the capabilities are a bonus. Hopefully Align will produce some additional connectors so we can use other styles of balance plug with this device.
All in all an excellent little device and definitely well worth adding to the flightbox.
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