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Looking to build a simple and basic circuit ... please help

I am trying to make a simple circuit to mark/count revolutions of my
dad's hit and miss engine. He's trying to figure out how many
revolutions it makes in a day (8 hours). I did figure out how to make
a "counter" but now I'm really stuck on how to "count" the revolutions.
Hit and miss engines don't really have a constant speed so the magneto
is unreliable. So, in my mind, I am thinking of painting a white mark
on the rusty wheel. This is to give contrast for a photoelectric
circuit. The rusty area will be "off" or zero and the white mark will
be seen as an output a "on" or one and be logged with a counter in a
separate circuit.

Should I use a phototransistor or a photodiode? I ask this because I
know that it will be dusty and dirty (from the environment) so I would
like to make something kind of durable. And it will probably get a
little wet too.

I thought about sticking a magnet to it and using that to mark/count
it, but the flywheel isn't "perfectly" round. This is the reason I
was thinking about a photoelectric circuit. I know this probably seems
like child's play to you but I'm looking for suggestions. I do I have
an understanding of basic electronics. My problem is when I google
this kind of question it talks about high tech photoelectric circuits
loaded with technical stuff that I'll never understand and way out of
my price range. I'm trying to keep this as simple and durable as
possible.

If you have any suggestions, please email me at the above address or
here. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Todd
 
H

Homer J Simpson

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hit and miss engines don't really have a constant speed so the magneto
is unreliable. So, in my mind, I am thinking of painting a white mark
on the rusty wheel. This is to give contrast for a photoelectric
circuit.

Use a magnet and a hall effect sensor or a bolt (or similar metal lump) and
a magnetic sensor.




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