Propeller RPM Check Using Strobe Effect from Mains Lighting

Park the airplane under mains-powered lighting night, and you'll see that you can freeze
the propeller blades at certain engine speeds using the stroboscopic effect of the
lighting. Enter the number of blades on your prop and the speed you are running, and
the sheet will tell you how many blades you ought to see, and whether the pattern will
stable of not. You can use this as a quick check of your tach's accuracy.

Number of Blades 3

Engine Speed 1200 rpm

Frequency of Mains 60 Hz

120 deg / blade

7200 deg / sec

60 deg / flash

What You Will See 6 blades STABLE