Thinking because that thing says "4 cylinder only" and doesn't have a "poles" setting(I can't see any), the tach is expecting to see 2 pulses/rev. Typically this would be a 4 cylinder 4 stroke (or a 4 pole stator or alt).
So, if I'm guessing right here
20 poles = 10p/r (pulses/rev)
(10p/r)/(2p/r) = 5
If I'm right and you hook that thing up to a 20 pole stator/alt (10 p/r sig. source) and the engine is idling around for example 800 rpm, the tach should read 800*5 or around 4500RPM.
I say this because a 4 or 6 or 8 cylinder engine can all have a alt/stator running 20 pole windings, right? Perhaps each having different current ratings and the like but, still can all have the same pole #'s, right?
Therefor, stamping "4 cylinder only" wouldn't make sense stamped on a tach that can run on any of those cylinder engines(4/6/8) because all, as we[me] just established, can all be running the same pole # stator/alt.....It then must be intended for as I listed above, expecting 2 pulses/rev NOT 10 pulses/rev (20 poles).:facepalm:
https://forums.iboats.com/forum/boat...4696-tach-test