FAI F3B Winch Test System

 
I was asked by the AMA to find a new F3b winch tester to meet the new FAI rules. No one is building any commercially. I put together a board based on the old tester design and modified it for the new test and available components.

I built two testers. One that is similar tot he old tester with three meters and a shunt for measuring the current. I then built a modified one that uses a clamp type transducer for measuring the current.

The shunt gives more repeatable results in testing. I also tried one current transducer that said the specs were +/- 2 percent. It turned out to be 5 percent. The Temna probe seems to work OK and results are closer to the shunt results. It still reads a little high on the current.

 

  •  Picture of two winch test systems
  • If you have comments or suggestions, email me at mikel@eclipse.net