Hawk GUI: Defining Engines and Tachometers

Engine and Tachometer Definitions

Engines and related tachos are defined in the preferences screen, engine tab.

Below shows an example of viewing an engine and its subtype’s details.


Adding an Engine

Adding a new engine type is achieved by selecting the Engines node in the tree view, with a left click. Then right click on the Engine node. A popup menu will appear, whereby the user can select Add Engine. Some extra controls will appear under the tree view, consisting of an edit box and Add and Cancel buttons. The user should enter the name of the engine and should then click Add. The engine will appear as a new node in the tree view. 

Adding a subtype works in a similar way. The user should select the engine by left clicking in the tree view and then right click for options. The user can then select Add Engine Subtype from the menu.  As with adding an engine, some extra controls will then appear. The user can then enter the name of the subtype and click Add to add the subtype. The subtype will now appear in the tree view under the selected engine.

Renaming an Engine

It is also possible to rename an engine and its subtypes by selecting the engine or subtype and then right clicking on it. They will then be presented with a box to enter a new name.

Deleting an Engine

If a user wants to completely remove an engine or subtype, they can do so by selecting the desired node in the tree view and then right clicking and selecting the delete option. The user will then have to confirm their choice before the deletion will occur.

Warning: Deleting an engine will remove that engine and all its subtypes and their tacho details from the engine file. Deleting a subtype will remove that subtype and its tacho details from the engine file. If you save these changes, configuration data will be lost permanently. (This does not delete any acquired dynamic data.)

Editing an Engine's Tacho Information

When an engine and subtype have been added, the tacho details can then be set up by navigating through the tree view and selecting the subtype of a particular engine. The tacho grid will then be populated with any existing tacho information.

The user will be able to edit in the grid:

  • The tacho name,
  • The 100% speed in RPM,
  • The 100% frequency in Hz, or the tacho ratio, depending on what settings were specified on the Preferences screen.

If the user set the preferences so that they are using a ratio setting (Figure 52), then the number entered into a ratio cell, in the grid, must be in the format specified for the ratio on the preferences screen.

The ratio options are as follows:

  • (Frequency ´ 60) / RPM, i.e. Frequency / RPS. More commonly used as the ratio here is the number of pulses per revolution, in other words the number of teeth on the shaft.
  • RPM  / (Frequency ´ 60), i.e. RPS  / Frequency
  • RPM / Frequency
  • Frequency / RPM

As the speed and ratio values are entered, the grid will automatically display the correct frequency. Likewise if a speed and frequency are entered, the grid will automatically update the ratio value.

Up to ten tachos can be specified for each engine subtype, with gaps allowed. It is for example allowed to define tacho number 1 (in row number 1), and tacho number 7 (in row number 7), and leave the other rows blank.

Export and Import Engine Settings

There are two buttons on the bottom button bar: Import Settings and Export Settings.

The Export Settings button allows the user to export the following settings file from the working directory to another location:

  • Engines
  • Channel types, unit conversions and gauge types.

The Import Settings button allows the user to browse to a location and import previously exported engines, channel types, gauge types and unit conversion settings files. The imported files replace the current working set of files and will become the active working set.

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