The thread title pretty much says it all. I know boost gauges are available but I am wondering about gauges that would tell the driver how fast the turbo is spinning?

 

it spins something like 16k rpm give or take, there's no way you could ever hope to get any sort of sensor in there, there's nothing you could take a measurement off of....
the turbo's speed would be a useless intangible piece of data even if it was readable.

 

More like 120.000rpm.

Peter
M7 Tuning
562-608-8123

 

Useless probably, but it would be cool to know. An external magnetic sensor of some sort is what I was thinking of. and a ridiculously gaudy indicator on the dash.

 

Continental, the same company that makes tires lists a sensor in development.

See http://www.vdo.com/products_solution...eed-sensor.htm

AVL lists one here http://www.avl.com/wo/webobsession.s...TMyNjQ_3D.html

Garrett has one listed that even includes a gauge. http://www.streetperformance.com/par...ed-sensor.html

 

Turbo RPM gauges are up-and-coming in diesel performance aplications. Garret has one adaptable to most turbos, it requires a little machine work on the inlet side of the turbo to fit a tiny sensor. The sensor essentially counts the turbo blades as they pass by. The total number of impulses per second divided by the number of blades multiplied by 60 gives you blade RPM, which can be close to 150,000 rpm in extreme cases. Since diesel engines tuned for insane amounts of power can push 60 or more pounds of boost, the turbos are put under enormous strain, often to the point where a compressor or turbine wheel bursts or deforms.

 

If you dust off your high school physics books , you can calculate the speed of a turbo. The basic formula for angular velocity I think? I don't even remember...

All I know is that I was curious one day of the very question you are asking and remember calculating it out haha. It was a while ago, I don't remember what I even came up with, its frickin FAST though.

 

I thought it was more in the 40k range for a small to medium size turbo

 

haha, you have to take a lot!! 16k is nothing.... many motorcycle engines rev up to 15k at redline.

 

ya ya, asleep at the calculator so to speak, I needed another zero in there, point was that it's a relatively useless bit of data.
I was looking through the Garrett 'universal' kit instructions, it does require a trip to the machinist and a turbo specific adapter. interesting that they've made it, but unless you're in the business of serious turbocharger R&D, it's definitely RICE.
Get yourself a boost and water temp gauge setup, you could even add a post intercooler air-temp gauge...

instructions for install here
http://www.turbobygarrett.com/turbob...structions.pdf