Kestrel 4000 User Manual

4000
Pocket Weather®Tracker
In a hurry?
Be sure to read pages
5-7 to ensure that
your Kestrel is setup
properly!
Instruction Manual For Kestrel 4000 &
Kestrel 4000 NV Models
1
www.kestrelweather.com 800.784.4221
Revised 07/27/10
Revised 09/07
Kestrel® 4000 Pocket Weather® Tracker 3
MANUAL MEMORY BUTTON Press to manually store current conditions to memory.
MEASUREMENT BUTTONS Press to scroll between screens: Date/Time, Measurements, User Dened Screens.
POWER/SETUP BUTTON Hold to turn power on or o. Press to enter and exit Main Setup Menu.
IMPELLER Zytec™ V-bearings on a user­replaceable impeller.
IMPELLER COVER Swivel cover protects impeller
BACKLIGHT BUTTON Press to activate backlight for 1 minute.
MODE BUTTONS Press to change mode of measurements: Current, Min/ Max/Avg, Chart.
COMMAND BUTTON In Chart Screens, press to view data points. In Setup Menus, press to make selection.
when not in use.
DATA UPLOAD OPTICAL COUPLER Software and serial port interface sold separately.
BATTERY DOOR Sealed with o-ring to keep product watertight.
FRONT BACK
TEMPERATURE SENSOR Hermetically sealed precision thermistor coiled to isolate from case temperature.
HUMIDITY SENSOR Capacitive sensor with secondary thermistor to improve accuracy and response.
SERIAL NUMBER
PRESSURE SENSOR Monolithic silicon piezoresistive sensor. Do NOT insert any objects into this hole.
AAA BATTERIES
Kestrel® 4000 Pocket Weather® Tracker 5
TABLE OF CONTENTS
GETTING STARTED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
NAVIGATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
SPECIAL FUNCTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
MAIN SETUP MENU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
APPLICATION EXAMPLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
MEMORY CAPABILITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
GLOSSARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
DEFAULT SETTINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
CUSTOMER SERVICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Congratulations on the purchase of your Kestrel 4000 Pocket Weather Tracker! The Kestrel 4000 is the next generation of weather monitoring. Now, you can instantly measure EVERY major environmental condition easily, accurately and right in the palm of your hand.
While the Kestrel 4000 is user-friendly and simple to use, reading the instruction manual is recommended in order to use the Kestrel 4000 to its fullest potential.
NK, manufacturer of Kestrel Pocket Weather Meters, is available to answer questions and provide support. Contact NK by phone: 610.447.1555, fax: 610.447.1577, email: info@nkhome.com, or web: www.nkhome.com.
GETTING STARTED
Battery Installation
Use only AAA batteries. Install batteries as indicated on the battery door. After installing the batteries, the Kestrel 4000 will automatically start in the Date and Time Setting mode. (See Date and Time Setup below.) Custom settings and chart data will be saved during a battery change; only the date/time and MMA values will be lost.
Turning the Kestrel Meter ON and OFF
To turn the Kestrel Meter ON, press the button. To turn the Kestrel Meter OFF, hold the button for two seconds. Or, press the button, then press the button with the word OFF highlighted. (Note: your unit will continue to automatically store data when the power is turned o.) When rst turned on, the Kestrel Meter will display a splash screen displaying the model number, the battery indicator, and the code version. This battery indicator will indicate the percentage of battery life remaining, which is helpful in preventing unexpected dead batteries.
Date and Time Setup
The rst time that you turn on your Kestrel Meter, as well as after a battery change, you will need to set the date and time. The Introduction Screen will appear for 3 seconds, followed by the Date/Time Setup Screen. Press the and buttons to scroll through the settings. Press the and buttons to scroll through the setting options. After entering the date and time, press the button to exit the Date/Time Setup. Then press the button again to exit the Main Setup Menu.
Kestrel® 4000 Pocket Weather® Tracker 7
NAVIGATION
Measurements use
Wind Speed
Temperature
Wind Chill
Humidity
Heat Index
DP
Dew Point
WB
Wet Bulb
Barometric Pressure
Altitude
D
Density Altitude
and
The Kestrel 4000 is set up to display 10 Measurements (some are calculations) in 3 Modes.
The Measurements are listed here with their corresponding screen icon. In addition to these Measurements and Modes, there are also 3 User Screens, which simultaneously show 3 current measurements, and the Date & Time Screen, which gives the current date and time. Use the
and buttons to scroll through the various Measurements, followed by the 3 User Screens and the Date/Time Screen. Any of these screens can be turned o so that you can customize your Kestrel Meter to show the screens that your application requires. (See the Measurements section in the Main Menu.)
The Modes are displayed below. Use the and buttons to scroll through the various Modes. From any mode, you may still scroll to a dierent Measurement by pressing the and buttons.
   Current - Displays the instantaneous reading.
   Min/Max/Avg - Displays the Minimum/Maximum/Average readings
from stored data. If there is no stored data, the values will be displayed as --.-.
   Chart - Displays a graphical representation of up to 2000 stored
data points for each measurement. If there is no stored data, the axis will appear, but the chart will be blank. (See the following section for information on Chart Navigation.)
Modes use
and
Navigation of Charts
The Kestrel 4000 is capable of storing up to 2000 data points for each measurement. To review the data, press the button while viewing a chart. A cursor will appear on the most recent data point. Press the and buttons to scroll through the data points. The date and time at which the data was stored will be displayed at the bottom of the screen, and the data value will be displayed at the top of the screen. Hold down the or button to scroll quickly through the data points.
Press the or button to review the data for the other measurements. Please note that the cursor will remain at the same date and time. If new data is stored while viewing chart data, the entire chart will shift left with the new data point charted on the right. The cursor will not shift with the chart.
Press the button to return to the Chart Mode.
Value
Chart
Cursor
Date & Time
Kestrel® 4000 Pocket Weather® Tracker 9
SPECIAL FUNCTIONS
User Screens
The Kestrel Meter has three User Screens that can be customized to display three current measurements simultaneously. These screens can also be turned o. (See the Main Menu section for setup instructions.)
Max/Avg for Wind Speed & Wind Chill
The Max/Avg values for the wind speed and wind chill values are measured independently from the stored and charted data.
This allows the user to start and stop the averaging period in the most appropriate manner for their application. Averaging on all wind-related values (Wind Speed and Wind Chill) will be started and stopped together.
While viewing the Min/Max/Avg screen for any of these measurements, hold the unit into the wind, and press the button when the screen displays “--average” to begin collecting data for all measurements, and again when the screen displays “--stop” to stop collecting data and hold the values on the display. Press the
button when the screen displays “--clear” to clear the data. This routine will work simultaneously for all measurements, regardless of which one is displayed while the routine is run. The Max/Avg for these wind values will not aect any other Min/Max/Avg or stored data.
Manual Data Storage
To manually store data, press the button. One of the following will appear: Data Stored (data has been captured and will appear on chart), Full (Overwrite is o and data log is full), or O (Manual Store button has been disabled). (See the Main Setup Menu section for more information on memory.)
Backlight
The Kestrel Meter has a high-visibility green backlight, which makes the display easily read in low-light conditions. The Kestrel 3500 NV has a night-vision preserving backlight which helps users to sustain natural night vision. The NV’s backlight incorporates an optical lter to reduce overall brightness and minimize blue and green spectrum light to preserve night vision. Additionally, the backlight is much dimmer than a standard backlight, making it more dicult to detect with the naked eye in night operations. This backlight appears soft greyish pink (not red) and is still in the visible spectrum, so it is not compatible with night­vision equipment.
It takes 30 to 45 minutes for the average eye to adapt to darkness and maximize night vision. Even a short burst of white, yellow, green or blue light “bleaches out” the rod cell photoreceptors in the eye and causes night blindness until the entire adaptation process can take place again. Light in the red spectrum does not cause this “bleaching out”, preventing night blindness and night vision fatigue.
Press the button within one minute to deactivate the light manually.
Relative Humidity
The Kestrel Meter is capable of measuring RH to a high accuracy: +/– 3% RH between 5 and 95%. To ensure operation within these specications, please follow these recommendations:
• Avoid taking measurements in direct sunlight, which will heat the air inside the humidity sensor
• If your circumstances force you to expose the Kestrel Meter to a large temperature swing prior to taking
button to activate the backlight. The light will remain activated for one minute. Press the
enclosure and cause inaccurate readings.
a relative humidity reading (such as when taking a Kestrel Meter stored inside at 70° F outside to a temperature of 40° F), you will need to take additional steps to ensure that the Kestrel Meter’s external temperature sensor is in thermal equilibrium.
Kestrel® 4000 Pocket Weather® Tracker 11
• Ideally, provide an airow of at least 1 M/S (2.2 MPH), over the temperature sensor—point the Kestrel Meter into the airow. If there is no airow, simply wave the unit back and forth so air passes over the sensors. With airow over the temperature sensors and humidity chambers, readings within specications will be provided within two to three minutes, even after a large temperature shift.
• If no airow can be provided, you must allow sucient time for the RH value to stabilize. This can take as long as 20 minutes—the greater the temperature change, the greater the time. You can use the logging capability of the Kestrel Meter to conrm that the unit has stabilized to a correct reading: Set the memory options to a relatively short logging interval (20 seconds works well), select the graphical display of RH, and you can see when the value is no longer changing signicantly. At that point, the RH value is stable and can be relied upon to be within the accuracy specications.
Barometric Pressure and Altitude Adjustment
The Kestrel Meter measures “station” pressure—the actual air pressure in the measurement location—and uses this value to calculate barometric pressure and altitude. Station pressure changes in response to two things—changes in altitude and changes in the atmosphere. Because the Kestrel Meter is constantly changing location and altitude, it is important to enter adjustments or “references” when accurate pressure and altitude readings are needed.
Barometric pressure is station pressure corrected to sea level. In order to make the correction, the Kestrel Meter needs an accurate reference altitude. Altitude is the height above sea level. In order to correctly calculate altitude, the unit needs an accurate barometric pressure reference, also known as an “altimeter setting”. Fortunately, you only need to know ONE of these values (current barometric pressure or current altitude) in order to set your Kestrel Meter up to show accurate readings.
decrease the reference pressure. You will notice that the altitude will change with changes in the reference pressure. Press the button to exit the adjustment mode. Set your Kestrel Meter down on a table and allow the altitude reading to stabilize. (Note: very small changes in pressure generate noticeable changes in altitude. In order to provide meaningful readings for activities where altitude changes quickly, the Kestrel Meter features rapid altitude response. This is why the altitude readings tend to uctuate by a few feet.) After obtaining a current altitude from the ALTITUDE screen, move to the BARO screen and enter this value as your reference altitude by following the same procedure. Both readings will now be accurate.
to increase the reference altitude or the button to decrease the reference altitude. You will notice that the barometric pressure will change with changes in the reference altitude. Press the button to exit the adjustment mode. Again, allow the Kestrel Meter to stabilize, then enter the value from the BARO screen as your reference pressure on the ALTITUDE screen by following the same procedure. Both readings are nowaccurate.
When reviewing stored data, remember that changes in pressure AND changes in location/altitude will aect the stored values. When tracking pressure changes relative to weather, set the reference altitude on the BARO screen and keep the Kestrel Meter in one location. Your graph history will now show trends in
Starting with the known barometric pressure for your location: You can obtain your current barometric pressure by checking an internet weather site for a nearby location, or contacting a local airport. Set this value as your reference pressure on the ALTITUDE screen to determine your correct altitude: Press the button to enter the reference setting mode. Press the button to increase the reference pressure or the button to
Starting with a known altitude for your location:
topographical map or local landmark. Google Earth is an excellent free program that provides the exact altitude for any given address: www.earth.google.com/. Set this value as your reference altitude on the BARO screen to determine your barometric pressure. Press the button to enter the reference setting
You can obtain your altitude from a
mode. Press the button
Kestrel® 4000 Pocket Weather® Tracker 13
barometric pressure. Your altitude as shown on the ALTITUDE screen will change as the weather changes, but you can ignore this screen for this purpose.
If you are planning a day hike would like to track your altitude, you’ll need to enter the correct reference pressure on the ALTITUDE screen as described above in “starting with the known barometric pressure.” You can now track the altitude changes as you hike. In this instance, you should ignore the values on the BARO screen, since the pressure changes will be due to changes in elevation far more than to changes in the weather.
In general, changes in barometric pressure associated with weather changes are small over the course of one day, but they will aect the accuracy of the altimeter over time. This is why aircraft reset their altimeters at every aireld by entering the eld’s “altimeter setting” or reference pressure. Accordingly, if accurate altitude readings are your primary interest, you should reset the reference pressure on your Kestrel Meter regularly. If you encounter an elevation landmark, you can adjust the reference pressure until the altitude matches the landmark elevation. This will correct the altitude for any pressure changes due to the weather. (Or, you can obtain an updated reference pressure from the sources described above.)
Some nal notes - If you wish to know the actual or station pressure for your location (such as for engine tuning), simply set the reference altitude on the BARO screen to “0”. In this case, the Kestrel Meter will not make any adjustment and will display the measured value. (Engine tuning and ballistics software sometimes refer to atmospheric or station pressure as “absolute pressure.” These applications are concerned with the actual air density, as opposed to pressure gradients relating to weather, so barometric pressure is less useful.)
Also, the above discussion applies to ALL pressure altimeters, including one you may have in a watch or other device, but not to GPS altimeters, which use satellite triangulation to determine altitude. Note that with present GPS technology, pressure altimeters remain more accurate for measuring altitude change. This is why airplanes still rely on pressure altimeters, not GPS.
Finally, the DENSITY ALTITUDE screen is calculated from the absolute values of station pressure, relative humidity and temperature, and is not aected by the reference values entered in the BARO and ALTITUDE screens.
MAIN SETUP MENU
You can customize your Kestrel Meter in multiple ways. Press the button to access the Main Setup Menu. Press the button to select the highlighted setting. The Main Setup Menu contains: OFF, Memory Options, Measurements, Graph Scale, Units, User Screens, System, Date & Time, Language and Restore.
O
Press the then the button to turn the display o. Even when the Kestrel Meter’s display is turned o, the unit will continue to automatically store data at the dened Store Rate. The battery life will be decreased if data is stored frequently. The only way to completely shut o the unit is to remove the batteries. Custom settings and data will be stored when the batteries are removed.
Memory Options
These settings control the data storage properties.
Setting Description Operation
Clear Log
(Go/Done)
Reset MMA
(Go/Done)
All stored data is cleared. This will also clear Min/Max/Avg data.
All Min/Max/Avg data is cleared. Chart data will remain intact.
Press or to clear the log.
Press or to clear the MMA.
Kestrel® 4000 Pocket Weather® Tracker 15
Auto Store
(On/O)
Store Rate*
(2 sec – 12 hr)
Overwrite
(On/O)
Man Store
(On/O)
* When unit is o, data is NOT stored for 2 sec and 5 sec Store Rates.
Measurements
Measurement screens can be turned o, or “hidden” from the normal measurement navigation. For example, if wind chill is not of interest, it can be hidden. Press the and OFF for each individual measurement. Press the or button to highlight the desired measurement. Press the button to return to the Main Setup Menu. Even when measurements are hidden, the Kestrel Meter will continue to log data for all measurements. If you wish to see the logged data for measurements
When On, data is automatically stored at preset Store Rate. When O, data is only stored when manually captured with the
button.
The frequency at which data sets are automatically stored. (Battery life may be shortened if data is stored frequently.)
This setting only applies when the data log is full. When On, oldest data point is discarded to allow memory for the new data point. When O, new data points are not saved.
When On, data is stored when the button is pressed. When o, the button is disabled.
or button to toggle between ON
Press or to toggle between On and O.
Press or to increase or decrease Store Rate frequency.
Press or to toggle between On and O.
Press or to toggle between On and O.
that are hidden, simply enter the Measurement screen and turn them back on. The data will be stored in the same manner as all other measurements, as specied in the Store Rate.
Graph Scale
These settings control the chart limits of your Kestrel Meter. Depending on the conditions, the lower and upper limits of the chart scale may need to be adjusted in order to get the best view of the data. Highlight the desired measurement by pressing the pressing the button. Press the or button to increase or decrease the value of the limits. Press the or button to change between the upper and lower limits. Press the button to exit and return to the Measurement Selection screen. Press the button to return to the Main Setup Menu.
Wind Speed Temperature, Dewpoint,
m/s meters per second
km/h kilometers per hour
kt knots
mph miles per hour
ft/m feet per minute
Bft Beaufort
Wet Bulb Temp, Wind Chill & Heat Index
°C Celsius
°F Fahrenheit
or button. Select the highlighted measurement by
Pressure Altitude,
InHg inches mercury
HPa hectopascals
psi pounds per square inch
mb milibar
Density Altitude
m meters
ft feet
Kestrel® 4000 Pocket Weather® Tracker 17
Units
The units of measure can be adjusted to best suit the application. The following units are available: Highlight the desired measurement by pressing the or button. Press the or button to scroll through the available units. Press the button to return to the Main Setup Menu.
User Screens
The three User Screens can be recongured to display the most appropriate information for your application. For example, if you need to monitor the wind speed, humidity and barometric pressure, a User Screen can display these current measurement values on the same screen for quick reference. Only current measurements can be selected for the User Screens - Min/Max/Avg and Charts are not available.
From the Main Setup Menu, highlight the desired User Screen by pressing the or button. Press the
button to select the highlighted User Screen. Press the or buttons to change lines, and the or
button to scroll through the available measurements for each highlighted line. Press the button to return to the User Screen Setup Menu. Repeat above process for the other User Screens or press the button to return to the Main Setup Menu. The User Screens may also be hidden if not needed.
System
The display Contrast and Auto Shutdown can be recongured as required. The relative humidity and pressure sensors can also be recalibrated. Press the or buttons to highlight the appropriate selection, and the or button to adjust or select.
The Contrast can be adjusted for better visibility depending on the ambient lighting conditions. Press the or button to increase or decrease the contrast from 0 to 20 (0 is lightest, 20 is darkest).
The display can be set to automatically turn o in order to conserve the battery life. Auto Shutdown will only occur after the preset time has elapsed without any button presses. Press the or button to scroll through the Auto Shutdown options (15 minutes, 60 minutes, O). Battery life will be shortened if the Auto Shutdown is turned to O.
Baro Cal - Recalibration of this sensor is not typically required, and it is not recommended that you recalibrate without speaking to an NK technician. The pressure sensor can be calibrated if necessary. It is extremely important to know the precise altitude and mean sea level barometric pressure at the time of calibrating the sensor. First, set the reference altitude on the BARO measurement screen to the known altitude (see Pressure Adjustment section for instructions). Then adjust the calibrating setting on the Baro Cal screen to the known mean sea level barometric pressure. If recalibration is desired, the unit may also be returned to NK for service.
Humidity Cal - Recalibration of this sensor is not typically required, and it is not recommended that you recalibrate without speaking to an NK technician. The humidity sensor can be calibrated by “teaching” it the correct humidity. Some special equipment is required for this calibration, including two hermetically sealed containers and saturated salt solutions. NK oers a calibration kit, and instructions are available on www.nkhome.com. If recalibration is desired, the unit may also be returned to NK for service.
Date & Time
The date and time, as well as date and time formats, can be adjusted. The Time Formats available are 12 hour and 24 hour. The Date formats available are day/month/year and month/day/year. (See the Date and Time Set Up section for instructions.) Press the
Language
Displayed text can be set in one of ve languages: English, French, German, Italian or Spanish. To choose a language, use the or buttons to highlight the desired language. Press the button to select the language and return to the Main Setup Menu. Otherwise, press the button to return to the Main Setup Menu without changing languages.
Restore
Default settings for units of measure, date and time formats, and system settings can be restored. (See the Factory Default Settings section for more information.) Press the or button to highlight the desired
button to return to the Main Setup Menu.
Kestrel® 4000 Pocket Weather® Tracker 19
default setting: Metric, Imperial or Defaults. Press the or button to reset the factory setting. Press the
button to return to the Main Setup Menu.
APPLICATION EXAMPLES
This section provides examples of applications where a Kestrel Meter might be used, and the appropriate memory settings.
Weather Monitoring
Auto Store On Store Rate 1 hr Overwrite On Man Store O
These settings will allow you to track conditions for 2 months. When the memory is full, each new measurement will be stored in place of the oldest data point. The charts will provide a quick look at the recent weather conditions. Keep an eye out for falling barometric pressure, which indicates that a storm is coming.
Hiking/Camping for the Weekend
Auto Store On Store Rate 20 min Overwrite O Man Store On
These settings will allow you to track the conditions for almost 20 days. Measurements will be stored every 20 minutes, and stop storing when the log is full. This will let you review the trip at your convenience when
you return. You can also manually store the conditions, in case you get caught in 40 mile per hour winds or make it to the top of a mountain. For more detailed information on your trip, set the Store Rate to 2 hours overnight, and 10 minutes during the day.
Soaring/Hang Gliding
Auto Store On Store Rate 2 min Overwrite O Man Store On
These settings will allow you to track all conditions for 46 hours. Chart your altitude changes, watch how the temperature and humidity vary with altitude, and log your apparent speed. Data will no longer be stored once the log is full, in order to preserve it until it can be reviewed later. Be sure to clear the data log just before your ight.
Skydiving
Auto Store On Store Rate 2 sec Overwrite O Man Store O
These settings will allow you to record a detailed account of your jump. Be sure to clear the data log just before jumping. As you descend toward the ground, you will be tracking the altitude every two seconds, as well as the conditions at that altitude. The chart will clearly show the point at which the parachute opens, as well as the point you get back on the ground.
Kestrel® 4000 Pocket Weather® Tracker 21
HVAC - Environmental Monitoring
Auto Store On Store Rate 5 min Overwrite On Man Store O
These settings will record conditions every ve minutes, for a total storage of almost 2 days. You can monitor the conditions in a laboratory or manufacturing plant, both day and night, to determine if the climate control is working properly. Or you can examine the eect on the environment when employees enter and exit the building.
HVAC/R - System Balancing
Auto Store O Store Rate — Overwrite O Man Store On
These settings will require you to press the Manual Store Button in order to store any data at a duct, hood, vent, or other air system. The meter will not store any data automatically. Be sure to record the location and date/time of storage for reference when reviewing the data. After storing the conditions at each location, simply review the data and balance the system.
MEMORY CAPABILITIES
Store Rate Total Memory
2 sec 1 hr, 6 min, 40 sec 5 sec 2 hr, 46 min, 40 sec 10 sec 5 hr, 33 min, 20 sec 20 sec 11 hr, 6 min, 40 sec 30 sec 16 hr, 30 min 1 min 1 day, 9 hr, 20 min 2 min 2 days, 18 hr, 40 min 5 min 6 days, 22 hr, 40 min 10 min 13 days, 21 hr, 20 min 20 min 27 days, 18 hr, 40 min 30 min 41 days, 16 hr 1 hr 83 days, 8 hr 2 hr 166 days, 16 hr 5 hr 416 days, 16 hr 12 hr 1000 days
GLOSSARY
The below denitions have been greatly simplied in order to keep this section brief. We strongly recommend that anyone who wishes to make use of these measurements refer to one of the many excellent weather references available for a more in-depth denition. On the internet, visit www.usatoday.
Kestrel® 4000 Pocket Weather® Tracker 23
com or www.noaa.gov. Or, locate the USA Today publication, The Weather Book. Please note that any words in a denition printed in italics are themselves dened in this glossary.
Altimeter Setting
An aviation term for the local barometric pressure. Same as reference pressure.
Altitude
The distance above sea level. The Kestrel Meter calculates altitude based on the measured station pressure and the input barometric pressure - or “reference pressure”.
Barometric Pressure
The air pressure of your location reduced to sea level. Pressure will change as weather systems move into your location. Falling pressure indicates the arrival of a low pressure system and expected precipitation or storm conditions. Steady or rising pressure indicates clear weather. A correct altitude must be input for the Kestrel Meter to display barometric pressure correctly.
Density Altitude
The altitude at which you would be, given the current air density. Often used by pilots in order to determine how an aircraft will perform. Also of interest to individuals who tune high performance internal combustion engines, such as racecar engines.
Dewpoint
The temperature to which air must be cooled in order for condensation to occur. The dierence between dewpoint and temperature is referred to as the “temperature/dew point spread”. A low dewpoint spread indicates high relative humidity, while a large dewpoint spread indicates dry conditions.
Heat Index
A practical measure of how hot the current combination of relative humidity and temperature feels to a human body. Higher relative humidity makes it seem hotter because the body’s ability to cool itself by evaporating perspiration is reduced.
Reference Pressure
The local barometric pressure. Input to the altitude screen to provide correct altitude readings. Also known as the altimeter setting.
Relative Humidity
The amount of water vapor actually in the air divided by the maximum amount of water vapor the air could hold at that temperature, expressed as a percentage.
Station Pressure
The air pressure of your location, NOT reduced to the sea level equivalent.
Temperature
The ambient air temperature.
Wet Bulb Temperature
The lowest temperature to which a thermometer can be cooled by evaporating water into the air at constant pressure. This measurement is a holdover from the use of an instrument called a sling psychrometer. To measure wet bulb temperature with a sling psychrometer, a thermometer with a wet cloth covering over the bulb is spun rapidly through the air. If the relative humidity is high, there will be little evaporative cooling and the wet bulb temperature will be quite close to the ambient temperature. Some exercise physiology guides use wet bulb temperature, rather than heat index, as a measure of the safety of exercise in hot and humid conditions.
Kestrel® 4000 Pocket Weather® Tracker 25
Wind Chill
The cooling eect of combining wind and temperature. The wind chill gives a more accurate reading of how cold it really feels to the human body. The Kestrel Meter’s wind chill is based on the National Weather Service standards as of November 1, 2001.
DEFAULT SETTINGS
UNIT METRIC IMPERIAL
Wind Functions M/s mph Temperature Functions °C °F Barometric Pressure hPa inHg Altitude Functions M Ft Time Format 24 hour 12 hour Date Format Day/month/year Month/day/year
SETTING FACTORY DEFAULT
Automatic Data Store On Data Store Rate 1 hour Data Overwrite On Manual Data Store On User Screen 1 Wind speed, temperature, humidity User Screen 2 Humidity, dewpoint, wet bulb User Screen 3 Pressure, altitude, density altitude Display Contrast 10
Automatic Shutdown 15 minutes Language English
PC Upload
Stored data may be uploaded to a PC with the optional Kestrel Interface.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I set my Kestrel Meter to read the correct barometric pressure and altitude?
To measure these values accurately, you must know either your current pressure or altitude. If you know the current barometric pressure, go to the altitude screen, and press the button to enter the reference pressure. As you adjust the reference pressure, you will notice that the altitude will change. Once the reference pressure is entered, note the new altitude, and go to the barometric pressure screen. Press the
button to enter this altitude as the reference altitude. Your Kestrel Meter is now displaying the accurate pressure and altitude. (If you start with a known altitude, simply start with entering this value as the reference altitude on the barometric pressure screen. The adjust the reference barometric pressure on the altitude screen.)
You will need to update the reference pressure and altitude as you change altitude or the weather changes. For more information on this topic, see the Barometric Pressure and Altitude Adjustment section under “Special Functions.”
Kestrel® 4000 Pocket Weather® Tracker 27
Why is my Kestrel Meter is not registering wind speed?
It probably just needs a replacement impeller. You can verify this by removing the impeller (press rmly on the sides of the impeller), and turn the unit on to the wind speed screen. Hold the Kestrel Meter near a television, computer monitor or some electronic device and it will display a wind speed. Or, wave a magnet (like a refrigerator magnet) back and forth by the Kestrel Meter. If the Kestrel Meter is working properly, you will register a wind speed reading, even though there is no impeller installed. Simply purchase a new impeller and your Kestrel Meter’s wind speed readings will be restored to factory calibration.
What is the best way to take accurate temperature and humidity readings?
Avoid taking measurements in direct sunlight, and be sure there is airow over the sensors. Especially if you expose the Kestrel Meter to a large temperature swing prior to taking a reading (such as taking a Kestrel Meter from the indoors to the outdoors in the winter), airow over the sensors is necessary to measure accurate temperature and humidity readings. You can ensure airow by either placing the Kestrel Meter in a breeze, or by waving it back and forth. If no airow can be provided, you must allow up to 20 minutes for the values to stabilize and accurate readings to be displayed.
Can my Kestrel Meter measure water speed by placing it in wind speed mode and submerging it?
Even though your Kestrel Meter is fully waterproof and can be submerged without damage, the viscosity of water is dierent than that of air. The Kestrel Meter will display a value, but the readings will not be the accurate water speed.
Why does my screen turn black in the heat? Why does screen become sluggish or blank in the cold?
The liquid crystal display used in Kestrel Meters has an operational temperature range of –14.0 to 131.0°F (–10.0 to 55.0°C). Above this temperature, the whole screen will turn black. Below this temperature, the liquid crystals will freeze and not display a reading. Even in these conditions, your Kestrel Meter will still continue to measure and record readings as specied by the automatic and manual data storage rates, you will just not be able to read the display until the environment’s temperature is within the operational
range. In cold environments, you can keep the Kestrel Meter warm in your pocket and remove it only to take readings. Be sure to wave the unit back and forth to create airow over the sensors to ensure the most accurate reading possible.
Why doesn’t my Kestrel Meter match the local Weather Report?
Obtaining a weather report from a local television station, airport or internet site will give you the weather where those instruments are, which is not necessarily the same as where you are. Your Kestrel Meter is measuring the conditions right where you are. The nature of microclimates and weather fronts is that they are varied, and even locations as close as a mile apart can have dierent weather readings. You can certainly use these weather reporting services for good estimates of what the conditions will be, but for the most accurate readings at your particular location, the Kestrel Meter is better.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
KESTREL POCKET WEATHER METERS 5-YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY
NK does not believe in “disposable electronics.” We know that Kestrel Meters don’t typically lead pampered lives, and we design them for years of performance in tough conditions. Every Kestrel is designed and manufactured at NK’s facility in Boothwyn, Pennsylvania, to be the ac­curate, reliable weather instrument you need for your application. If for any reason you are not satised with the performance or operation of your Kestrel meter in the rst 30 days, you may return it to your place of purchase for a full refund.
We guarantee every Kestrel Pocket Weather Meter to be free of defects in materials and
Kestrel® 4000 Pocket Weather® Tracker 29
workmanship for a period of FIVE YEARS from their date of rst consumer purchase. NK will repair or replace any defective product or part when notied within the warranty period, and will return the product via domestic ground shipping or NK’s choice of method of interna­tional shipping at no charge.
The following shall be excluded from warranty coverage: damage due to improper use or neglect (including corrosion); damage caused by severe or excessive impact, crushing or me­chanical harm; modications or attempted repairs by someone other than an authorized NK/ Kestrel repair agent; impeller failure not caused by a manufacturing defect; normal usage wear; failed batteries; and accuracy issues resolvable by recalibration. Recalibration is provided free of charge within thirty (30) days of purchase if necessary.
Except for the warranties set forth herein, NK disclaims all other warranties, expressed, implied or statutory, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchant­ability or tness for a particular purpose. Any implied warranties that may be imposed by applicable law are limited to the term of this warranty. In no event shall NK be liable for any incidental, special or consequential damages, including, but not limited to, loss of business, loss of prots, loss of data or use, whether in an action in contract or tort or based on a warranty, arising out of or in connection with the use or performance of an NK product, even if NK has been advised of the possibility of such damages. You agree that repair, and (upon availability) replacement, as applicable, is your sole and exclusive rem­edy with respect to any breach of the NK Limited Warranty set forth herein. All product
liability and warranty options are governed exclusively by the laws of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania.
Your warranty period will be measured from your date of purchase. The best way to ensure full warranty coverage is to REGISTER your NK product promptly on our website: www. kestrelweather.com. We keep your registration information strictly condential and do not
sell it, share it, or use it for anything but product-related information bulletins (which you may decline receiving). If you do not register and cannot provide proof of purchase, your warranty period will be measured from our date of manufacture, determined by serial number.
We request that you contact NK if you feel your product is not working properly. We can often solve product issues by phone or e-mail, saving you the time and expense of returning the unit. If we require the product to be returned, we will issue a Return Authorization to expedite the handling of your warranty claim.
The Kestrel Pocket Weather Meters are covered by the following patents: 5,783,753, 5,939,645, 6,257,074, and 7,059,170.
Calibrations, Certications and Service
Every NK product is tested and calibrated before it leaves our factory. We guarantee that it will perform within specications when you receive it. Each Kestrel Meter comes with a Certicate of Conformity, with the stated specications for that product on the back. If you feel an NK product is not meeting specs when you receive it, call us and we’ll make sure you are operating it correctly. If it still appears that it may be out of spec, return it to us within 30 days of purchase and we will test and recalibrate all values at no charge.
Kestrel® 4000 Pocket Weather® Tracker 31
Beyond 30 days, we oer reasonably-priced tests, calibration services and N.I.S.T. certied calibrations as well as Kestrel Meter tune-ups.
All of our measurements are traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, ensuring the highest level of accuracy. Our primary Calibration Standards are sent for calibration in accordance with N.I.S.T. requirements and based on a regular schedule. Only approved laboratories and N.I.S.T themselves are used for these calibration services. Incoming and outgoing data is supplied with the certicate of calibration.
We also oer full factory service on every product we manufacture for as long as we make the product (and as long after as component availability permits). If we can’t repair a product, we will oer you a brand-new replacement under our Customer Care Program (even for accidental damage and misuse). Cost of repairs and other important information can be found on our website.
We request that you contact NK if you feel your product is not working properly. We can often solve product issues by phone or e-mail, saving you the time and expense of returning the unit. If we require the product to be returned, we will issue a Return Authorization to expedite the handling of your claim.
Visit www.kestrelweather.com for more information and pricing for these services.
Lifetime Customer Care Warranty
NK wants you to be an NK customer for life, so we take care of you even beyond the terms of the above warranty with our Customer Care Program. Trade-in any Kestrel Pocket Weather Meter, no matter the age or condition, and receive a generous discount on the replacement product (same model only). Our Customer Care Program applies only as long as we manufacture the product, and does not cover product upgrades.
Need Help?
Our NK Knowledge Center has answers to many common questions, along with tips and tricks for using NK products. It’s available 24-7 at www.nkhome.com/knowledgecenter/.
For email assistance with the installation or operation of your NK product, write techsupport@nkhome.com.
For help with an apparent malfunction, or to arrange or inquire about a repair, write repairs@nkhome.com.
Or call 800.784.4221 (610.447.1555 outside of the USA), Monday to Friday, 9 to 5, East Coast Time.
Kestrel® Pocket Weather® Meters are designed and manufactured in the USA by:
NIELSEN-KELLERMAN
21 Creek Circle, Boothwyn, PA 19061 Phone: (610) 447-1555 Fax: (610) 447-1577 Web: www.kestrelweather.com Email: kestrel@nkhome.com
Instruction Manual for Kestrel 4000 version: 4.29 ALL
Please register your Kestrel Meter at www.KestrelWeather.com
Kestrel® 4000 Pocket Weather® Tracker
Kestrel® Pocket Weather® Meters are designed and manufactured in the USA by:
NIELSEN-KELLERMAN
21 Creek Circle, Boothwyn, PA 19061 Phone: (610) 447-1555 Fax: (610) 447-1577 Web: www.kestrelweather.com Email: kestrel@nkhome.com
Instruction Manual for Kestrel 4000 version: 4.29 ALL
Please register your Kestrel Meter at www.KestrelWeather.com
Loading...