Kestrel 4000 Instruction Manual page 4

This section provides examples of applications where a Kestrel 4000 might be used, and the appropirate
memory settings.
Weather Monitoring
Auto Store On
Store Rate 1 hr
Overwrite On
Man Store Off
These settings will allow you to track conditions for
almost 10 1/2 days. 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 baro-
metric pressure, which indicates a storm is coming.
Hiking/Camping for the Weekend
Auto Store On
Store Rate 20 min
Overwrite Off
Man Store On
These settings will allow you to track the conditions for
almost 3 1/2 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.
The below definitions have been greatly simplified 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 definition. On the internet, visit
www.usatoday.com or www.noaa.gov. Or, locate the USA Today publication, The Weather Book.
Please note that any words in a definition printed in italics are themselves defined in this glossary.
Altitude: The distance above sea level. The Kestrel 4000 calculates altitude based on the
measured station pressure and an assumed or known barometric 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.
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 race care engines.
Dewpoint: The temperature to which air must be cooled in order for condensation to occur. The
difference 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.
Soaring/Hang Gliding
Auto Store On
Store Rate 2 min
Overwrite Off
Man Store On
These settings will allow you to track all conditions for
over 8 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 flight.
Skydiving
Auto Store On
Store Rate 2 sec
Overwrite Off
Man Store Off
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.
HVAC - Environmental Monitoring
Auto Store On
Store Rate 5min
Overwrite On
Man Store Off
These settings will record conditions every five
minutes, for a total storage of almost 21 hours. 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 effect on the environment when
employees enter and exit the building.
Store Rate Total Memory
2 sec 8 min, 20 sec
5 sec 20 min, 50 sec
10 sec 41 min, 40 sec
20 sec 1 hr, 13 min, 20 sec
30 sec 2 hr, 5 min
1 min 4 hr, 10 min
2 min 8 hr, 20 min
5 min 20 hr, 50 min
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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 our
ability to cool ourselves by evaporating perspiration is reduced.
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.
Wind Chill: The cooling effect 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 4000's wind chill is
based on the National Weather Service standards as of November 1, 2001.
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HVAC/R - System Balancing
Auto Store Off
Store Rate —
Overwrite Off
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.
Store Rate Total Memory
10 min 1 day, 17 hr, 40 min
20 min 3 days, 11 hr, 20 min
30 min 5 days, 5 hr
1 hr 1 wk, 3 days, 10 hr
2 hr 2 wk, 1 day, 20 hr
5 hr 7 wk, 3 days, 2 hr
12 hr 17 wk, 6 days
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