Kestrel 1000 Pocket Wind Meter

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Price: $75.99 $69.00   

Product Feature

• Perfect tool for model plane pilots, kite boarders, and other outdoor enthusiasts
• Sensitive user-replaceable impeller to measure current, average, and maximum wind speeds
• Ultralight impeller is mounted in jewel bearings for precision, wide range of speeds and low startup speed
• Protective cover with sure-grip molding, large easy-to-read LCD
• User-replaceable CR2032 coin cell battery; 5-year warranty

Product Description

The Kestrel 1000 is the one that started it all! We developed the Kestrel 1000 Pocket Wind Meter in 1995 when NK co-owner Richard Kellerman needed a reliable wind meter for flying his glider. If necessity is the mother of invention, then quality is the secret to aging gracefully. 14 years later, the Kestrel 1000 looks a little slicker, but still gives reliable, accurate wind measurements that you need. The large impeller turns in the faintest of breezes and is easily replaced. The hard cover lets you throw the Kestrel 1000 into your pack without damage.

Kestrel 1000 Pocket Wind Meter Review

Review for: Kestrel 1000 Pocket Wind Meter

OVERVIEW:
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The first of 14 Kestrel models ranging in price from $75ish to $900ish covering amateur and commercial/government uses, the Kestrel 1000 appears to be a SWEET SPOT FOR VALUE for those primarily interested in airflow/wind measurement. The $75ish Kestrel 1000 uses the same quality impeller, bearings, and mechanism as their higher end commercial and ballistics units.

Before committing to this model I suggest reviewing their other models in their line-up on their Nielsen Kellerman website.

DESCRIPTION:
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- MEASURES:
Current Wind Speed (AVERAGE OF LAST 3 SECONDS)
Average Wind Speed (since turned on, the average of "Current Wind Speed" measurements)
Maximum Wind Speed (Since turned on, the highest "Current Wind Speed" measured)

- AIR FLOW ACCURACY
3% of reading, least significant digit, or 20ft/min, whichever is larger.

- AIR FLOW RANGE (With Accuracy)
This is the Specification Range, not the entire Operational Range. The Specification Range is the range over which the reported accuracy is retained and is stable.
118 to 7,874 ft/min
1.3 to 89.5 mph
0.6 to 40.0 m/s
2.2 to 144.0 km/h
1.2 to 77.8 knots
0 to 12 B (Beaufort scale)

- OFF-AXIS ACCURACY DETAILS
Off-axis accuracy -1% @ 5� off-axis; -2% @ 10�; -3% @ 15�. CALIBRATION DRIFT < 1% after 100 hours use at 16 MPH | 7 m/s. This is one reason why user replaceable impeller is such a great value in the long-term for impeller based air velocity meters.

- Designed, tested, and assembled in the U.S. (by Nielsen Kellerman which owns Kestrel), which one assumes helped them sell tens of thousands of kestrel meters to the U.S. government and military.

PROS:
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- 3% ACCURACY, each unit individually certified and tested (confirmed with company). Certificate includes all the details on how the certification was preformed.

- N.I.S.T. 3rd party CERTIFICATION AVAILABLE at extra cost (National Institute of Standards and Technology)

- MIL-SPEC DROP TESTED, MIL-STD-810F (procedure 4) and 810G. 4 foot drop, all 26 points of impact. Test done with the same unit throughout (Spec 810 allows 5 units, doing it with 1 is more conservative, clearly). Test was not done by a 3rd party, but for merely $75 and a concrete floor you can execute your own test:). Separate tests also showed that with drops over and over, the impeller is usually the first to fail, and they are easily and inexpensively replaceable with the Kestrel units.

- REPLACEABLE IMPELLER (the little vane/fan is replaceable without tools)

- IP67 DUST AND WATER RESISTANCE (total dust protection and water immersion at 3ft protection for short periods)

- 5-year warranty

- Recalibration offered for free within 30 days if necessary

- Comes with a nice solid little slip case for more protection (with built-in lanyard)

- RoHS certified

- My limited experience with customer support so far was very positive. They have a few key customer support and techie folks with the relevant detailed knowledge, and on occasion they are out at shows so if you get a fill-in covering for them you may need to wait for them to return for knowledgeable support, usually within a week. If you get a fill-in, don't judge the company, they seem to usually be truly excellent on the customer support side.

CONS:
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- Can't think of anything important for the price point, though it would be nice if it had a backlight like a few of their higher end models, and it would be nice if it was more legible from side angles since the meter isn't always between us and the air flow source.

SWAPPING IMPELLER EXPERIENCE:
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I ordered a replacement impeller (the fan), paying extra for next day service, and replacing it was super easy. You just push out the old and push in the new. Just be sure to push only on the outer edges of the impeller and have the triangle on the same side as the display like the mini-instructions say to.

INSTRUCTIONS FROM KESTREL:
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- Wind speed calibration and testing should be done with triangle on impeller located at the top front face of the Kestrel.

- After several hours at 56 mph (4,923 ft/min) accuracy will be lost, this is a common attribute of anemometers with moving parts. You can then buy a replacement impeller for a fraction of the cost of the meter.

IF LOOKING FOR SUPER HIGH ACCURACY,
OR MEASURING ACCURATELY VERY LOW OR
VERY HIGH SPEEDS:
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- Consider looking at Gill Instruments, for example their ultrasonic 2D and 3D anemometers with no moving parts.

- Another high-end option is Kanomax, for example the Kanomax 6803 Vane Anemometer.

IF LOOKING FOR EVEN LESS EXPENSIVE
AIR FLOW METERS:
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- Consider the Ambient Weather WM-2 as a starting point in your research. I confirmed with their company that their accuracy is % of display value not % of top of the range, which greatly helps with low speed accuracy.
Ambient Weather WM-2 Handheld Weather Meter w/ Windspeed, Temperature, Wind Chill

METERS WITH POOR AIR FLOW
ACCURACY AT LOW AIR FLOW:
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Here are some models whose reported accuracy is as a % of the top of their range (confirmed with the companies), not a % of their displayed value, and thus have unusually poor accuracy at lower air flow speeds:
- General Tools DCFM8901, DCFM8906
- Omega HHF82, HHF91
- Extech 45170

NOTE:
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- Kestrel meters use Zytel bearings now instead of sapphire bearings. They are in the process of updating written materials, some haven't made that description modification yet. They found Zytel bearings easier to work with and expect them to lengthen product life by wearing less on a part.

- When not in use be sure to keep it in its (or any) container to keep pet hair, etc. out of the impeller.

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