Kestrel 5500 Weather Meter
Kestrel 5500 Weather Meter
The Kestrel 5500 Pocket Weather Tracker is a complete weather instrument, offering all the features of the Kestrel 5000 with instant and accurate measurement of wind speed, temperature, humidity and barometric pressure and numerous other derived functions.
In addition, the Kestrel 5500 has a built-in digital compass. This allows you to track and log wind direction as well as wind speed. The wind direction is displayed in degrees and cardinal compass points. This makes the Kestrel 5500 the required model for HAZMAT workers, flight crews and military personnel as well as paragliders, flying enthusiasts and kite boarders who need to understand the impact of crosswind, headwind and tailwind.
By setting a reference target or runway heading, the Kestrel 5500 will automatically calculate crosswind, headwind and tailwind when measuring the wind speed. The digital compass can also be used to display forward heading with reference to either magnetic or true north.
The Kestrel 5500 also calculates and logs over 10,000 sets of time-stamped data.
There are two versions of Kestrel 5500
STANDARD VERSION
With the standard Kestrel 5500 data can be transferred using the K5000 USB Data Transfer Cable (sold separately) to a Windows/Mac device.
The free of charge Kestrel LiNK App will allow you to view and hold all data as well as download into .csv format.
LiNK VERSION
The Kestrel 5500 LiNK version has Bluetooth connectivity allowing you to transfer data wirelessly to an iOS (iPhone, iPad) device or Android smartphone or tablet when within range using the appropriate Kestrel LiNK App.
You can also transfer data wirelessly to a Windows or Mac computer using the optional Kestrel Bluetooth USB Dongle (sold separately). Data can be viewed live on the App up to 100 feet away (line of sight).
When combined with the Kestrel Vane Mount and Kestrel Tripod the Kestrel 5500 becomes a stand-alone weather station as the large wind vane and precision pivot keep the Kestrel oriented into the wind for continuous measurement and logging of all the key environmental parameters at the exact location required.
Mil-SPEC-810G drop tested with an IP67 waterproof rating the Kestrel 5500 is designed and constructed to withstand the harsh treatment it will receive from construction sites, farms or HVAC engineers. The unit comes with a five-year warranty and certificate of conformity as standard.
Features
• Large easily read high resolution, high contrast display with backlight
• Time & Date
• Customize screens to display user-selected measurements
• Graph & recall trends
• Min, Max & Average values
• Automatically store measurements, when powered on or off
• Manually store measurements with the press of a button
• Customizable data storage – 10,000 data points
• Data charting
• Optional LiNK connectivity powered by Bluetooth® low energy provides wireless communication to mobile devices and computers.
• Data upload to iOS & Android phones & tablets
• Data upload to Windows or Mac computers with optional USB Data Cable
• Data upload to Windows & Mac computers via wireless Bluetooth (LiNK Enabled Meters only with the optional Kestrel Dongle)
• Standard user-replaceable AA Lithium Battery (Average Life 400 Hours)
• Drop tested to MIL-STD-810G standards (10 drops from 4′)
Specification
| Sensor | Accuracy (+/-) | Resolution | Specification Range | Notes |
| Wind Speed | Air Flow | Larger of 3% of reading, least significant digit or 20 ft/min | 0.1 m/s 1 ft/min 0.1 km/h 0.1 mph 0.1 knots 1 B* 0.1 F/S* |
0.6 to 40.0 m/s 118 to 7,874 ft/min 2.2 to 144.0 km/h 1.3 to 89.5 mph 1.2 to 77.8 knots 0 to 12 B* 2-131.2* |
1 inch|25 mm diameter impeller with precision axle and low-friction Zytel® bearings. Startup speed stated as lower limit, readings may be taken down to 0.4 m/s | 79 ft/min| 1.5 km/h | .9 mph | .8 kt after impeller startup. Off-axis accuracy -1% @ 5° off-axis; -2% @ 10°; -3% @ 15°. Calibration drift < 1% after 100 hours use at 16 MPH | 7 m/s. Replacement impeller (NK PN-0801) field installs without tools (US Patent 5,783,753). Wind speed calibration and testing should be done with triangle on impeller located at the top front face of the Kestrel. Measuring wind speeds above 60 m/s / 134.2 mph can damage the impeller. *F/S only in Ballistics units. Beaufort not available in Ballistics units. |
| Ambient Temperature | 0.9 °F 0.5 °C |
0.1 °F 0.1 °C |
-20.0 to 158.0 °F -29.0 to 70.0 °C |
Airflow of 2.2 mph|1 m/s or greater provides fastest response and reduction of insolation effect. For greatest accuracy, avoid direct sunlight on the temperature sensor and prolonged sunlight exposure to the unit in low airflow conditions. Calibration drift is negligible for the life of the product. For further details, see Display & Battery Operational Temperature Limits |
| Relative Humidity | ±2%RH | 0.1 %RH | 10 to 90% 25°C non-condensing | To achieve stated accuracy, unit must be permitted to equilibrate to external temperature when exposed to large, rapid temperature changes and be kept out of direct sunlight. Calibration drift is typically less than ±0.25% per year. |
| Pressure | ±1.5 mbar at 25°C, 700-1100 mbar/ ±0.044inHg at 77°F 20.67-32.48 inHg/ ±0.022 PSI 10.15-15.95 PS |
0.01 inHg 0.1 hPa|mbar 0.01 PSI |
25°C/77°F, 700-1100 mbar/20.67-32.48 inHg/10.15-15.95 PSI |
Monolithic silicon piezoresistive pressure sensor with second-order temperature correction. Between 1100–1200 mbar, unit will operate with reduced accuracy. Sensor may not operate above 1200 mbar and can be damaged above 6,000 mbar or below 10 mbar. Calibration drift is negligible for the life of the product. |
| Compass | ±5° | 1° 1/16th Cardinal Scale |
0 to 360° | 2-axis solid-state magnetoresistive sensor mounted perpendicular to unit plane. Accuracy of sensor dependent upon unit’s vertical position. Self-calibration routine eliminates magnetic error from batteries or unit and must be run after every full power-down (battery removal or change). Readout indicates direction to which the back of the unit is pointed when held in a vertical orientation. Declination/variation adjustable for True North readout. |
Calculated Measurements
| Measurement | Accuracy (+/-) | Resolution | Sensors Deployed |
| Air Density | 0.0002 lb/ft3 0.0033 kg/m3 |
0.001 lbs/ft3 0.001 kg/m3 |
Temperature Relative Humidity Pressure |
| Air Flow | 6.71% | 1 cfm 1 m3/hr 1 m3/m 0.1m3/s 1 L/s |
Air Flow User Input (Duct Shape & Size) |
| Altitude | typical: 23.6 ft/7.2 m – 50 to 1100 mBar max: 48.2 ft/14.7 m – 300 to 750 mBar |
1 ft 1 m |
Pressure User Input (Reference Pressure) |
| Barometric Pressure | 0.07 inHg 2.4 hPa|mbar 0.03 PSI |
0.01 inHg 0.1 hPa|mbar 0.01 PSI |
Pressure User Input (Reference Altitude) |
| Crosswind & Headwind / Tailwind | 7.1% | 1 mph 1 ft/min 0.1 km/h 0.1 m/s 0.1 knots |
Wind Speed Compass |
| Delta T | 3.2 °F 1.8 °C |
0.1 °F 0.1 °C |
Temperature Relative Humidity Pressure |
| Density Altitude | 226 ft 69 m |
1 ft 1 m |
Temperature Relative Humidity Pressure |
| Dew Point | 3.4 °F 1.9 °C 15-95% RH. Refer to Range for Temperature Sensor |
0.1 °F 0.1 °C |
Temperature Relative Humidity |
| Evaporation Rate | 0.01 lb/ft2/hr 0.06 kg/m2/hr |
0.01 b/ft2/hr 0.01 kg/m2/hr |
Wind Speed Temperature Relative Humidity Pressure User Input (Concrete Temperature) |
| Heat Index | 7.1°F 4.0°C |
0.1 °F 0.1 °C |
Temperature Relative Humidity |
| Moisture Content | Humidity Ratio (“Grains”) | .3gpp .4g/kg |
0.1 gpp 0.01 g/kg |
Temperature Relative Humidity Pressure |
| Relative Air Density | 0.3% | 0.1% | Temperature Relative Humidity Pressure |
| Wet Bulb Temperature – Psychrometric | 3.2 °F 1.8 °C |
0.1 °F 0.1 °C |
Temperature Relative Humidity Pressure |
| Wind Chill | 1.6 °F 0.9 °C |
0.1 °F 0.1 °C |
Wind Speed Temperature |
Additional Product Info
| Display & Backlight | Multifunction, multi-digit monochrome dot-matrix display. Choice of white or red LED backlight. |
| Response Time & Display Update | Display updates every 1 second. After exposure to large environmental changes, all sensors require an equilibration period to reach stated accuracy. Measurements employing RH may require longer periods particularly after prolonged exposure to very high or very low humidity. |
| Data Storage & Graphical Display, Min/Max/Avg History | Logged history stored and displayed for every measured value. Manual and auto data storage. Min/Max/Avg history may be reset independently. Auto-store interval settable from 2 seconds to 12 hours, overwrite on or off. Logs even when display off except for 2 and 5 second intervals. Kestrel 5 series units hold over 10,000 data points. |
| Data Upload & Bluetooth® Data Connect Option | Wireless range up to 100ft. Connection requires optional USB data transfer cable or Kestrel Link Dongle or Kestrel LiNK app. Employs Kestrel Link protocol for data transmission with Link supported devices. (Kestrel LiNK for iOS/Android, Kestrel Link for PC/MAC). |
| Clock / Calendar | Real-time hours:minutes:seconds clock, calendar, automatic leap-year adjustment. |
| Auto Shutdown | User-selectable – Off, 15-60 minutes with no key presses. |
| Languages | English, French, German, Spanish. |
| Certifications | CE certified, RoHS and WEEE compliant. Individually tested to NIST-traceable standards. |
| Origin | Designed and manufactured in the USA from US and imported components. Complies with Regional Value Content and Tariff Code Transformation requirements for NAFTA Preference Criterion B. |
| Battery Life | AA Lithium, included. Up to 400 hours of use, reduced by backlight or Bluetooth radio transmission use. |
| Shock Resistance | MIL-STD-810g, Transit Shock, Method 516.5 Procedure IV; unit only; impact may damage replaceable impeller. |
| Sealing | Waterproof (IP67 and NEMA-6) |
| Display & Battery Operational Temperature Limits | 14° F to 131° F | -10 °C to 55 °C Measurements may be taken beyond the limits of the operational temperature range of the display and batteries by maintaining the unit within the operational range and then exposing it to the more extreme environment for the minimum time necessary to take reading |
| Storage Temperature | -22.0 °F to 140.0 °F | -30.0 °C to 60.0 °C. |
| Size & Weight | 5.0 x 1.9 x 1.1 in / 12.7 x 4.5 x 2.8 cm, 4.3 oz / 121 g. (Lithium battery included) |
Documentation
Kestrel 5500 Weather Meter