Power Kite Forum

What is a good for the money hand held wind meter?

rtz - 18-11-2010 at 02:29 PM

Looks like there are lots of these on the market. What is a good one for measuring winds from 1mph to about 30mph or so?

erratic winds - 18-11-2010 at 02:37 PM

Any of them. The "spinner"(I have no idea what it is actually called) on top of the device allows it to read wind speed from any direction, the cheaper models where it's inside a housing must be faced into the wind to get a an accurate reading.

This is a newer version of the cheapo one I have and use.

http://www.amazon.com/LaCrosse-EA-3010U-Handheld-Anemometer/...

chudalicious - 18-11-2010 at 03:03 PM

I got the windtronic2. Does the job nicely and does not require positioning to the wind as the entire top is the wind speed indicator - not just an impeller that requires positioning to the wind. (even though the kite does. :D)

Yes, simple stupid should be my middle name.

Leojim - 18-11-2010 at 03:52 PM

I have the JDC EOLE1 SKYWATCH. It has the omnidirectional anemometer on top. Unfortunately, it was $80 shipped.

Two things to look for IMO.
1. A camera type attachment. You can set it up on a tripod and monitor the wind while your setting up or BSing with the buds.
2. An peak gust and averaging feature. That way you can see what the average has been and the peak gust over a set period of time.
Of course, if you mainly fly on a coastal site both of those things aren't so important since the winds are more stable.

acampbell - 18-11-2010 at 04:20 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by erratic winds
Any of them. The "spinner"(I have no idea what it is actually called) on top of the device allows it to read wind speed from any direction, the cheaper models where it's inside a housing must be faced into the wind to get a an accurate reading.

This is a newer version of the cheapo one I have and use.

http://www.amazon.com/LaCrosse-EA-3010U-Handheld-Anemometer/...


That's what I use and they are even cheaper here...
http://www.ambientweather.com/lacrteeahawi.html
Very reliable supplier.
Has all features except omnidirectional impeller. Not as durable as others but I loose them or destroy them before others would wear out, so it is practical for me to buy 1 or so a year. Accurate for our needs. I can compare it to the commercial weather station on our beach that I can read from the iPhone and it is close enough if not right on.

Amazon also sells HQ kites at MAP but does not know jack Shirt about them.

indigo_wolf - 18-11-2010 at 05:46 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by chudalicious
simple stupid should be my middle name.


That thar's a T-Shirt :thumbup: :smilegrin:

ATB,
Sam

Kamikuza - 18-11-2010 at 06:17 PM

The $20 one I got off eBay works good - tested against the car speedo too :lol:

Bladerunner - 18-11-2010 at 06:38 PM

I say it every time.

I would buy a GPS before I would buy a wind meter. Lots more interesting info.

The wind is almost always subjective. What you are measuring on the ground often isn't what your kite sees at elevation.

Best to judge the wind by windicators then put up the small sized kite that suits the conditions. If it is too small, park it , put up a bigger one and if the wind does pick up you can switch back easy enough. That is what I do. Only complaint is I often keep riding with too small a kite.

Kamikuza - 18-11-2010 at 07:14 PM

Yeah what BR said ... especially subjective wind measurements.

ripsessionkites - 19-11-2010 at 01:37 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Leojim
I have the JDC EOLE1 SKYWATCH. It has the omnidirectional anemometer on top. Unfortunately, it was $80 shipped.


i have one too, and its great

if you buy a tripod the meter fits on it already

NJLandboarder - 19-11-2010 at 03:51 PM

i have a Kestrel 1000 wind meter ive had it for a long time it works great it does temperature too

Leojim - 19-11-2010 at 09:35 PM

If you are creative you can make your own! I made one years ago when I was into hang gliding. I looked for it a while back and couldn't find it anywhere.
The parts: a computer fan (not all of them work), a diode and a milliamp meter (maybe it was a micromilliamp meter...don't remember. A little work with a 2x4 to mount things and away you go.
I calibrated it on a CALM day on my motorbike making a run both ways to average things out. Then covered the scale with a marked up scale from the calibration runs. Served me well for a number of years. If I ever find it I will post photos and actual parts.

garydog - 19-11-2010 at 09:56 PM

http://hobbycity.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProdu...

I use this one when we go Dynamic Soaring. Works well up to 65 mph. ( hat is the highest I have flown a model glider in)