Replies

1. 
   johnnysquire | Mar 10, 2005 06:48am | #1

   I have one of these on my sailboat. http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&productId=12152

   Should tell you what you need to know.

1. 
   caveman | Mar 10, 2005 06:59am | #2

   Great...thanks for the link

   I forgot to mention I was looking for something that was capable of reading up to about 80mph, and they have one too

   Thanks again 

1. 
   frontiercc | Mar 10, 2005 06:10pm | #15

   Here's one for 80 clams that will measure to 89 mph.  They also have one for $19 but it only goes to 60.  If you're doing mail order, I can attest to the service of the company. 

   http://www.intothewind.com/cgi-bin/detail.cgi?itemnum=6610&sql=wind

   Take a look around the site while you're there.  These ain't your childhood kites.

   Edited 3/10/2005 10:11 am ET by frontiercc

2. 
   4Lorn1 | Mar 10, 2005 07:45am | #5

   Both supply houses catering to weekend sailors, careful what you get on a Google search if the filters off, and heating and air conditioning supply houses have a variety of units that might fit the bill at a reasonable price.

1. 
   caveman | Mar 10, 2005 08:35am | #9

   Never thought of HVAC, I'll look

   thanks 

2. 
   daFarmerDave | Mar 10, 2005 07:04am | #3

   Search for Kestral, the maker, on http://www.gemplers.com.  Their stuff sure looks cool.  I think I found four different hand helds.

   Big Macs - 99 cents
1. 
   caveman | Mar 10, 2005 08:24am | #7

   Thanks

   I didn't know they carried them 

3. 
   WorkshopJon | Mar 10, 2005 07:06am | #4

   I've got two installed at my house.  They are call Anemometers.  If you ARE price sensitive, check out Oregon Scientific.  They all have a sample rates, some as much as ten seconds, so they don't always read peak gusts reliably.

   WSJ

1. 
   caveman | Mar 10, 2005 08:32am | #8

   Thanks for the correct term, I found many more using it.

   Can I expect a better sample rate with the midrange quality units? Something around 3-5 seconds would be nice.

     

1. 
   WorkshopJon | Mar 11, 2005 01:11am | #20

   Can I expect a better sample rate with the midrange quality units? Something around 3-5 seconds would be nice."

   I honestly don't know.  I have two Oregon Scientific "weather stations" which measure many different parameters.  The update rate on the anemometer (also known as wind cups) is about five seconds.

   If you get a dedicated Anemometer, I would think it would be less.

   BTW, I think my OS stations went for ~$400. each five or six years ago.

   Davis is another well known brand.

   WSJ

4. 
   DavidxDoud | Mar 10, 2005 07:56am | #6

   here's one I keep around...

    

   View Image

   "there's enough for everyone"
1. 
   caveman | Mar 10, 2005 08:40am | #11

   now that's an interesting piece

   if those are witness marks, it looks like it's seen a few 80mph gusts too 

2. 
   BillHartmann | Mar 10, 2005 04:01pm | #12

   I think that is off an OLD airplane.It would not be useful as an aneometer as it can not swivel into the wind.

1. 
   DavidxDoud | Mar 10, 2005 04:06pm | #13

   I think that is off an OLD airplane.

   It would not be useful as an aneometer as it can not swivel into the wind.

    

   you are correct on both points - makes a nice conversation piece tho...

    

    "there's enough for everyone"

1. 
   BillHartmann | Mar 10, 2005 05:56pm | #14

   If you ever stop talking you can send it to me.It will look good above the fireplace next to the wooden aereoplane propeller.

2. 
   IMERC | Mar 10, 2005 08:25pm | #16

   planes swivel...

   time to get creative..

   Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

   WOW!!!   What a Ride!

3. 
   DavidThomas | Mar 10, 2005 11:00pm | #18

   I made a wind gauge much like that in 7th grade modelled after one by Leonardo da Vinci.  Basically a 12-inch wood ruler on a pivot.  With a circular arc of wood just beyond the sweep of moving end of the ruler.  Like so:

   http://www.leonet.it/comuni/vincimus/32anem_e.html

   Slap it together, take it out on the highway, and calibrate it.  (put a temporary scale on it, drive both ways, and average to cancel headwinds).  Add a weight to the end if it is too sensitive and recalibrate the scale.

   There are a ton of options to DIY at http://elsci.lansingschools.net/rtsmith/wind/anemomet.htmDavid Thomas   Overlooking Cook Inlet in Kenai, Alaska

1. 
   IMERC | Mar 10, 2005 11:08pm | #19

   now ya got something started...

   cool...

   and thanks...

   Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

   WOW!!!   What a Ride!

5. 
   UBuildIt | Mar 10, 2005 08:39am | #10

   My folks have a farm/ranch in the middle of nowhere. The measure wind with a kestral unit. No idea how much they are, but they live by the darn thing.

   
   

   ---

   Edited 3/14/2005 12:49 pm ET by UBuildIt

6. 
   JohnT8 | Mar 10, 2005 10:38pm | #17

   Noticed this one in a recent catelog I received.

   http://www.floriantools.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=E9300&Category_Code=

   Don't know if its any good.  The catalog showed the picture of the digital display unit that it wirelessly sends info to.

   I know that there are other weather stations available for $400+ range that will keep long term data for you.  If you were considering a wind generator, some long term data would be useful.

   jt8

   The reason so many people never get anywhere in life is because when opportunity knocks, they are out in the backyard looking for four-leaf clovers.    -- Walter Percy Chrysler

7. 
   DanH | Mar 11, 2005 04:21am | #21

   Make your own. Buy an electronc bicycle speedometer for about $15, make a wheel with cones on it, and put speedometer magnet on the rim of the wheel. Arrange a mount for the speedometer pickup so it will be near the magnet. Calibrate the thing by clamping it to your car and driving around.

   You can program the "wheel diameter" on the speedometer and there should be enough range there make the number come out correct, though you may need to make a chart to correct for any (probably minor) non-linearity in the measurements.

   (Incidentally, if there are any model railroaders out there, you can use the same sort of bike speedometer to make a speedometer car for your trains. Program the wheel diameter to match the scale diameter of the rail wheels.)

1. 
   DavidThomas | Mar 11, 2005 06:13am | #22

   I did that to make a stroke counter for my wife's women's 8 crew boat. Used an electronic bike speedometer with cadence feature.Kind of a pain. You've got to get those Hall-effect sensors really close (but not touching) and then, hopefully, the range of allowable tire size, will corresponde to, in kph or mph, the speed you want or some nice 10x multiple of it.Doable, but it was a bit kluggy and I ended up buying one anyway.David Thomas   Overlooking Cook Inlet in Kenai, Alaska

8. 
   caveman | Mar 12, 2005 06:20pm | #23

   Thanks for all the info. I've been out of town on bizz for a couple days, but now I can research the links you folks have supplied. The DIY ones look very interesting.

   I do like what Workshop Jon offered and maybe this one too...

   View Image

   Thanks everyone...