| SENSOR TYPE | |
Anemometer utilizes a 3-Cup rotor.
Reed switch/magnet provide 1 pulse per rotation. |
| ROTOR DIAMETER | |
approx. 6 in (150 mm) |
| SPEED RANGE | |
approx. 3 mph to 125+ mph (~5 kph to over 200 kph) |
| MOUNTING BRACKET | |
Supplied with an aluminum mounting bracket with 2 holes for screws.
Designed to be mounted on top of a pole or bracket.
Custom brackets available up request (offset, for example) |
| WIRE | |
Standard length is 25 feet (8m)
Custom lengths available upon request - tested OK to over 1,500 feet
The wire is provided stripped and unterminated |
| DISPLAY | |
Removable LCD Digital Display is a Cateye Velo8 bicycle computer.
Dual Display simutaneously shows CURRENT SPEED (top display)plus:
MAX, AVERAGE, KM/MILES, or several other (bicycle-related) functions.
Select mph or km/h (knots too if you wish - see Owners Instructions for details)
Water-resistant (not waterproof).
Provided with high strength self-adhesive Velcro pads for mounting the display |
| POWER | |
CR2032 Coin Battery located in the display - not the rotor/head
Battery life 1 to 3 years of intermittent, occasional use.
A few months to a year of continuous use, depending on wind conditions and mode of use
(Display goes to low power mode when the wind speed drops to zero,
or if removed from the bracket when not in use) |
| SPEED RESOLUTION | |
Top Anemometer Display (Current Speed): 0.5 mph
Bottom Anemometer Display (Max, Average, etc.): 0.01 mph |
| DIGIT SIZE | |
Top Display (Current Speed): 10mm (approx. 1/2")
Bottom Display (Max, Average, etc.): 5mm (approx. 1/4") |
| UPDATE RATE | |
Approximately 1Hz (1 second) |
| ACCURACY | |
0.5 mph from 4 to 10 mph
+/-4% from 10 to 50 mph
estimated within 4% above 50 mph |
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A further note on accuracy
We sent an original Vortex anemometer to a certified lab to check its accuracy. The results are shown in the graph below. It can be seen that the Vortex anemometer is within a few percent from about 10 to about 50 mph. From 5 to 10 the readout is the limiting factor, with a resolution of 0.5 mph. Above 50 mph the anemometer still works fine, although we do not have accuracy data in that region. Nevertheless, we believe it to be quite accurate to speeds well over 100 mph.
Click for Larger Image
Maximum Speed
The maximum wind speed that can be measured by a Vortex anemometer is over 150 mph (~240 kph). See note below on accuracy.
Minimum Speed
Approx. 3 to 4 mph (~6 kph)
Accuracy:
+/-4% from ~10 to ~50 mph
+/- a few tenths of a mph from ~4 to ~10 mph
The accuracy above 50 mph is presumed to be excellent (based on data from the rotor manufacturer), but no precise laboratory calibration has been obtained.
The Vortex? anemometer is NOT sensitive to how it is held in the wind, provided the head is held horizontal and the air flow is not obstructed by the user (i.e. you do not have to face into the wind). |
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IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT AVERAGE WIND SPEED:
Since bicyclists do not want their average speed to be diminished when they come to a stop, the computer will only record and average when the wind is blowing. It stops recording below approximately 1 mph. That means that if the wind blows for 2 hours at 20 mph and 2 hours at zero, the average shown will be 20, not 10! Please keep this in mind for your desired use of the Vortex anemometer.
WORKAROUND : if you want to know the real average wind speed - even with spells near zero, do the following: reset the computer, note the time. When desired, simply divide the total number of wind "miles" on the display by the number of hours since reset. |