4200

Pocket Air FlowTracker

with Backlight

In a hurry?

Be sure to read pages

5-7 to ensure that your Kestrel is setup properly!

Instruction Manual for

Kestrel 4200 Pocket Air Flow Tracker

www.kestrelweather.com

Revised 07/28/10

800.784.4221

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MANUAL MEMORY

BUTTON Press to manually store current conditions to memory.

MEASUREMENT BUTTONS

Press to scroll between screens: Date/Time,

Measurements, User

Defined Screens

POWER/SETUP BUTTON

Hold to turn power on or off. Press to enter and exit

Main Setup Menu.

FRONT

BACKLIGHT BUTTON

Press to activate backlight for 1 minute.

MODE BUTTONS Press to change mode of measurements: Current,

Min/Max/Avg, Chart.

COMMAND BUTTON

In Chart Screens, press to view data points. In

Setup Menus, press to make selection.

IMPELLER Zytec™

V-bearings on a userreplaceable impeller.

IMPELLER COVER Swivel cover protects impeller when not in use.

DATA UPLOAD OPTICAL

COUPLER Software and serial port interface sold separately.

BATTERY DOOR Sealed with o-ring to keep product watertight.

BACK

TEMPERATURE SENSOR

Hermetically sealed precision thermistor coiled to isolate from case temperature.

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HUMIDITY SENSOR Capacitive sensor with secondary thermistor to improve accuracy and response.

SERIAL NUMBER

PRESSURE SENSOR Monolithic silicon piezoresistive sensor.

Do NOT insert any objects into this hole.

AAA BATTERIES

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

GETTING STARTED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

NAVIGATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

SPECIAL FUNCTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

MAIN SETUP MENU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

APPLICATION EXAMPLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

MEMORY CAPABILITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

GLOSSARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

DEFAULT SETTINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

CUSTOMER SERVICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Congratulations on the purchase of your Kestrel 4200 Pocket Air Flow Tracker! The Kestrel 4200 is our newest and most comprehensive HVAC-specific instrument. It not only measures EVERY major environmental condition easily, accurately and right in the palm of your hand, but now also automatically calculates Volume Air Flow (CFM) and Humidity Ratio (grains).

While the Kestrel 4200 is user-friendly and simple to use, reading the instruction manual is recommended in order to use the Kestrel 4200 to its fullest potential.

NK, manufacturer of Kestrel Pocket Weather Meters, is available to answer questions and provide support. Contact NK by phone: 610.447.1555, fax: 610.447.1577, email: [email protected], or web: www.nkhome.com.

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GETTING STARTED

Pouch and Lanyards

Wrist and neck lanyards and a small pouch have been provided. To install the lanyard, feed the thin end of the lanyard around the metal post on the battery door (as shown in diagram). Feed the thick end of the lanyard through the loop on the thin end. Using tweezers can help.

Battery Installation

Use only AAA batteries. Install batteries as indicated on the battery door. After installing the batteries, the Kestrel 4200 will automatically start in the Date and Time Setting mode. (See Date and

Time Setup below.) Custom settings and chart data will be saved during a battery change; only the date/ time and MMA values will be lost.

Turning the Kestrel Meter ON and OFF

To turn the Kestrel Meter ON, press the button. To turn the Kestrel Meter OFF, hold the button for two seconds. Or, press the button, then press the button with the word OFF highlighted. (Note: your unit will continue to automatically store data when the power is turned off.) When first turned on, the Kestrel

Meter will display a splash screen displaying the model number, the battery indicator, and the code version.

This battery indicator will indicate the percentage of battery life remaining, which is helpful in preventing unexpected dead batteries.

Date and Time Setup

The first time that you turn on your Kestrel Meter, as well as after a battery change, you will need to set the date and time. The Introduction Screen will appear for 3 seconds, followed by the Date/Time Setup Screen. Press the and buttons to scroll through the settings. Press the and buttons to scroll through the setting options. After

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entering the date and time, press the button to exit the Date/Time Setup. Then press the button again to exit the Main Setup Menu.

NAVIGATION

Measurements use and

Air Flow

Air Velocity

Temperature

Wind Chill

Humidity

The Kestrel 4200 is set up to display 12 Measurements (some are calculations) in 3 Modes.

The Measurements are listed here with their corresponding screen icon. In addition to these Measurements and Modes, there are also 3

User Screens, which simultaneously show 3 current measurements, and the Date & Time Screen, which gives the current date and time. Use the and buttons to scroll through the various

Measurements, followed by the 3 User Screens and the Date/Time

Screen. Any of these screens can be turned off so that you can customize your Kestrel Meter to show the screens that your application requires. (See the Measurements section in the Main Menu.)

HI

HUM

RATIO

Humidity Ratio

Heat Index

DP

Dew Point

WB

Wet Bulb

Barometric Pressure

Altitude

The Modes are displayed below. Use the and buttons to scroll through the various Modes. From any mode, you may still scroll to a different Measurement by pressing the and buttons.

  Current - Displays the instantaneous reading.

   Min/Max/Avg - Displays the Minimum/Maximum/Average readings from stored data. If there is no stored data, the values will be displayed as --.-.

D

Density Altitude

  Chart - Displays a graphical representation of up to 1600 stored data points for each measurement.

  If there is no stored data, the axis will appear, but the chart will be blank. (See the following section

  for information on Chart Navigation.)

Modes use and

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Navigation of Charts

The Kestrel 4200 is capable of storing up to 1600 data points for each measurement. To review the data, press the button while viewing a chart. A cursor will appear on the most recent data point. Press the and buttons to scroll through the data points. The date and time at which the data was stored will be displayed at the bottom of the screen, and the data value will be displayed at the top of the screen. Hold down the or button to scroll quickly through the data points.

Press the or button to review the data for the other measurements. Please note that the cursor will remain at the same date and time. If new data is stored while viewing chart data, the entire chart will shift left with the new data point charted on the right. The cursor will not shift with the chart.

Press the button to return to the Chart Mode.

Value

Chart

Date & Time Cursor

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SPECIAL FUNCTIONS

User Screens

The Kestrel Meter has three User Screens that can be customized to display three current measurements simultaneously. These screens can also be turned off. (See the

Main Menu section for setup instructions.)

Max/Avg for Air Flow, Air Velocity & Wind Chill

The Max/Avg values for Air Flow, Velocity and Wind Chill are measured independently from the stored and charted data. This allows the user to start and stop the averaging period in the most appropriate manner for their application. Averaging on all velocity-related values (air flow, air velocity and wind chill) will be started and stopped together.

While viewing the Min/Max/Avg screen for any of these measurements, hold the unit into the wind, and press the button when the screen displays “--average” to begin collecting data for all measurements, and again when the screen displays “--stop” to stop collecting data and hold the values on the display. Press the button when the screen displays “--clear” to clear the data. This routine will work simultaneously for all measurements, regardless of which one is displayed while the routine is run. The Max/Avg for these velocity values will not affect any other Min/Max/Avg or stored data.

Manual Data Storage

To manually store data, press the button. One of the following will appear: Data Stored (data has been captured and will appear on chart), Full (Overwrite is off and data log is full), or Off (Manual Store button has been disabled). (See the Main Setup Menu section for more information on memory.)

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Backlight

Press the button to activate the backlight. The light will remain activated for one minute. Press the button within one minute to deactivate the light manually.

Airflow

The Kestrel Air Flow Tracker will display the volume airflow, based on the instantaneous air velocity and cross-sectional area of the opening through which the air is passing. If your particular industry uses a standard of practice for air flow measurements, be sure to adhere to those standards when using this product.

To set the dimensions of the duct or opening, press the button while viewing the AIR FLOW screen. The

DIMENSIONAL SETTING screen will appear with the word SHAPE highlighted.

The shape of the opening can be selected by pressing the or button. The options are round or rectangular openings. Press the v button to highlight the dimensional settings. For round openings, simply set the correct diameter of the opening. Use the and buttons to increase and decrease the value.

Holding these buttons will increase and decrease the value quickly. For rectangular openings, set both the length and the width of the opening.

When the dimensional settings are correct, press the button to exit the DIMENSIONAL SETTING screen and return to AIR FLOW screen. The displayed airflow value will be the result of multiplying the instantaneous air velocity by the area of the programmed opening.

Note that you may change the units for setting opening dimensions under the Main Setup Menu (see the

Main Menu setup section instructions). Choices are inches, feet, centimeters and meters.

The Kestrel Air Flow Tracker also features an averaging function that allows you to traverse a duct and the unit automatically averages the CFM. This method may yield more accurate results, especially in ducts with variable flow or with registers on them. To do so, from the current Air Flow screen, simply press the

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button to enter the Max/Average screen. Press the button to begin averaging, and traverse the duct. When finished, press the button again to stop the averaging. Press to clear the data. See the

“Applications Examples” section for more information.

Relative Humidity

The Kestrel Meter is capable of measuring RH to a high accuracy: +/- 3% RH between 5 and 95%. To ensure operation within these specifications, please follow these recommendations:

• Avoid taking measurements in direct sunlight, which will heat the air inside the humidity sensor enclosure and cause inaccurate readings.

• If your circumstances force you to expose the Kestrel Meter to a large temperature swing prior to taking a relative humidity reading (such as when taking a Kestrel Meter stored inside at 70° F outside to a temperature of 40° F), you will need to take additional steps to ensure that the Kestrel Meter’s external temperature sensor is in thermal equilibrium.

- Ideally, provide an airflow of at least 1 M/S (2.2 MPH), over the temperature sensor — point the

Kestrel Meter into the airflow. If there is no airflow, simply wave the unit back and forth so air passes over the sensors. With airflow over the temperature sensors and humidity chambers, readings within specifications will be provided within two to three minutes, even after a large temperature shift.

- If no airflow can be provided, you must allow sufficient time for the RH value to stabilize. This can take as long as 20 minutes — the greater the temperature change, the greater the time. You can use the logging capability of the Kestrel Meter to confirm that the unit has stabilized to a correct reading: Set the memory options to a relatively short logging interval (20 seconds works well), select the graphical display of RH, and you can see when the value is no longer

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changing significantly. At that point, the RH value is stable and can be relied upon to be within the accuracy specifications.

Barometric Pressure and Altitude Adjustment

The Kestrel Meter measures “station” pressure — the actual air pressure in the measurement location — and uses this value to calculate barometric pressure and altitude. Station pressure changes in response to two things — changes in altitude and changes in the atmosphere. Because the Kestrel Meter is constantly changing location and altitude, it is important to enter adjustments or “references” when accurate pressure and altitude readings are needed.

Barometric pressure is station pressure corrected to sea level. In order to make the correction, the Kestrel

Meter needs an accurate reference altitude. Altitude is the height above sea level. In order to correctly calculate altitude, the unit needs an accurate barometric pressure reference, also known as an “altimeter setting”. Fortunately, you only need to know ONE of these values (current barometric pressure or current altitude) in order to set your Kestrel Meter up to show accurate readings.

Starting with the known barometric pressure for your location

You can obtain your current barometric pressure by checking an internet weather site for a nearby location, or contacting a local airport. Set this value as your reference pressure on the ALTITUDE screen to determine your correct altitude: Press the button to enter the reference setting mode. Press the button to increase the reference pressure or the button to decrease the reference pressure. You will notice that the altitude will change with changes in the reference pressure. Press the button to exit the adjustment mode. Set your Kestrel Meter down on a table and allow the altitude reading to stabilize. (Note: very small changes in pressure generate noticeable changes in altitude. In order to provide meaningful readings for activities where altitude changes quickly, the Kestrel Meter features rapid altitude response. This is why

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the altitude readings tend to fluctuate by a few feet.) After obtaining a current altitude from the ALTITUDE screen, move to the BARO screen and enter this value as your reference altitude by following the same procedure. Both readings will now be accurate.

Starting with a known altitude for your location

You can obtain your altitude from a topographical map or local landmark. Google Earth is an excellent free program that provides the exact altitude for any given address: www.earth.google.com/. Set this value as your reference altitude on the BARO screen to determine your barometric pressure: Press the button to enter the reference setting mode. Press the button to increase the reference altitude or the button to decrease the reference altitude. You will notice that the barometric pressure will change with changes in the reference altitude. Press the button to exit the adjustment mode. Again, allow the Kestrel Meter to stabilize, then enter the value from the BARO screen as your reference pressure on the ALTITUDE screen by following the same procedure. Both readings are now accurate.

When reviewing stored data, remember that changes in pressure AND changes in location/altitude will affect the stored values. When tracking pressure changes relative to weather, set the reference altitude on the BARO screen and keep the Kestrel Meter in one location. Your graph history will now show trends in barometric pressure. Your altitude as shown on the ALTITUDE screen will change as the weather changes, but you can ignore this screen for this purpose.

If you are planning a day hike would like to track your altitude, you’ll need to enter the correct reference pressure on the ALTITUDE screen as described above in “starting with the known barometric pressure.”

You can now track the altitude changes as you hike. In this instance, you should ignore the values on the

BARO screen, since the pressure changes will be due to changes in elevation far more than to changes in the weather.

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In general, changes in barometric pressure associated with weather changes are small over the course of one day, but they will affect the accuracy of the altimeter over time. This is why aircraft reset their altimeters at every airfield by entering the field’s “altimeter setting” or reference pressure. Accordingly, if accurate altitude readings are your primary interest, you should reset the reference pressure on your Kestrel Meter regularly. If you encounter an elevation landmark, you can adjust the reference pressure until the altitude matches the landmark elevation. This will correct the altitude for any pressure changes due to the weather.

(Or, you can obtain an updated reference pressure from the sources described above.)

Some final notes — If you wish to know the actual or station pressure for your location (such as for engine tuning), simply set the reference altitude on the BARO screen to “0”. In this case, the Kestrel Meter will not make any adjustment and will display the measured value. (Engine tuning and ballistics software sometimes refer to atmospheric or station pressure as “absolute pressure.” These applications are concerned with the actual air density, as opposed to pressure gradients relating to weather, so barometric pressure is less useful.)

Also, the above discussion applies to ALL pressure altimeters, including one you may have in a watch or other device, but not to GPS altimeters, which use satellite triangulation to determine altitude. Note that with present GPS technology, pressure altimeters remain more accurate for measuring altitude change.

This is why airplanes still rely on pressure altimeters, not GPS.

Finally, the DENSITY ALTITUDE screen is calculated from the absolute values of station pressure, relative humidity and temperature, and is not affected by the reference values entered in the BARO and

ALTITUDE screens.

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MAIN SETUP MENU

You can customize your Kestrel Meter in multiple ways. Press the button to access the Main Setup Menu.

Press the button to select the highlighted setting. The Main Setup Menu contains: OFF, Memory Options,

Measurements, Graph Scale, Units, User Screens, System, Date & Time, Language and Restore.

Off

Press the then the button to turn the display off. Even when the Kestrel Meter’s display is turned off, the unit will continue to automatically store data at the defined Store Rate. The battery life will be decreased if data is stored frequently. The only way to completely shut off the unit is to remove the batteries. Custom settings and data will be stored when the batteries are removed.

Memory Options

These settings control the data storage properties.

Setting

Clear Log

(Go/Done)

Reset MMA

(Go/Done)

Auto Store

(On/Off)

Description

All stored data is cleared. This will also clear

Min/Max/Avg data.

All Min/Max/Avg data is cleared. Chart data will remain intact.

Operation

Press or to clear the log.

Press or to clear the MMA.

When On, data is automatically stored at preset Store Rate. When Off, data is only stored when manually captured with the button.

Press or to toggle between

On and Off.

Store Rate*

(2 sec – 12 hr)

Overwrite

(On/Off)

Man Store

(On/Off)

The frequency at which data sets are automatically stored. (Battery life may be shortened if data is stored frequently.)

This setting only applies when the data log is full. When On, oldest data point is discarded to allow memory for the new data point. When Off, new data points are not saved.

When On, data is stored when the button is pressed. When off, the button is disabled.

Press or to increase or decrease Store Rate frequency.

Press or to toggle between

On and Off.

Press or to toggle between

On and Off.

*When unit is off, data is NOT stored for 2 sec and 5 sec Store Rates.

Measurements

Measurement screens can be turned off, or “hidden” from the normal measurement navigation. For example, if wind chill is not of interest, it can be hidden. Press the or button to toggle between ON

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Units

The units of measure can be adjusted to best suit the application. The following units are available:

Air Velocity

m/s meters per second km/h kilometers per hour kt knots mph miles per hour ft/m feet per minute

Bft Beaufort

Humidity Ratio

Gpp grains per pound

G/kg grams per kilogram

Air Flow

Cfm cubic feet per minute

M

3

/h cubic meters per hour

M

3

/m cubic meters per minute

M

3

/s cubic meters per second

L/s liters per second

Temperature, Dewpoint, Wet

Bulb Temp, Wind Chill, & Heat

Index

°C

°F

Celsius

Fahrenheit

Dimensions

Ft feet

Cm centimeters

M meters

In Inches

Pressure

InHg inches mercury

HPa nectopascals psi pounds per square inch mb milibar

Altitude,

Density

Altitude

m meters ft feet

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and OFF for each individual measurement. Press the or button to highlight the desired measurement.

Press the button to return to the Main Setup Menu. Even when measurements are hidden, the Kestrel

Meter will continue to log data for all measurements. If you wish to see the logged data for measurements that are hidden, simply enter the Measurement screen and turn them back on. The data will be stored in the same manner as all other measurements, as specified in the Store Rate.

Graph Scale

These settings control the chart limits of your Kestrel Meter. Depending on the conditions, the lower and upper limits of the chart scale may need to be adjusted in order to get the best view of the data. Highlight the desired measurement by pressing the or button. Select the highlighted measurement by pressing the button. Press the or button to increase or decrease the value of the limits. Press the or button to change between the upper and lower limits. Press the button to exit and return to the

Measurement Selection screen. Press the button to return to the Main Setup Menu.

Highlight the desired measurement by pressing the or button. Press the or button to scroll through the available units. Press the button to return to the Main Setup Menu.

User Screens

The three User Screens can be reconfigured to display the most appropriate information for your application. For example, if you need to monitor the wind speed, humidity and barometric pressure, a User

Screen can display these current measurement values on the same screen for quick reference. Only current measurements can be selected for the User Screens — Min/Max/Avg and Charts are not available.

Highlight the desired User Screen by pressing the or button. Press the button to select the highlighted User Screen. Press the or buttons to change lines, and the or button to scroll through the available measurements for each highlighted line. Press the button to return to the User

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Screen Setup Menu. Repeat above process for the other User Screens or press the button to return to the Main Setup Menu. The User Screens may also be hidden if not needed.

System

The display Contrast and Auto Shutdown can be reconfigured as required. The relative humidity and pressure sensors can also be recalibrated. Press the or buttons to highlight the appropriate selection, and the or button to adjust or select.

The Contrast can be adjusted for better visibility depending on the ambient lighting conditions. Press the or button to increase or decrease the contrast from 0 to 20 (0 is lightest, 20 is darkest).

The display can be set to automatically turn off in order to conserve the battery life. Auto Shutdown will only occur after the preset time has elapsed without any button presses. Press the or button to scroll through the Auto Shutdown options (15 minutes, 60 minutes, Off). Battery life will be shortened if the Auto

Shutdown is turned to Off.

Baro Cal - Recalibration of this sensor is not typically required, and it is not recommended that you recalibrate

without speaking to an NK technician. The pressure sensor can be calibrated if necessary. It is extremely

important to know the precise altitude and mean sea level barometric pressure at the time of calibrating the sensor. First, set the reference altitude on the BARO measurement screen to the known altitude (see

Pressure Adjustment section for instructions). Then adjust the calibrating setting on the Baro Cal screen to the known mean sea level barometric pressure. If recalibration is desired, the unit may also be returned to

NK for service.

Humidity Cal - Recalibration of this sensor is not typically required, and it is not recommended that you

recalibrate without speaking to an NK technician. The humidity sensor can be calibrated by “teaching” it the

correct humidity. Some special equipment is required for this calibration, including two hermetically sealed

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containers and saturated salt solutions. NK offers a calibration kit, and instructions are available on www.nkhome.com. If recalibration is desired, the unit may also be returned to NK for service.

Date & Time

The date and time, as well as date and time formats, can be adjusted. The Time Formats available are 12 hour and 24 hour. The Date formats available are day/month/year and month/day/year. (See the Date and

Time Set Up section for instructions.) Press the button to return to the Main Setup Menu.

Language

Displayed text can be set in one of five languages: English, French, German, Italian or Spanish. To choose a language, use the or buttons to highlight the desired language. Press the button to select the language and return to the Main Setup Menu. Otherwise, press the button to return to the Main Setup

Menu without changing languages.

Restore

Default settings for units of measure, date and time formats, and system settings can be restored. (See the

Factory Default Settings section for more information.) Press the or button to highlight the desired

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default setting: Metric, Imperial or Defaults. Press the or button to reset the factory setting. Press the

button to return to the Main Setup Menu.

APPLICATION EXAMPLES

This section provides examples of applications where a Kestrel Meter might be used, and the appropriate memory settings.

HVAC - Environmental Monitoring

Auto Store

Store Rate

On

5 min

Overwrite

Man Store

On

Off

These settings will record conditions every five minutes, for a total storage of almost 7 days. You can monitor the conditions in a laboratory or manufacturing plant, both day and night, to determine if the

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climate control is working properly. Or you can examine the effect on the environment when employees enter and exit the building.

HVAC/R - System Balancing

Auto Store Off

Store Rate

Overwrite

Man Store

—

Off

On

These settings will require you to press the Manual Store Button in order to store any data at a duct, hood, vent, or other system location. The meter will not store any data automatically. Be sure to record the location and date/time of storage for reference when reviewing the data. After storing the conditions at each location, simply review the data and balance the system.

MEMORY CAPABILITIES

Store Rate

2 sec

5 sec

Total Memory

53 min, 20 sec

2 hr, 13 min, 20 sec

10 sec

20 sec

30 sec

1 min

2 min

5 min

10 min

4 hr, 26 min, 40 sec

8 hr, 53 min, 20 sec

13 hr, 20 min

1 day, 2 hr, 40 min

2 days, 5 hr, 20 min

5 days, 13 hr, 20 min

11 days, 2 hr, 40 min

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20 min

30 min

1 hr

2 hr

5 hr

12 hr

22 days, 5 hr, 20 min

33 days, 8 hr

66 days, 16 hr

133 days, 8 hr

333 days, 8 hr

800 days

GLOSSARY

The below definitions have been greatly simplified in order to keep this section brief. We strongly recommend that anyone who wishes to make use of these measurements refer to one of the many excellent weather references available for a more in-depth definition. On the internet, visit www.usatoday.

com or www.noaa.gov. Or, locate the USA Today publication, The Weather Book. Please note that any words in a definition printed in italics are themselves defined in this glossary.

Air Flow

The volume of air passing through an area for a given period of time. This is commonly calculated by multiplying the air velocity by the cross sectional area through which the air is passing.

Altimeter Setting

An aviation term for the local barometric pressure. Same as reference pressure.

Altitude

The distance above sea level. The Kestrel Meter calculates altitude based on the measured station pressure and the input barometric pressure — or “reference pressure”.

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Barometric Pressure

The air pressure of your location reduced to sea level. Pressure will change as weather systems move into your location. Falling pressure indicates the arrival of a low pressure system and expected precipitation or storm conditions. Steady or rising pressure indicates clear weather. A correct altitude must be input for the

Kestrel Meter to display barometric pressure correctly.

Density Altitude

The altitude at which you would be, given the current air density. Often used by pilots in order to determine how an aircraft will perform. Also of interest to individuals who tune high performance internal combustion engines, such as racecar engines.

Dewpoint

The temperature to which air must be cooled in order for condensation to occur. The difference between

dewpoint and temperature is referred to as the “temperature/dew point spread”. A low dewpoint spread

indicates high relative humidity, while a large dewpoint spread indicates dry conditions.

Heat Index

A practical measure of how hot the current combination of relative humidity and temperature feels to a human body. Higher relative humidity makes it seem hotter because the body’s ability to cool itself by evaporating perspiration is reduced.

Humidity Ratio

The ratio between the actual mass of water vapor present in moist air — to the mass of the dry air.

Reference Pressure

The local barometric pressure. Input to the altitude screen to provide correct altitude readings. Also known as the altimeter setting.

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Relative Humidity

The amount of water vapor actually in the air divided by the maximum amount of water vapor the air could hold at that temperature, expressed as a percentage.

Station Pressure

The air pressure of your location, NOT reduced to the sea level equivalent.

Temperature

The ambient air temperature.

Wet Bulb Temperature

The lowest temperature to which a thermometer can be cooled by evaporating water into the air at constant pressure. This measurement is a holdover from the use of an instrument called a sling psychrometer. To measure wet bulb temperature with a sling psychrometer, a thermometer with a wet cloth covering over the bulb is spun rapidly through the air. If the relative humidity is high, there will be little evaporative cooling and the wet bulb temperature will be quite close to the ambient temperature.

Some exercise physiology guides use wet bulb temperature, rather than heat index, as a measure of the safety of exercise in hot and humid conditions.

Wind Chill

The cooling effect of combining wind and temperature. The wind chill gives a more accurate reading of how cold it really feels to the human body. The Kestrel Meter’s wind chill is based on the National Weather

Service standards as of November 1, 2001.

DEFAULT SETTINGS

UNIT

Wind Functions

Temperature Functions

Barometric Pressure

Altitude Functions

Time Format

Date Format

METRIC

M/s

°C hPa

M

24 hour

Day/month/year

IMPERIAL

mph

°F inHg

Ft

12 hour

Month/day/year

SETTING

Automatic

Data Store Rate

Data Overwrite

Manual Data Store

User Screen 1

User Screen 2

User Screen 3

Display Contrast

Automatic Shutdown

Language

FACTORY DEFAULT

Data Store On

1 hour

On

On

Air velocity, air flow, temperature

Humidity, humidity ratio, wet bulb

Air flow, temperature, humidity ratio

10

15 minutes

English

PC Upload

Stored data may be uploaded to a PC with the optional Kestrel Interface.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the most accurate way to measure variable flow with a Kestrel Air Flow Tracker?

To measure CFM, you need to first enter the duct size and shape. The simplest way to measure CFM is to hold the unit in the airflow. However, if the duct has variable flow, it is more accurate to use the Kestrel

Meter’s averaging mode. Enter your duct dimensions, then press the button to enter the averaging mode. Press the button to start averaging, and traverse the duct. After a few seconds, you will see the average start to stabilize. Press the button again to stop the averaging. This method can be used with floor vents and diffusers as well as any variable flow duct.

How do I set my Kestrel Meter to read the correct barometric pressure and altitude?

To measure these values accurately, you must know either your current pressure or altitude. If you know the current barometric pressure, go to the altitude screen, and press the button to enter the reference pressure. As you adjust the reference pressure, you will notice that the altitude will change. Once the reference pressure is entered, note the new altitude, and go to the barometric pressure screen. Press the

button to enter this altitude as the reference altitude. Your Kestrel Meter is now displaying the accurate pressure and altitude. (If you start with a known altitude, simply start with entering this value as the reference altitude on the barometric pressure screen. The adjust the reference barometric pressure on the altitude screen.)

You will need to update the reference pressure and altitude as you change altitude or the weather changes.

For more information on this topic, see the Barometric Pressure and Altitude Adjustment section under

“Special Functions.”

Why is my Kestrel Meter is not registering wind speed?

It probably just needs a replacement impeller. You can verify this by removing the impeller (press firmly on the sides of the impeller), and turn the unit on to the wind speed screen. Hold the Kestrel Meter near a

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television, computer monitor or some electronic device and it will display a wind speed. Or, wave a magnet

(like a refrigerator magnet) back and forth by the Kestrel Meter. If the Kestrel Meter is working properly, you will register a wind speed reading, even though there is no impeller installed. Simply purchase a new impeller and your Kestrel Meter’s wind speed readings will be restored to factory calibration.

What is the best way to take accurate temperature and humidity readings?

Avoid taking measurements in direct sunlight, and be sure there is airflow over the sensors. Especially if you expose the Kestrel Meter to a large temperature swing prior to taking a reading (such as taking a Kestrel

Meter from the indoors to the outdoors in the winter), airflow over the sensors is necessary to measure accurate temperature and humidity readings. You can ensure airflow by either placing the Kestrel Meter in a breeze, or by waving it back and forth. If no airflow can be provided, you must allow up to 20 minutes for the values to stabilize and accurate readings to be displayed.

Can my Kestrel Meter measure water speed by placing it in wind speed mode and submerging it?

Even though your Kestrel Meter is fully waterproof and can be submerged without damage, the viscosity of water is different than that of air. The Kestrel Meter will display a value, but the readings will not be the accurate water speed.

Why does my screen turn black in the heat? Why does screen become sluggish or blank in the cold?

The liquid crystal display used in Kestrel Meters has an operational temperature range of 14.0 to 131.0°F

(-10.0 to 55.0°C). Above this temperature, the whole screen will turn black. Below this temperature, the liquid crystals will freeze and not display a reading. Even in these conditions, your Kestrel Meter will still continue to measure and record readings as specified by the automatic and manual data storage rates, you will just not be able to read the display until the environment’s temperature is within the operational range. In cold environments, you can keep the Kestrel Meter warm in your pocket and remove it only to take readings. Be sure to wave the unit back and forth to create airflow over the sensors to ensure the most accurate reading possible.

Kestrel

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Why doesn’t my Kestrel Meter match the local Weather Report?

Obtaining a weather report from a local television station, airport or internet site will give you the weather where those instruments are, which is not necessarily the same as where you are. Your Kestrel Meter is measuring the conditions right where you are. The nature of microclimates and weather fronts is that they are varied, and even locations as close as a mile apart can have different weather readings. You can certainly use these weather reporting services for good estimates of what the conditions will be, but for the most accurate readings at your particular location, the Kestrel Meter is better.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

KESTREL POCKET WEATHER METERS 5-YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY

NK does not believe in “disposable electronics.” We know that Kestrel Meters don’t typically lead pampered lives, and we design them for years of performance in tough conditions. Every

Kestrel is designed and manufactured at NK’s facility in Boothwyn, Pennsylvania, to be the accurate, reliable weather instrument you need for your application. If for any reason you are not satisfied with the performance or operation of your Kestrel meter in the first 30 days, you may return it to your place of purchase for a full refund.

We guarantee every Kestrel Pocket Weather Meter to be free of defects in materials and

workmanship for a period of FIVE YEARS from their date of first consumer purchase. NK will repair or replace any defective product or part when notified within the warranty period, and will return the product via domestic ground shipping or NK’s choice of method of international shipping at no charge.

The following shall be excluded from warranty coverage: damage due to improper use or

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neglect (including corrosion); damage caused by severe or excessive impact, crushing or mechanical harm; modifications or attempted repairs by someone other than an authorized NK/

Kestrel repair agent; impeller failure not caused by a manufacturing defect; normal usage wear; failed batteries; and accuracy issues resolvable by recalibration. Recalibration is provided free of charge within thirty (30) days of purchase if necessary.

Except for the warranties set forth herein, NK disclaims all other warranties, expressed, implied or statutory, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Any implied warranties that may be imposed by applicable law are limited to the term of this warranty. In no event shall NK be liable for any incidental, special or consequential damages, including, but not limited to, loss of business, loss of profits, loss of data or use, whether in an action in contract or tort or based on a warranty, arising out of or in connection with the use or performance of an NK product, even if NK has been advised of the possibility of such damages. You agree that repair, and (upon availability) replacement, as applicable, is your sole and exclusive rem-

edy with respect to any breach of the NK Limited Warranty set forth herein. All product

liability and warranty options are governed exclusively by the laws of the Commonwealth of

Pennsylvania.

Your warranty period will be measured from your date of purchase. The best way to ensure

full warranty coverage is to REGISTER your NK product promptly on our website: www.

kestrelweather.com. We keep your registration information strictly confidential and do not sell it, share it, or use it for anything but product-related information bulletins (which you may decline receiving). If you do not register and cannot provide proof of purchase, your warranty

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period will be measured from our date of manufacture, determined by serial number.

We request that you contact NK if you feel your product is not working properly. We can often solve product issues by phone or e-mail, saving you the time and expense of returning the unit.

If we require the product to be returned, we will issue a Return Authorization to expedite the handling of your warranty claim.

The Kestrel Pocket Weather Meters are covered by the following patents: 5,783,753, 5,939,645,

6,257,074, and 7,059,170.

Calibrations, Certifications and Service

Every NK product is tested and calibrated before it leaves our factory. We guarantee that it will perform within specifications when you receive it. Each Kestrel Meter comes with a Certificate of Conformity, with the stated specifications for that product on the back. If you feel an NK product is not meeting specs when you receive it, call us and we’ll make sure you are operating it correctly. If it still appears that it may be out of spec, return it to us within 30 days of purchase and we will test and recalibrate all values at no charge.

Beyond 30 days, we offer reasonably-priced tests, calibration services and N.I.S.T. certified calibrations as well as Kestrel Meter tune-ups.

All of our measurements are traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, ensuring the highest level of accuracy. Our primary Calibration Standards are sent for calibration in accordance with N.I.S.T. requirements and based on a regular schedule. Only approved laboratories and N.I.S.T themselves are used for these calibration services. Incoming and outgoing data is supplied with the certificate of calibration.

We also offer full factory service on every product we manufacture for as long as we make the product (and as long after as component availability permits). If we can’t repair a product, we will offer you a brand-new

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replacement under our Customer Care Program (even for accidental damage and misuse). Cost of repairs and other important information can be found on our website.

We request that you contact NK if you feel your product is not working properly. We can often solve product issues by phone or e-mail, saving you the time and expense of returning the unit. If we require the product to be returned, we will issue a Return Authorization to expedite the handling of your claim.

Visit www.kestrelweather.com for more information and pricing for these services.

Lifetime Customer Care Warranty

NK wants you to be an NK customer for life, so we take care of you even beyond the terms of the above warranty with our Customer Care Program. Trade-in any Kestrel Pocket Weather Meter, no matter the age or condition, and receive a generous discount on the replacement product (same model only). Our Customer

Care Program applies only as long as we manufacture the product, and does not cover product upgrades.

Need Help?

Our NK Knowledge Center has answers to many common questions, along with tips and tricks for using

NK products. It’s available 24-7 at www.nkhome.com/knowledgecenter/.

For email assistance with the installation or operation of your NK product, write [email protected].

For help with an apparent malfunction, or to arrange or inquire about a repair, write [email protected].

Or call 800.784.4221 (610.447.1555 outside of the USA), Monday to Friday, 9 to 5, East Coast Time.

Kestrel

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Kestrel® Pocket Weather® Meters are designed and manufactured in the USA by:

NIELSEN-KELLERMAN

21 Creek Circle, Boothwyn, PA 19061

Phone: (610) 447-1555 Fax: (610) 447-1577

Web: www.kestrelweather.com

Email: [email protected]

Instruction Manual for Kestrel 4200 version: 4.29 ALL

Please register your Kestrel Meter  at www.KestrelWeather.com