anemometer anyone?

[garyed]

I just picked up an anemometer to measure wind velocity.
I don't know how accurate it is but I was thinking it might be an easy & quick way to get a ballpark CFM measurement by sticking it in the return. Just wondering if any guys use one out there & how well they work.

[ch4man]

look for Jim Bergmans u tube vids, he has one for the testo 416 and another for the new fieldpeice hot wire.

good info..

[martyinlincoln]

I have the fieldpiece hot wire. It works great.

[jpsmith1cm]

I just picked up an anemometer to measure wind velocity.
I don't know how accurate it is but I was thinking it might be an easy & quick way to get a ballpark CFM measurement by sticking it in the return. Just wondering if any guys use one out there & how well they work.

I've been looking at these as well. Not for HVAC use, but for measuring airflow on refrigerated cases. Did you buy the Kestrel or a different brand? Review? What do you think of it?

[garyed]

The one I got is an el-cheapo & it doesn't have any probes so you have to hold the whole thing in the air stream.
I tried just sticking it inside the return grill? I got between 300 & 460 fpm so I averaged it out to 380 fpm.
The actual duct opening was 23 x 17.5 so it calculated out to 1062 cfm's without the filter. The unit is 2.5 ton at my house & we put all new ductwork in about 10 years ago. I designed the system for 1050 cfm's at .1 supply static & .05 return & I don't think I ever checked the actual static pressure. Hey, its my own house & all I know is its beer can cold.

[garyed]

I've been looking at these as well. Not for HVAC use, but for measuring airflow on refrigerated cases. Did you buy the Kestrel or a different brand? Review? What do you think of it?

Mine is definitely not the professional one for HVAC or refrigeration work. Its some brand X I got it off ebay for next to nothing. I wouldn't trust it yet until I play around with it a little more. I wasn't planning on using it for precision work but for quick ballpark tests like seeing if cleaning the coils changes the velocity out of the registers. I might consider getting the Testo or Fieldpiece in the future but for now this is just an experiment.

[jason12000]

I use an Amprobe TMA-20HW Hot Wire Anemometer. The vane anemometers work well too, and much easier to carry in your tool bag for a quick ballpark measurement.

[WhoIsThat?]

If you have a bike with a speedometer, MPH = FPM/88, so 360 FPM = 4.1 MPH. Just don't let anyone see you checking your anemometer using your bike.

http://www.ehow.com/how_6197050_cali...eedometer.html