Kestrel 4250 (Racing) - Manual (Page 14)

Kestrel ® 4250 Racing Weather ® Tracker
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I don’t have E.T. prediction software, any help you can offer how I can dial in with the Kestrel alone?
We went to the experts to get an answer for this one. Here’s how they do it at Martino Motorsports: The
density altitude reading is the most important to us. For every 150 ft. increase in DA, our car will lose .01 in
elapsed time, and for every 150 ft. decrease our car will pick up .01 in elapsed time. But we can get the same
DA and have two completely different runs. This is due to humidity factor. Although the DA might be the
same, you can have a different temperature and humidity combination. For every 15% increase in humidity
our car’s performance will decrease .01 in elapsed time and for every 15% decrease in humidity our car’s
performance will increase .01 in performance.
I’ve seen a lot of high dollar weather units on the market, yours is so inexpensive,
can it really be accurate?
The engineers at NK have been working on the Kestrel’s functionality for over ten years, and have been
awarded four patents on their innovative engineering. Additionally, each and every Kestrel is calibrated
against NIST-traceable standards, and can be recalibrated in the field or factory. We’re so sure of Kestrel
Meter’s functionality that we guarantee each Kestrel for five-years, and each one comes with a Certificate of
Conformity. Visit www.kestrelweather.com for detailed specifications.
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
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.
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 -49.0 to 257.0°F
(-45.0 to 125.0°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.
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.