I would like to know what the wind is locally. In Wal-Mart the only
weather station that measures wind speed is ~$75. It uses a spinning
indicator. More than I wish to spend.

It seems to me that one could estimate wind speed by having a
horizontally flat stiff weighted strip exposed to the wind. With a
protractor-type background one could determine the angle to which the
slat is lifted. If this angle is calibrated against the actual wind speed
one should be able to get a fair estimate of wind speed. As the device
turns with the wind, as it would have to, the wind direction would be
indicated as well.

Does anyone know of anyone selling such a contraption or would my idea
not work properly?

I would try this myself but I have no way to calibrate it. The local
weather reports are far too inaccurate.

TIA


--
"When you choose the lesser of two evils, always
remember that it is still an evil." - Max Lerner

On 6 Jan 2008 13:34:46 GMT, Ken wrote:

I would like to know what the wind is locally. In Wal-Mart the only
weather station that measures wind speed is ~$75. It uses a spinning
indicator. More than I wish to spend.

It seems to me that one could estimate wind speed by having a
horizontally flat stiff weighted strip exposed to the wind. With a
protractor-type background one could determine the angle to which the
slat is lifted. If this angle is calibrated against the actual wind speed
one should be able to get a fair estimate of wind speed. As the device
turns with the wind, as it would have to, the wind direction would be
indicated as well.

Does anyone know of anyone selling such a contraption or would my idea
not work properly?

I would try this myself but I have no way to calibrate it. The local
weather reports are far too inaccurate.

TIA

Wind is rarely constant, so getting any kind of good reading off this would be
very difficult.

Do a google search on "home made wind speed" or something -- I did:
home made wind speed idicator
and came up with several home made units; mostly using motors and a bit of
electrical stuffs...

-josh

Josh Assing wrote in
:

On 6 Jan 2008 13:34:46 GMT, Ken wrote:

I would like to know what the wind is locally. In Wal-Mart the only
weather station that measures wind speed is ~$75. It uses a spinning
indicator. More than I wish to spend.

It seems to me that one could estimate wind speed by having a
horizontally flat stiff weighted strip exposed to the wind. With a
protractor-type background one could determine the angle to which the
slat is lifted. If this angle is calibrated against the actual wind
speed one should be able to get a fair estimate of wind speed. As the
device turns with the wind, as it would have to, the wind direction
would be indicated as well.

Does anyone know of anyone selling such a contraption or would my idea
not work properly?

I would try this myself but I have no way to calibrate it. The local
weather reports are far too inaccurate.

TIA

Wind is rarely constant, so getting any kind of good reading off this
would be very difficult.

One could use some sort of damping but I'm afraid that would be very
difficult to get right. Too little energy from the indicator to play
with.

I considered your comment before I posted but hoped since one is reading
by eye rather than via an electrical/electronic link you could sort of
average the readings. I realize it would be far from precise but better
than guessing.


Do a google search on "home made wind speed" or something -- I did:
home made wind speed idicator
and came up with several home made units; mostly using motors and a
bit of electrical stuffs...

-josh

I had considered Google but hoped I could get a more definite steer from
someone here. Still, probably my next step. Thanks.



--
"When you choose the lesser of two evils, always
remember that it is still an evil." - Max Lerner

That's how Robert Hooke, a famous scientist of the 17th centurey who came up
with methods to measure all important weather parameters did it - see
http://esapubs.org/bulletin/backissu...2005.htm#comm2, and
hunt down the page for a figure showing the weather instruments he invented
or improved upon. You've hit upon a method to measure wind speed, but it's a
little late for a patent!

When I was a kid back in the late 1950's I ordered a weather system from the
back of Science Newsletter. It had a plastic calibrated protractor and a
plastic vane lifted by the wind. The whole thing mounted on a post, allowing
it to turn in the direction of the wind. It didn't work very well, for the
reasons the other posters mentioned. I recommend getting a Honeywell 923W
wireless weather system - it does a great job for about $200.

Cheers

"Josh Assing" wrote in message
...
On 6 Jan 2008 13:34:46 GMT, Ken wrote:

I would like to know what the wind is locally. In Wal-Mart the only
weather station that measures wind speed is ~$75. It uses a spinning
indicator. More than I wish to spend.

It seems to me that one could estimate wind speed by having a
horizontally flat stiff weighted strip exposed to the wind. With a
protractor-type background one could determine the angle to which the
slat is lifted. If this angle is calibrated against the actual wind speed
one should be able to get a fair estimate of wind speed. As the device
turns with the wind, as it would have to, the wind direction would be
indicated as well.

Does anyone know of anyone selling such a contraption or would my idea
not work properly?

I would try this myself but I have no way to calibrate it. The local
weather reports are far too inaccurate.

TIA

Wind is rarely constant, so getting any kind of good reading off this
would be
very difficult.

Do a google search on "home made wind speed" or something -- I did:
home made wind speed idicator
and came up with several home made units; mostly using motors and a bit of
electrical stuffs...

-josh