Wind speed sensor question

[fredfoot2001]

I have built a wind speed sensor with a rotary encoder but it seems to top out at 46mph.  I know there have been gusts greater than that since I started using it.  Does anyone have an idea why that might happen?

[FriskyFerret]

Would you post a picture of the sensor unit, please? Have you calibrated the unit with an automobile? You may be missing edges of the encoder signal because of processing overhead. Is the encoder counter routine interrupt driven?

[seaspac]

Hi,

there may be 2 reasons, the mechanical design has nonlinear response, other may be as frisky expressed the circuitry is not able to handle fast counting signals coming from sensor,

for the 1st problem it should be calibrated, for the 2nd problem circuitry should be analyzed.

we hope we can help more if we know more about ur design , both mechanical and electronic part.

Regards

seaspac

[FriskyFerret]

the mechanical design has nonlinear response,

This was my first thought and why I asked for a picture of the sensor. There are many physical factors of the sensor that could affect its performance. Fortunately, mechanical wind speed sensors are well-studied and characterized. This is not new technology. Waiting for a picture...

[donno]

I agree with all above, if you visit Vector Instruments you will find what you are looking for but setup and calibration is essential
for accurate readings!

Link removed due to Warning, Sorry old chap!

[fredfoot2001]

It turned out to be the encoder.  I replaced it and now it works fine.  Thanks for the help.

[billy77]

where i find wind sensor?

[armandiaz]

Note that you could make a wind sensor also without an encoder, you can use the "hot wire" principle and save a lot of money.

[FriskyFerret]

Note that you could make a wind sensor also without an encoder, you can use the "hot wire" principle and save a lot of money.

Wrong. A hot wire sensor has several subtle drawbacks and is not suitable for measurement of wind speeds in a fixed outdoor location. Although very simple in principle, there is a complex relationship between air speed and the sensor's output. There is also the issue of the effect of rain and snow on the instrument.

Sorry, the linear relationship between a cup anemometer's rotational speed and wind speed, the inherent averaging effect of the rotational inertia of the vane, plus the dirt-simple direct interfacing of the instrument to a microcontroller's digital port still makes it the top choice for amature wind speed measurement.

[hugo]

How are you reading the sensor information?

[ravenfeather]

Has someone used a fan for wind speed measurement?