Kestrel 5500FW Fire Weather Meter Pro

$369.00

The all-in-one hand-held belt weather kit replacement, including every critical weather measurement, PIG, and FDFM. Measure, log, track trends and expand capabilities with the free Kestrel LiNK App (LiNK model only).

Availability: In stock
SKU
0855FW

Maximum 23 characters




 FREE US SHIPPING

  • Measures wind speed (anemometer) and direction, temperature (thermometer), humidity (hygrometer), water vapor content of the atmosphere (psychrometer), plus 10 other meterological paramenter.
  • Probability of Ignition (PIG) and Fine Dead Fuel Moisture (FDFM) built-in for readings with no reference tables needed.
  • Quick and consistently accurate measurements reduce the risk of human error possible with manual weather kits.
  • Kestrel Rotating Vane Mount included with LiNK enabled units to make the world’s most portable weather station.

Kestrel 5500FW Fire Weather Meter Pro Overview


Environmental Measures
Altitude (Barometric)
Barometric Pressure
Compass Direction
Crosswind
Density Altitude
Dew Point Temperature
Fine Dead Fuel Moisture (FDFM)
Globe Temperature
Headwind/Tailwind
Heat Stress Index
Naturally Aspirated Wet Bulb Temperature
Pressure Trend
Probability of Ignition (PIG)
Relative Humidity
Station Pressure (Absolute Pressure)
Temperature
Wet Bulb Temperature (Psychrometric)
Wind Chill
Wind Direction
Wind Speed/Air Speed
Tips For Taking Accurate Measurements

The fast and easy tool for taking weather observations, the Kestrel 5500FW Fire Weather Meter Pro provides NIST-traceable accuracy, reliability and usability when it matters most. Measure every environmental condition plus PIG and FDFM and view trends with on-screen data graphing. Drop-proof, dust-proof, waterproof and able to withstand extreme environments without damage, your Kestrel Fire Weather meter can stand up to the abuses of work on a fire line wherever you’re assigned. A variety of carry pouch options makes it even easier to take your Kestrel Fire Weather meter with you. The Kestrel 5500FW Fire Weather Meter Pro offers a large, high-resolution and contrast display and highly readable numerals. The Kestrel 5500FW also includes a built-in dual color backlight, extra-strong polycarbonate lens and single AA battery operation. In addition to measuring the current environmental conditions, the Kestrel 5500F tracks and logs over 10,000 sets of time-stamped data, providing a complete history of conditions on the fire from the moment you arrive. With optional LiNK wireless connectivity, your data log can be transferred to a Kestrel LiNK app (available on Android) for easy export and email to an FBAN or meteorologist. LiNK enabled units come with Kestrel Vane Mount, creating a wireless pop up weather station for accurate readings and tracking trends.  Data can be downloaded to a PC with either the accessory Kestrel LiNK Dongle or waterproof USB Data Transfer Cable (Both sold separately).

Engraving Note: Please make sure that everything is spelled correctly, as your engraved product cannot be returned. All sales are final on engraved products. Add 2 business days to all engraving orders.

  • Backlight - Switchable White/Red
  • Battery Life Indicator
  • Data Log Graph View
  • Data Logging - Adjustable Interval
  • Date & Time
  • Digital Compass
  • Drop-Tested to MIL-STD-810G
  • Integrated Flip Open Impeller Cover
  • Intuitive Tactile Up/Down/Enter Keypad
  • LiNK Wireless Communication to Mobile Devices (Bluetooth low energy)*
  • Multilingual Menus (English, French, Spanish, German)
  • Pressure Sensor
  • Relative Humidity Sensor
  • Temperature Sensor (Patented External Isolated)
  • Waterproof to IP67 (3'/1M for 30 minutes)

* Applies to LiNK models only

  • Battery - 1 x AA
  • Certificate Of Conformity (Spec Sheet)
  • Instructions
  • Lanyard
  • Protective Drawstring Pouch

The specs on this page relate to all Kestrel 5 series meters. Just because a measurement is listed in this chart does not necessarily mean that it is included with all meters. To see a listing of all measurements and features for this meter, please click on the In-Depth tab above.

SENSORS
SENSORS ACCURACY RESOLUTION SPECIFICATION RANGE NOTES
Wind Speed | Air Speed Larger of 3% of reading, least significant digit or 20 ft/min Speed 0.1 m/s
1 ft/min
0.1 km/h
0.1 mph
0.1 knots
1 B*
0.1 F/S*
0.6 to 40.0 m/s
118 to 7,874 ft/min
2.2 to 144.0 km/h
1.3 to 89.5 mph
1.2 to 77.8 knots
0 to 12 B*
2-131.2*
1 inch|25 mm diameter impeller with precision axle and low-friction Zytel® bearings. Startup speed stated as lower limit, readings may be taken down to 0.4 m/s |79 ft min|1.5 km/h |.9 mph |.8 kt after impeller startup. Off-axis accuracy -1% @ 5º off axis; -2% @ 10º; -3% @ 15º. Calibration drift < 1% after 100 hours use at 16 MPH|7 m/s. Replacement impeller (NK PN-0801) field installs without tools (US Patent 5,783,753). Wind speed calibration and testing should be done with triangle on impeller located at the top front face of the Kestrel. Measuring wind speeds above 60 m/s / 134.2 mph can damage the impeller
Ambient Temperature 0.9 °F
0.5 °C
0.1 °F
0.1 °C
-20.0 to 158.0 °F
-29.0 to 70.0 °C
Airflow of 2.2 mph|1 m/s or greater provides fastest response and reduction of insolation effect. For greatest accuracy, avoid direct sunlight on the temperature sensor and prolonged sunlight exposure to the unit in low airflow conditions. Calibration drift is negligible for the life of the product. For further details, see Display & Battery Operational Temperature Limits.
Relative Humidity 2%RH 0.1 %RH 10 to 90% 25°C noncondensing To achieve stated accuracy, unit must be permitted to equilibrate to external temperature when exposed to large, rapid temperature changes and be kept out of direct sunlight. Calibration drift is typically less than ±0.25% per year.
Pressure 1.5 hPa|mbar
0.044 inHg
0.022 PSI
0.1 hPa|mbar
0.01 inHg
0.01 PSI
25°C/77°F
700-1100 hPa|mbar
20.67-32.48 inHg
10.15-15.95 PSI
Monolithic silicon piezo-resistive pressure sensor with second-order temperature correction. Between 1100–1600 mbar, unit will operate with reduced accuracy. Sensor may not operate above 1600 mbar and can be damaged above 6,000 mbar or below 10 mbar. Calibration drift is negligible for the life of the product.
Compass
1/16th Cardinal Scale
0 to 360° 2-axis solid-state magneto-resistive sensor mounted perpendicular to unit plane. Accuracy of sensor dependent upon unit’s vertical position. Self-calibration routine eliminates magnetic error from batteries or unit and must be run after every full power- down (battery removal or change). Readout indicates direction to which the back of the unit is pointed when held in a vertical orientation. Declination/variation adjustable for True North readout.

CALCULATED MEASUREMENTS
MEASUREMENT ACCURACY (+/-) RESOLUTION SENSORS EMPLOYED
Air Density 0.0002 lb/ft3
0.0033 kg/m
0.001 lbs/ft3
0.001 kg/m3
Temperature, Relative Humidity Pressure
Air Flow 6.71% 1 cfm
1 m3/hr
1 m3/m
0.1m3/s
1 L/s
Air Speed, User Input (Duct Shape & Size)
Altitude typical: 23.6 ft/7.2 m
from 750 to 1100 mBar
max: 48.2 ft/14.7 m
from 300 to 750 mBar
1 ft 1 m Pressure, User Input (Reference Pressure)
Barometric Pressure 0.07 inHg
2.4 hPa|mbar
0.03 PSI
0.01 inHg
0.1 hPa|mbar
0.01 PSI
Pressure, User Input (Reference Altitude)
Crosswind & Headwind/Tailwind 7.1% 1 mph
1 ft/min
0.1 km/h
0.1 m/s
0.1 knots
Wind Speed, Compass
Delta T 3.2 °F
1.8 °C
0.1 °F 0.1 °C Temperature, Relative Humidity Pressure
Density Altitude 226 ft
69 m
1 ft 1 m Temperature, Relative Humidity Pressure
Dew Point 3.4 °F
1.9 °C
15-
95% RH. Refer to Range for Temperature Sensor
0.1 °F
0.1 °C
Temperature, Relative Humidity
Evaporation Rate 0.01 lb/ft2/hr
0.06 kg/m2/hr
0.01 b/ft2/hr
0.01 kg/m2/hr
Wind Speed, Temperature Relative Humidity Pressure, User Input (Concrete Temperature)
Heat Index 7.1°F
4.0°C
0.1 °F
0.1 °C
Temperature, Relative Humidity
Moisture Content | Humidity Ratio (“Grains”) 4.9gpp
.7g/kg
0.1 gpp
0.01 g/kg
Temperature, Relative Humidity Pressure
Probability of Ignition (PIG) PIG Accuracy dependent on proximity of inputs to reference table steps. 10% Temperature, Relative Humidity
THI (NRC) 1.5 °F
0.8 °C
0.1 °F
0.1 °C
Temperature, Relative Humidity
THI (Yousef) 2.3 °F
1.3 °C
0.1 °F
0.1 °C
Temperature, Relative Humidity
Relative Air Density .0.3% 0.1% Temperature, Relative Humidity Pressure
Wet Bulb Temperature - Psychrometric 3.2 °F
1.8 °C
0.1 °F
0.1 °C
Temperature, Relative Humidity Pressure
Wet Bulb Temperature - Naturally Aspirated (NWB TEMP) 1.4 °F
0.8 °C
0.1 °F
0.1 °C
Wind Speed, Temperature Globe Temperature, Relative Humidity, Pressure
Wind Chill 1.6 °F
0.9 °C
0.1 °F
0.1 °C
Wind Speed, Temperature
 
ADDITIONAL PRODUCT INFO
Display & Backlight Multifunction, multidigit monochrome dot-matrix display. Choice of white or red LED backlight.
Response Time & Display Update Display updates every 1 second. After exposure to large environmental changes, all sensors require an equilibration period to reach stated accuracy. Measurements employing RH may require longer periods particularly after prolonged exposure to very high or very low humidity. WBGT requires about 8 minutes to reach 95% accuracy and about 15 minutes to reach 99% accuracy after exposure to large environmental changes.
Data Storage & Graphical display Min/Max/Avg History Logged history stored and displayed for every measured value. Manual and auto data storage. Min/Max/Avg history may be reset independently. Auto-store interval settable from 2 seconds to 12 hours*, overwrite on or off. Logs even when display off except for 2 and 5 second intervals. Kestrel 5 series units hold over 10,000 data points.
data Upload & Bluetooth Data Connect Option Wireless range up to 100ft. Connection requires optional USB data transfer cable or Kestrel Link Dongle or Kestrel LiNK app. Employs Kestrel Link protocol for data transmission with Link supported devices. (Kestrel LiNK for iOS/Android, Kestrel Link for PC/MAC).
Clock/Calendar Real-time hours:minutes:seconds clock, calendar, automatic leap-year adjustment.
Auto Shutdown User-selectable – Off, 15-60 minutes with no key presses.
Languages English, French, German, Spanish.
Certifications CE certified, RoHS, FCC, IC tested and WEEE compliant. Individually tested to NIST-traceable standards.
Origin Designed and manufactured in the USA from US and imported components. Complies with Regional Value Content and Tariff Code Transformation requirements for NAFTA Preference Criterion B.
Battery Life AA Lithium included. Up to 400 hours of use, reduced by backlight, alert light and buzzer, or Bluetooth radio transmission use.
Shock Resistance MIL-STD-810g, Transit Shock, Method 516.6 Procedure IV; unit only; impact may damage replaceable impeller.
Sealing Waterproof (IP67 and NEMA-6)
Display & Battery Operational Temperature Limits 14° F to 131° F | -10 °C to 55 °C Measurements may be taken beyond the limits of the operational temperature range of the display and batteries by maintaining the unit within the operational range and then exposing it to the more extreme environment for the minimum time necessary to take reading.
Storage Temperature -22.0 °F to 140.0 °F | -30.0 °C to 60.0 °C.
Size & Weight 5.0 x 1.9 x 1.1 in | 12.7 x 4.5 x 2.8 cm, 4.3 oz | 121 g. (Lithium battery included)

Kestrel 5 Series Certificates of Comformity

Kestrel 5 Series specification chart



Models & SKUs:

  • Kestrel 5500FW Fire Weather Meter PRO(orange): 0855FWORA
  • Kestrel 5500 Fire Weather Meter PRO with LiNK + Vane Mount (orange) 0855FWLVORA


Support Documents for all Kestrels

Replacing the Kestrel Impeller

Product Safety and Warranty Kestrel 5000 Series

Kestrel 5 Series Certificates of Comformity

Kestrel 5 Series specification chart

LiNK (Kestrel)

This tutorial will show you how to create a graph of the data that you exported from your Kestrel 5000 series or Kestrel DROP using one of the Kestrel LiNK applications.

An application that can be used to view and analyze your Kestrel data on an Android device.

Kestrel 5 Series Downloads

The attached document in Excel will help with determining average wind direction and the use of a wind rose by using the exported CSV file. This would be pertinent to any of the 5500 models, especially important for spray drift and measurements in the protected zones.

Fine Dead Fuel Moisture and Probability of Ignition Tables

Tips for taking accurate measurements Support tab at www.kestrelinstruments.com

Kestrel 5 Series Troubleshooting Documents

A simple guide to help you update your Firmware on your Kestrel using LiNK for Android

A simple guide to help you update your Firmware on your Kestrel using LiNK for Windows

Troubleshooting Bluetooth Dongle Issues with the Kestrel 5000 Series Models and LiNK for Windows.

Kestrel LiNK Manuals and Documentation


Kestrel 5 Series Instruction Manuals

Kestrel Vane Mount Instructions

Kestrel 5500 Fires Weather Pro & Kestrel 5400 Fire Weather Pro with WBGT User Guide

Visit our support page for FAQ and more.

  1. What is Density Altitude? What is Density Altitude? While many of us don't think about density altitude in our everyday lives, it impacts the environment and even how airplanes perform while in the air. With dense air, nitrogen and oxygen are tightly packed together to make the surrounding air heavier than other locations. Air density varies depending on where you're located in the world, but temperature and altitude are two primary factors that influence density altitude.
  2. Wildland Fire and Weather Monitoring: Saving Lives with Top Technologies Wildland Fire and Weather Monitoring: Saving Lives with Top Technologies Combating wildland fires isn’t for the faint of heart. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, over 1,100 people have died from wildfires in the last 100 years. In the last 10 years, 34,607 wildlife fires were reported over 2,932,334 acres.
  3. Kestrel Meter Found More Accurate Than Sling Psychrometer in Lab Test Accurate weather readings are essential for the safe and effective management of wildland fires. The ideal weather monitoring tool must be easy to use, extremely accurate, and quick to deploy. Both the sling psychrometer and Kestrel Weather Meter have been used for decades by firefighters to gather environmental conditions. Which device performs at the highest level of accuracy? This question was put to the test in a lab setting by PhysioZing, an
  4. Arizona Wildland Firefighters & Kestrel Meters Firefighters battling the Arizona wildfires are relying on Kestrel Pocket Weather Meters to get the critical environmental data required for fire safety and containment. As wildfires continue to spread across the state, firefighters face extreme and dangerous conditions on the fire line. Kestrel meters instantly and accurately provide all the necessary weather information needed to help to save land, homes, and lives.