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Kestrel 5500FW Fire Weather Meter Pro

Updated:2025-03-13

Brand: Kestrel
Model: Kestrel 5500FW
Description: 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 enviro
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Product Details

Kestrel 5500FW Fire Weather Meter Pro Description：

Datasheet User's Manual

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.

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.

FEATURES

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)

Specifications

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	5°	1° 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)