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Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some frequently, and not so
frequently, asked questions regarding our product line. Just click on the
link to go to that question and answer. If you have a
question about any of our products, just send it to info@allivanmktg.com.
Eco-celli
Barometers
How
does an Eco-celli work?
Does
the Eco-celli Barometer use any mercury?
My
Eco-celli is reading too low - help?
How
do I calibrate my Eco-celli?
Can
I get more red fluid for my barometer?
Does
the Eco-celli read actual air pressure at any altitude?
How
do I remove air gaps in the red barometer fluid?
Tendency
Barometers
Are
these real weather instruments or toys?
How
does a Tendency Barometer work?
How
do I calibrate my tendency barometer?
How
do I remove air gaps in the red fluid?
Weather
Stations
How
do I calibrate my weather station?
I’m
not sure my barometer is working?
Eco-celli Barometers
How
does an Eco-celli work?
An
Eco-celli Barometer does not operate by the same principles as a mercury barometer. Evangelista Torricelli created the first working mercury
barometer in 1643. A standard
mercury barometer consists of a glass tube about 36 inches long with one end
sealed shut and the other end open. The
tube is filled with mercury and then inverted into a reservoir also filled with
mercury. The mercury level in the
tube falls creating a vacuum at the closed end of the tube.
The atmospheric column of air above the reservoir presses down on the
surface of the mercury. This causes the column of mercury in the tube to rise and
fall with the changing weight of the column of air.
Low pressure presses down less on the reservoir allowing the level in the
tube to drop while high pressure presses down more on the reservoir causing the
level in the tube to rise.
DD
Barometers of Belgium patented the Eco-celli Barometer in 1998.
It was created to replace the mercury barometer after it was determined
that mercury was too hazardous a material to be used in everyday instruments.
The Eco-celli works by utilizing Boyles Law – the compressibility of a
gas by a fluid. An Eco-celli
barometer tube is almost twice as long as a mercury tube barometer.
This is because the fluid used weighs less than mercury.
At the closed end of the Eco-celli is a reservoir filled with compressed
air. The red fluid fills a portion
of the reservoir and most of the remaining tube.
Air pressure presses down on the red fluid column at the open end of the
tube. This causes the red fluid to
further compress the air in the reservoir.
Within the atmospheric range of about 28 – 31 inches, the Eco-celli responds
just as a mercury barometer responds making it a perfect replacement instrument
for weather forecasting purposes, or any other purpose requiring this pressure
range. However, outside of this
pressure range, the Eco-celli does not respond as a mercury barometer does and
so cannot replace all uses of the mercury barometer.
The Eco-celli reads sea level corrected air pressure at any altitude
above sea level. This is the air
pressure used in weather forecasting.
Does
the Eco-celli Barometer use any mercury?
No. The Eco-celli does not use any mercury at all.
The Eco-celli is the only non-mercury liquid barometer being made
anywhere. It is especially useful
in schools where mercury is no longer allowed. The Eco-celli still allows the student to observe the
movement of the fluid caused by the changes in the atmosphere. Using a digital or mechanical barometer just does not have
the same learning qualities.
My
Eco-celli is reading too low - help?
Let's
check a couple of things to verify the operation of the barometer.
First, check to see that the thermometer tube is aligned properly by verifying
that the black line on the thermometer is aligned with the 25 degree C level on
the temperature scale on the frame.
Next,
check to see that the red barometer tube's black mark is also aligned with the
25 degree C level. The tubes can move in their mounting clips with
repeated handling.
Once
the tube are verified in their position, check to see that there are no air gaps
in the red fluid column from the reservoir end to the open end of the tube.
Any gap in the red fluid will cause it to read incorrectly. If there are
gaps, follow the procedure to remove air gaps listed below.
Check
that the dust plug at the end of the red barometer tube is not blocked.
To do this, removed the dust plug and see if the red fluid level changes.
It should not move. If it does, the plug is the problem. If the fluid
level does not move, the plug is fine.
If
after verifying that the instrument is properly setup there is still a low level
of red fluid, you will have to add more fluid. Do not attempts to add air
to the reservoir end, as this is precisely calibrated compressed air and adding
more will destroy the unit’s usefulness.
The barometer operates according to Boyles Law, the compressibility of a
gas by a fluid. Additional red
fluid may be available from the retailer where you purchased your Eco-celli or
through us. Contact us via e-mail
at info@allivanmktg.com.
How
do I calibrate my Eco-celli?
Click
here to go to the Eco-celli Calibration Procedure.
Can
I get more red fluid for my barometer?
Additional
red fluid may be available from the retailer where you purchased your Eco-celli
or through us. Contact us via
e-mail at info@allivanmktg.com.
Before ordering red fluid, be sure to contact us so we can verify your
barometer is setup properly. You
should only need more fluid if you are moving the barometer from a higher
altitude where it was calibrated to a lower altitude where it will require
recalibration.
Does
the Eco-celli read actual air pressure at any altitude?
The
Eco-celli barometer only reads sea level corrected atmospheric pressure. This is the pressure used in weather forecasting.
There are other applications for a barometer’s use such as engine
carburetor adjustments, hospital blood gas equipment calibration, and many more.
These applications require the actual or true air pressure.
The true air pressure and the sea level corrected air pressure are only
the same at sea level.
When
you increase your altitude by going up a mountain for example, the air pressure
decreases as you go up. In weather
forecasting, it would be impossible to draw a weather map with high and low
pressure areas if you mapped the actual pressure as there would be a low
pressure area over every mountain and a high pressure area over every valley. To create a weather map that did away with these altitude
variations, any altitude above sea level is mathematically recalculated, as
though the mountain was not there. In
other words, the true air pressure is brought down to sea level, the pressure
that would be present there if the mountain did not exist.
This is called sea level corrected atmospheric pressure and is the
pressure you hear on TV or in weather reports.
This is the only pressure that an Eco-celli can read so any application
that needs the actual air pressure at any altitude above sea level should not
use the Eco-celli.
Can
I get replacement tubes if my Eco-celli breaks?
Yes, the barometer tube
and the thermometer tube on the Eco-celli are easily replaceable.
You can contact the retailer where you purchased your barometer or you
can contact us via e-mail at info@allivanmktg.com.
How do I remove air gaps in the red barometer fluid?
Any air gap in the red
fluid column from the reservoir to the open end of the barometer tube will cause
incorrect readings. Air gaps are
formed during shipping or when the barometer is not stored vertically.
To remove the air gaps, locate the short length of plastic tubing
in the calibration kit. This section of tubing is roughly the diameter of the
barometer glass tube. Slide one end
of this plastic tubing over open end of the barometer tube (it might be helpful
to moisten the end of the glass tube a bit before proceeding).
Next, place the blue rubber plug in the open end of this short plastic
tube. Stand the barometer upright
(the tubes should already be installed onto the barometer frame).
Now simply squeeze the plastic tube.
This will force the red fluid down one side of the tube and up the other
towards the reservoir on the other side of the U-shaped glass barometer tube.
Notice a small bulge in the glass tube near the bottom of the side of the
U-tube that you attached the rubber tubing. If the air gap is between the plastic tube and this bulge in
the glass, keep squeezing the plastic tube until the air gap reaches this bulge.
Once the fluid reaches this bulge, the air gap will naturally escape and
the fluid will rejoin. Note that
you might have to remove and re-install the blue plug (while pinching the
plastic tube together with your fingers to prevent the air already forced down
the glass tube from escaping) in order to introduce more air into the plastic
tube. If the air gap is beyond the bulge in the glass, keep
squeezing the plastic tube until the air gap reaches the reservoir chamber at
the top of the closed end of the barometer tube.
It may take several squeezes of the plastic tube but the air gaps will
disappear.
Tendency Barometers
Are
these real weather instruments or toys?
Alexander
Adie of Scotland invented the tendency barometer in1818.
These instruments were used by many of the world’s best-known explorers
of the day. We have modified his
original instrument slightly using a better fluid than he had available. The tendency barometers are functional accurate weather
instruments. Their purpose is to
show changes in air pressure from which a weather forecast can be made.
We have installed them in some beautiful frames and cabinetry to enhance
their eye appeal in any home. Here
is a link to a historical web site that explains the origin of the Adie tendency
barometer.
http://www.antique-horology.org/_Editorial/SympiezometerFontijn/default.htm
There
is an inexpensive $40 tendency barometer looking instrument that is sold in some
catalogs. It uses colored water in
a U-shaped tube. This is not a
weather instrument but more of a toy. Water
cannot be used in any instrument as it evaporates quickly and is greatly
affected by temperature so much that you could not determine the cause of any
changes.
How
does a Tendency Barometer work?
The
tendency barometer consists of two tubes placed side by side.
One tube is a standard sealed glass thermometer.
The other tube is also in affect a thermometer with the difference being
that one end is open to the atmosphere. During
the calibration procedure, the fluid levels of both tubes are set to the same
level when the air pressure is 29.92 inches.
This is halfway between a high pressure and low pressure.
Since temperature affects both tubes in the same manner, the only
variable causing the fluid levels in the two tubes to be different is the
atmospheric pressure. High pressure
will cause the red fluid in the U-shaped tube to be pushed lower than the blue
fluid level in the thermometer tube. Low
pressure will allow the red fluid level to rise above the level of the blue
fluid in the thermometer tube. So,
with just a glance you can see if you are under the influence of a high pressure
(good weather) or low pressure (bad weather).
How
do I calibrate my tendency barometer?
The
tendency barometers we sell come mounted in many different styled frames. However, the tendency barometer parts (thermometer and
barometer tubes) are all the same and are calibrated in the same manner.
Click here to go to the Tendency Barometer
Calibration Procedure.
How
do I remove air gaps in the red fluid?
Any
air gap in the red fluid column from the reservoir to the open end of the
barometer tube will cause incorrect readings.
Air gaps are formed during shipping or when the barometer is not stored
vertically. If the air gap is in the open-ended side of the U-shaped tube, take
the long thin plastic tubing from the calibration kit and prick through the air
gap releasing the air. If the air
gap is further along the tube that the thin tubing cannot reach it, attach the
short rubber tube with the blue plug on its end to the open end of the barometer
tube. Squeeze the rubber tube until
the air bubble goes up into the reservoir end.
Weather
Stations
How
do I calibrate my weather station?
There
are three gauges on most of our weather stations.
Below is the calibration procedure for each.
Barometer
A
barometer is used to measure changes in air pressure.
If pressure is rising, this usually means improving weather over the
next 24 hours. If pressure is
falling, this usually means deteriorating weather.
The black pointer measures air pressure.
Pressure changes can be noted by moving the brass pointer over the
black pointer, then leave the instrument for 4 or 5 hours before taking
another reading. You can see any changes in pressure by noting the difference
between the two pointers. Whenever
you take a reading, lightly tap the glass face of the instrument to release
any latent action in the pointer.
Barometer
readings are also dependent on the height above sea level where the barometer
is placed. Therefore, all
barometers must be calibrated before initial use.
To calibrate your barometer for your location you must first find your
local air pressure. You can do
this by watching The Weather Channel on cable TV and noting the local
pressure, going on the internet to www.weather.com
and selecting your location or a location very near you.
Or, you can call a local nearby airport or your local National Weather
Service office and ask for the current air pressure.
Once you have the air pressure, you can set your barometer by turning
the center adjusting screw on the rear of the gauge. Do not use force when adjusting the pointer and do not exceed
the min/max indication on the dial.
Thermometer
The
thermometer has already been calibrated in the factory.
If you notice a significant difference, it is possible to adjust the
thermometer with a small flat screwdriver by turning the adjusting slot
recessed in the center of the rear of the gauge.
Do not use force. You
should compare the reading of the BTH to the reading of a known accurate
thermometer side-by-side for 30 minutes before making any changes.
Do not use force when adjusting the pointer and do not exceed the
min/max indication on the dial.
Hygrometer
The
hygrometer indicates the atmospheric humidity of your location in percent.
We advise you to calibrate the instrument at least once a year.
To do this, wrap the instrument in a moist (not soaking wet) cloth for
30 minutes. The hygrometer should
read between 95 – 100%. If this
is not the case, adjust the pointer by placing a small flat tipped screwdriver
in the hole at the center of the instrument down into the slot just off
center. Watching the
pointer as you turn the screwdriver, first turn the pointer to 0% then to
100%. This will release any
strain. Then adjust to 97% and
you are finished. Please do not
use force and do not exceed the min/max values on the dial.
I’m not sure my barometer is working?
Barometers change slowly. A reading should only be taken in most cases every 3 to 6
hours in order to give the atmosphere a chance to change. The exception being if a thunderstorm is nearby in which case
the pressure can change rapidly. There
is a simple procedure to verify if a gauge barometer is working.
Remove the barometer from the frame by using your thumbs to pop it out
from the rear. Don’t let it fall.
Place the barometer in a clear plastic bag.
Blow some air into the bag and quickly twist the top of the bag trapping
the air inside. While watching the
face of the barometer, give the bag a little squeeze.
You should see the needle on the barometer move accordingly.
Now release your squeeze and the needle should return to its original
position. If it does, the barometer
is working fine. If the needle does not move, does not return, or swings all
over the place, your barometer is not working properly.
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