Tendency Barometer User Guide
Contents of Box for A46 Tendency Barometer
In the box you will find:
- Tendency
Barometer consisting of:
Barometer U-shaped tube with red
fluid
Thermometer tube filled with blue
fluid
Tendency Dial – tracks pressure
changes
The User Manual below on this page.
- Calibration
Kit with syringe and plastic tubing.
User
Manual
On December 23, 1818, Alexander Adie, an optician from
Edinburgh, received his patent for an invention: the Sympiesometer.
He named his invention using the Greek words “sumpiesometer”
(pressing together) and “metron” (measure).
His instrument proved to be a reliable weather predictor.
We constructed, according to his patent, a completely new series of very
special weather instruments: The Tendency Barometer.
A Tendency Barometer consists
mainly of two parts: A U-shaped
tube (red fluid) and a thermometer (blue fluid).
The red fluid rises or falls according to changes in air pressure.
The U-shaped tube is also influenced by temperature, which is the reason
why the combination with the thermometer is required.
All temperature deviations during the reading of the pressure tendency
will be corrected. All you need to
do is to compare the level of the red fluid to the blue fluid.
The difference between both fluid levels (use the Celsius scale to take
difference readings) is set with the pointer on the Tendency scale.
The changes in air pressure can be easily observed and an accurate
forecast made.
Example: When the red
fluid is 6 lines below the blue fluid. -6 (remember, use the Celsius scale to
take the difference) the weather forecast is for Fair Weather.
When the red fluid is 8 lines above the blue, +8, the forecast is Rainy
or Stormy.
When the red and blue fluid levels are equal, the
weather condition is Change.
Red fluid below the blue fluid, Good Weather
(high pressure).
Red fluid above the blue fluid, Bad Weather (low
pressure)
You can also take actual pressure readings in hPa, which is
the equivalent to millibars. The
pressure level in millibars is printed around the Tendency dial.
Barometer Calibration
As with all other barometers a tendency barometer has to be
set for the local altitude. To
calibrate the apparatus, a calibration kit is included.
You will need it now. Wear
gloves and eye protection. See
caution below. Put the needle stub onto the syringe if it is not already
installed and remove the protective cover over the needle stub.
Carefully slide the thin plastic tube over the needle stub.
There should be no air bubbles in the red fluid column.
If there are, use the procedure in the troubleshooting section to remove
them before continuing.
Find your local air pressure by watching TV such as The
Weather Channel, or going onto the Internet to www.weather.com
or other such weather web sites. When your local air pressure is equal to 29.92
inches (1013 millibars), remove as much red fluid as needed to make both red and
blue fluid level equal with each other. (Note: It might take a few days for the
air pressure in your area to pass through 29.92 inches so just keep an eye on
the weather until it does.)
The tendency barometer is now calibrated and will only need
to be recalibrated if you move to a different altitude.
Hang it on a wall away from heat or direct sunlight.
Enjoy watching the weather!
Troubleshooting
|
Problem |
Solution |
|
Air
bubble near the opening of red fluid tube. |
Use
the long thin plastic tube to prick through the air bubble |
|
Air
bubble nearer the closed end of red fluid tube |
Attach
the short rubber tube to the open end of the barometer tube. Squeeze
the rubber tube until the air bubble goes up into the reservoir end.
Second
option: Put the instrument upright in the refrigerator for approx. 1 hour.
The
air bubble will disappear. |
|
Barometer
not working properly |
You
are at a higher altitude than the one the instrument is calibrated for. Calibrate
the instrument using the above calibration method. |
|
In
case of glass breakage. |
Wear
Gloves. Try to collect the colored fluid and all pieces of glass in a
container. The red fluid consists of red pigment in oil; the blue fluid is
methyl alcohol. If the red
fluid is spilled, absorb it with paper towels or inert material such as
sand or kitty litter. Seal in
a plastic bag and dispose of as chemical waste according to local codes.
|
|
Air
bubble in blue thermometer fluid |
Heat
the bottom of thermometer tube carefully using a hair dryer on low
setting. Hold
the dryer at least 12 inches from the thermometer tube. Add
heat very slowly!! Give fluid
time to react. Heating too
quickly will break tube. |
Caution: The thermometer and barometers tubes contain chemicals that
may cause skin irritation in some people. Wear
protective gloves when handling the liquid.
If skin is exposed, wash with warm water and soap.
The chemicals may cause eye irritation if splashed into the eye.
Always wear eye protection when handling the liquid.
If the eye is exposed to the fluids, flush the eye with warm water to
remove. The dyes used in the fluids
are very strong colorants and will stain anything they come in contact with.
If they get on clothes, wash immediately in soap and water.
Disposal:
In case of a spill of the fluids, absorb the fluid with paper towels or
inert absorbent material such as sand or kitty litter.
Place in a sealed plastic bag and dispose of as chemical waste.
Do not flush down the drain, as the chemicals are hazardous to marine
life.
For
more information, contact your dealer or send your questions to this e-mail
address:
The
Tendency barometer is a product of DD Barometers -NV, Belgium.
Imported
by Allivan Marketing – Tyngsboro, MA
www.allivanmktg.com