The MiniAir6 range of anemometers are designed with three separate parts. The snap head anemometer, a probe handle and a separate elecronic housing. The probe handle contains a magnetic switch that provides a pulse each time a turbine blade passes the top of the handle. The electronic components are all housed in the separate housing and this housing will accept the pulses from the probe and convert this to the 0-2V output. The probe has a 5m cable that connects to the electronics housing and there is another 2m cable with flying leads for connecting the output to your own system. The separate electronics housing allows the probe to be used for air flows up to 140°C, but the electronics housing must be kept below 80°C.

In anemometry, the accuracy achieved by a vane probe is acknowledged to be unmatched. The vane rotation is closely linear to flow velocity and is unaffected by pressure, temperature, density and humidity. In the MiniAir probes, as each metal blade passes the probe handle, a pulse is generated by a simple magnetic pick up in the handle. The electronics in the separate housing reads the pulses generated and converts these readings to a linear 0-2V output signal.

The MiniAir vane anemometers are available in three different sizes: Micro; Mini; and Macro, with two different flow ranges available for each: 0-20ms; and 0-40m/s. Each anemometer has a different starting flow velocity due the differences in the initial combination of size and flow velocity have slightly different start up flow velocity as a certain flow is required to overcome the initial stationary friction forces of the individual turbines. This varies with the size, range and blade materials. All outputs are ranged from 0m/s and the anemometers will provide readings below the initial start up speeds once the turbines have some momentum.

Specifications

Snap-Head Replacement

The snap-head fixing system renders it very simple to fit a new impeller to the flow probe: this saves costly non-productive time and in the event of damage to the snap-head enables you to have the probe back in service in a matter of seconds by simply changing the snap-head.

Every MiniAir probes generate a pulse each time a vane blade passes the probe handle and the MiniAir 6 electronics converts the output to a linear 0-2V output. Each snap head and probe handle are paired and any replacement snap head should be of the same original size and flow range. Fitting an incorrect snap head will not match the probe handle and therefore the MiniAir 6 will no longer provide an accurate output.

Please note, MiniAir anemometers with fully Steel measuring heads are screwed to the shaft and are not replaceable.

The standard probes are a synthetic plastic construction snap head with an Aluminium vane turbine and handle. These units are ideal for non-aggressive air and gas flow measurements. For aggressive applications, a Steel vane and handle version is available for aggressive gases, plus a Brass version with the Macro turbine for lower flow ranges. A fully Steel version can be used for high temperature applications up to 250°C. Links for these products, and the standard MiniAir 6 anemometer with electronics in the probe handles, are provided in the section below.