How to Harness the Hidden Value of a Sling Psychrometer

If you’re a weather fanatic, work in a laboratory, or conduct environmental field studies, you have likely heard of a psychrometer or come across a psychometric chart. But were you aware that this “scientific equipment can be incredibly useful for many applications today?

About Sling Psychrometers

First invented in the late 19^th century, the sling psychrometer is a type of hygrometer. These devices were designed to determine the moisture content of the air and provide data about relative humidity. They measure the moisture content of air by employing a two-thermometer system, one consisting of a wet bulb and the other dry. The temperature difference between the two provides the humidity results.

To explain how Sling Psychrometers employ this traditional method of measuring atmospheric moisture content, a wet and a dry bulb thermometer is attached to a handle for spinning the thermometers. The user whirls the device for several minutes to produce the relative humidity measurement. Psychrometers supplied with a temperature conversion table makes obtaining humidity results a lot easier.

Benefits of Psychrometers

Sling psychrometers are being phased out for some uses by more convenient electronic sensors. However, the original battery-free style still has a firm foothold in some industries. Where applicable, these devices are excellent tools because they are:

• low cost
• do not require a power source
• portable
• need very little maintenance; and
• incredibly easy to use.

Applications for Psychrometers

Psychrometers are a worthwhile consideration for environmental monitoring and capturing field measurements where portability and low maintenance are critical considerations. Other common uses include educational purposes, laboratory use and for measuring the humidity of storage areas.

Types of Psychrometers

In this article, Instrument Choice scientists profile examples of the two most popular styles of sling psychrometers, including a rundown of their ideal temperature range and key features.

Sling Psychrometer -5~50 Celsius - IC736700

Obtain fast and accurate humidity readings anywhere by comparing the wet and dry bulb thermometer readings on the enclosed humidity chart.

Features:

• A sturdy plastic casing protects thermometers
• Forget the hazard of spilling mercury; this device uses a safe, easy to read red liquid
• A smart water reservoir eliminates the need to re-wet the wick
• Temperature range: 0°c to 50°c

Applications:

• Fieldwork
• Environmental studies
• Laboratories, and
• Educational purposes.

Sling Psychrometer, Celsius scale - IC-12-7043

This sling psychrometer accurately measures relative humidity between 10% and 100% with a recorded accuracy of ±0.5°c and doesn’t require you to consult complex conversion tables.

Features:

• Slide rule construction quickly converts temperature to relative humidity
• The thin bulb design provides a rapid thermal response
• Thermometers are made with shock-resistant glass
• Stems have deep-etched numerals and 1°c scale divisions for easy reading
• Built-in water reservoir holds enough water for several hours of testing
• Temperature Range: -5°c to 50°c

Applications:

• Tests in industrial atmospheres where high or low humidity may have a critical impact on manufacturing processes
• The measurement of comfort conditions in air-conditioned environments, hospital operating rooms, storage areas, and laboratories.

Conclusion

Sling Psychrometers use older technology to provides cost-effective solutions for a wide range of applications. It’s becoming rare to find examples of scientific equipment capable of taking precise measurements, that is accurate, inexpensive and entirely independent of a power source.

Would a Sling Psychrometer be the answer to your measurement challenge? Want some more information? Contact one of the Instrument Choice scientists. We’re obsessed with excellent customer service and want to help you to take the guesswork out of securing your scientific equipment.

Try us! Call 1300 737 871 or email [email protected]