Vanes & Dials

Wind vanes have long been used by a lot of people worldwide. These useful instruments can usually be found on farms. In fact, there just might not be a farm all over America that does not have a wind vane. But there are people who know wind vanes as weather vanes. Both are one and the same.

So, how do wind vanes work? And what are the dials on these vanes for? In order to understand further the importance of wind vanes & dials, one should know what the typical wind vane looks like. This instrument is not just about vanes & dials. In fact, there’s more to making the instrument work than just vanes & dials.

The typical wind vane is situated on an object that is elevated. This elevated object can be a roof, for example. A wind vane is typically used to show the direction of the wind. So, there really is a need for the wind vane to be perched on high. This is so that the instrument can receive the full blast of the wind. Most wind vanes, if not all, come in the shape of roosters or cockerels. This is the logic behind them being known as weathercocks to some people. There are also times when the wind vane is in the shape of an arrow. This is also one of the popular designs for wind vanes. Over time, more and more designs of wind vanes have been made.

But if you want to know how to make a wind vane, then the first thing you should keep in mind is maintaining balance. Balance is a definite must when you want to make a wind vane that works efficiently. Make sure half of its weight is distributed on both sides of the axis. And that’s not all you would have to do. You should also set the instrument in such a way that the momentum gathered by just about all sides of the wind vane that are exposed to the elements of the wind is not equal. Yes, the momentum should not be equal. This is because this state of inequality prods the wind vane to rotate in reaction to the force of the wind it would receive on its surface. That end that receives the smallest amount of momentum would then be made to turn into the wind. This indicates the source of the wind. The pointer would then show the direction of the wind, making the act of naming the wind much easier. The simpler wind vanes have markers with directions that are located usually just beneath the pointer. These markers are situated in line with geographic directions. One more important thing you should remember in making your wind vane work is that your pointer should be able to move on its axis.

There have indeed been many designs for wind vanes over the years. Weathercocks are quite a popular design. But there’s a small problem when it comes to using this design. You see, weathercocks are not really that efficient in showing wind direction when the wind is not that strong. Sure, the weathercock would still twist and turn, but there really is no concrete way of knowing from which direction the wind is blowing. The simple reason behind this is that the weathercock design does not really have the needed balance in order for wind vanes to function efficiently.

Also, when picking out a spot upon which to prop your wind vane, you should choose a spot that is free from trees, buildings, and other things of obstruction. You see, these things can be a hindrance in acquiring accurate wind direction. Simply because they can influence the direction of the wind, thus, giving you a reading that is not that accurate anymore.