How to use the Easy Site
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A versatile tool - the Easy SiteTM inclinometer is used as a Satellite inclinometer, forestry inclinometer, solar inclinometer, landscape inclinometer, height inclinometer, distance inclinometer, and more! Need to determine height of an object, like a cell tower or building? Or need a special tool to estimate tree height? Need to estimate or measure distance or estimate or measure height? Or need a tool that easily determines or measures distance from an object? The Easy Site is the perfect way to measure height or distance, and makes estimating height or estimating distance EASY! It comes with an easy to use spreadsheet with all the necessary formulas built in, so all you have to do is input the angles and it will automatically calculate for height and distance and provide you a running tally.
Using the Easy Site is just that ... easy. Depending on what you're doing, measuring tree heights or other tall objects, satellite dish installation, or solar panel collectors, will determine how it will be used. If you're going to be using the Easy Site for FREQUENTLY determining height or distance, you may want to check out our FREE Height and Distance Automatic Calculator. We’ll cover measuring tree height first, using the Easy Site with Pitch Angle Calculator included with unit .... You’ll need to find something tall that you’d like to measure. Now, you could climb to the top of the object and stretch out your measuring tape, but usually you don’t need to be that exact. When you're trying to estimate a lot of timber it could be extremely time consuming. There are several ways that you can do this, first you need to stand on level ground and have someone measure from your feet to your eyes. Don't do this by yourself and don't wear platform shoes (they are making a come back you know). You probably won't be able to measure yourself accurately. This is the only constant measurement you will have. |
Diagram 1 |
Diagram 2 |
Next, stand away from the tree, do not hug the tree. Besides having to worry about splinters and Woodpeckers, the best estimate of the height will be achieved if the angle of the yellow and blue line (diagram 1) is somewhere around 60 degrees of elevation. The smaller the angle the less accurate your measurement. You can also use the Easy Site to determine the distance from the tree you are measuring. You need to make sure you are standing as close to the same level as the foot of the tree as possible. Now, this is where the Easy Site comes in, adjust the mirror on the right side so you can see the reading while you look through the scope on the left. Line up the cross hairs on the scope with the bottom of the tree. (diagram 2) |
| Read the angle indicated by the white line on the inclinometer,
that would be the angle between the blue and green lines on diagram
1. As an example, we will use the height of 6 foot and a pitch of
19 degrees. Using the pitch angle calculator, set the pitch angle
degrees (1) to 19 and find your height on the rise scale
(3) at the 6 foot mark. Read the distance, 17 feet, on the run scale
(2) opposite the
6. So you are 17 feet from the tree.
Now, sight the highest point on the tree you wish to measure through the scope and read the angle from the inclinometer, which is around 47 degrees. |
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Set the pitch angle degrees (1) at 47 degrees. Find the distance from the tree (2) on the “Run” line, 17 feet, and read the height of the tree on the rise line (3) around 18.5 feet from your eye level. Now the only thing left to do is add 6 feet (your height) to the rise, bringing the height of the tree to approximately 24.5 feet. If the distance to the tree is greater than what is available on the PAC, you can divide the distance to the tree by 2, find the rise and then multiply the results by 2.
If you want to be more accurate or like to be a little more high tech, you can use a scientific calculator and perform your own calculations. The formula for determining the height of the tree is as follows:
tangent of angle * run = rise
To solve for the distance from the tree we have to use the complementary angle of 19 degrees which would be:
90 - 19 = 71 degrees (this is the complementary angle)
tan 71 * 6 = distance from tree or 2.90 * 6 = 17.43 feet
Now for the height of the tree:
tan 47 * 17.43 = height of tree or 1.072 * 17.43 = 18.69
And of course you still have to add your height to the 18.69 feet which makes the tree 24.69 feet high.
The Easy Site also has an attached compass to aid you in doing a rough boundary survey. All you need besides the Easy Site is a Pitch Angle Calculator or a scientific calculator and a cup of coffee and you’ll have it made.
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Don't want to use the Pitch Angle Calculator we include? Don't want to mess with Scientific Calculators? Do you want instant answers? Then download our Height and Distance Automatic Calculator FREE Download
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Height and Distance
Automatic Calculator Spreadsheet
is a Microsoft Excel file, and
formulas are protected so you don't have to worry about accidentally
deleting or changing.
The spreadsheet automatically gives you a running total, and we've provided you up to 10,000 lines of input. For an example, if you have a hundred trees you want to measure, it will maintain the tally automatically. If you're measuring the distance to run fence line, and you only input four or five different lines, it will tally only those lines that have input. If you want to keep your list for future reference, and want to create a new list for another project, just save the spreadsheet under your project's name and then save it again under your new project name before you start over again. This way you won't overwrite the file and lose your work. |
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Satellite dish installers will find the Easy Site useful for doing site pre-installation surveys. You can use the compass to find the correct direction to point the dish. After you find the correct azimuth use the inclinometer to find out if there are trees, structures or mountains in the way. Set the red pointer for the correct angle of elevation, then point the scope the direction indicated by the compass. Tilt the Easy Site back while watching the incline indicator in the mirror, when the indicator gets to the red pointer look through the scope at the cross hairs. Check to see if there are any obstructions that may affect satellite reception. |
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View 4 minute video demonstration on how to use for Pre-Installation surveys, determining angle of incline, and pole leveling for satellite dish installations.
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Click here to go to |
When installing a dish the inclinometer can also be used as a level to adjust the mounting pole and for final settings for the azimuth.
Solar Panel Collectors Installers
Deciding the Direction and Angle of Installation
You can use the compass to find the correct direction to position the solar collectors. After you find the correct azimuth use the inclinometer to help you determine if there are trees, structures or mountains that would block the sun's rays. Then, place the Easy Site's base flat on the solar panel to determine the angle of incline. You can also use the Easy Site as a level.
The angle and direction of installation is of great importance as it will significantly affect the efficiency of the solar collector. Naturally you want the collector to receive the maximum amount of sunlight each day and throughout the year. As a general rule if you are in the Northern Hemisphere then the collector should face South and if you are in the Southern Hemisphere then the collector should face North. See diagram below.
The angle at which you mount the collector should roughly correspond to the latitude of your location. For example:- Melbourne, Australia has a latitude of 37o South - the collector should therefore face north at a 37o angle.- London, UK has a latitude of 51o North - the collector should therefore face south at a 51o angle.
Of course, these are a few ways for using Easy Site, but you may find other uses. If you do, let us know so we can share with others to make their jobs easier.