"Remote" temp monitors

[FrankRizzo]

So I was milling around the garden section at a local big box store and one of the things are sale where some fancy thermometers. They are wireless and claim to have a range of 300 feet. They where marked with the Weather Channel logo and looked like these:

Now on the weather channel's website they are marked much higher at $75, but when I saw them they were on sale for $20. You can get multiple sensors (3 total) for them as well to monitor more then one place. Now as someone that like gadgets it got me thinking.

It would be nice to be able to monitor the temps of multiple areas from one location in the house. I figure you could just stick it in with some stereo equipment and people might no even notice them. That way if a fan or ac dies you might get a bit of a warning.

One sensor in the veg area, one in the flower. With the display somewhere that you frequent. Kind of like a baby monitor. And since there is no picture I personally wouldn't be to worried about someone trying to hack my wireless thermometer. Maybe someone else here could see security issues but I don't. I think I'm gonna grab on to throw in a buddies room to see how well they work.

I believe they have high/low, current temp, and humidity, but I was in a hurry and didn't look at them very long.

Just thought I throw it out there to everyone. Are there people here using stuff like this already?

 

[pontiac]

Just thought I throw it out there to everyone. Are there people here using stuff like this already?

Yup, been seeing people use these to monitor temps/humidity inside and outside the cab for years now.

For growers on a budget like myself, we use those cheap monitors with the wired remote sensor... does the job though.

 

[somebody041]

i use a remote thermohygrometer and it works great. i check the highs/lows to make sure the temps are always within acceptable range. the other day my duct venting ripped (has anyone had this happen before? its happened twice to me) and i noticed within an hour since the temperature spiked.

 

[geopolitical]

Yes, I've used those.

What will really blow your mind are the dial up units. A buddy of mine has a greenhouse for maters & roses and his setup will actually answer the phone with a code and give him conditions in there. The more expensive setup he passed on could actually call you up assuming something bad happened that it could sense (spike in temps, too cold, too humid, etc).

 

[Tripsick]

I get the one from drug store com and they have remote humidity built in for about 20.00 shipped.

 

[McSnappler]

I've got a couple of budget ones that do the job pretty well, they were on special at the time and cost me about £6/$10 each. Unfortunately they don't show humidity but they stop me having to get up to check temps!

 

[FrankRizzo]

Yup, been seeing people use these to monitor temps/humidity inside and outside the cab for years now.

For growers on a budget like myself, we use those cheap monitors with the wired remote sensor... does the job though.

Yeah I use the cheaper ones with the wired remote too. Only drawback is you have to be within a few feet of the source to get a reading. With this thing you could have the sensor in a whole other building and still have a constant view of the environment. Not to mention monitoring multiply rooms from one point. I guess now I have to go build three rooms to try these out.

 

[ScrubNinja]

I have this one. I've never seen weather boy rugged up like that page. He is always at the beach in my cab!

It's great but it still has to be shielded from direct light or it gives false readings, like most.

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

I got one of the first Accu Temp wireless jobs about 10 years ago. It didn't have time associated memory. IMO, it went south a little fast to cost almost $100. If the remote part is allowed to collect condensation, it'll die quicker than one that stays dry. I'm sure the new ones are better than the relic I had.

 

[Lazyman]

I've got the top one in the OP, it works well but the range is only about 60', pretty weak transmitter. I have the transmitter in my garage grow, but the screen wouldnt work from my living room, had to move it to the far end of the house for a reading.

 

[Surrender]

I've been thinking about one of these units:

http://www.smarthome.com/15250/THUM-USB-Temperature-Humidity-Sensor/p.aspx

combine it with a wireless USB hub and you're in business.

 

[fatigues]

There are a number of thermometers (which will not measure RH, unfortunately) which appear to be USB flash drives. They are USB powered and software exists for Windows based systems that will poll and track the USB temp whenever you set it up. They were about $40 last time I checked. Many are intended for use inside of a PC, but, that hardly matters

I'd love a unit that tracks all relevant environmental data and sends it to a PC via USB where you can log it all and automatically keep track. Unfortunately, a complete Temp/RH/pH/TDS tracker is very expensive, and the screenshots for the software controlling it seemed a little iffy. If anyone has such a unit I'd love to hear about how easy it is to use. I'm rather surprised that the Nutradip 3-in-1 does not offer most of this functionality already, tbh.

 

[festivus]

I use ones called "Acu-Rite". I picked 2 up at wally world for about $20 each. The remote sending unit has a transmission range of about 60 feet. 3 days ago, my 2 week old 400 watt digital ballast crapped out. I knew immediately because I could see the temp had dropped. These units are unfortunately made in China, but they're built well. I've dropped mine numerous times and still haven't managed to break either of them yet!

 

[thekingofNY]

Funny i was just checking these out the other day. Home depot has one that does temps and 24 hours min/max temps for 15$. Also takes up to 3 sensors. From what i understand if you want to spend about 25 or 30 you can get one that takes 3 sensors and reads RH

 

[disfunktional]

nice wish i would have found one before i bought the one with the wire. im going looking for the receipt now! thanx for the thread i never would have known i love diy or techy stuff.

 

[Xero000]

I use the bottom one pictured in the original post. Works just fine and it does indeed record min/max for both temp & humidity. One bit of forewarning is that (like any RF device) the RF signal transmission can be singificantly shielded by metal (even mylar) so it will be of great benefit to position the remote sensor where it will have as much of a metal-free path to the receiver as possible.

 

[Chiefsmokingbud]

I've used these thermos for years. I prefer to get the ones with an alarm though. You can set it to go off if a certain temp is reached.

 

[james123]

I just ordered a therm/hydr with dual temp readings. The outdoor reading is via a wired probe. Would it be possible to use this wired probe in my nutrient tank? Thanks
http://www.greenshorticulture.co.uk...rometer-With-Max-Min-Humidity-Reading-849.asp

 

[silent_lemon]

youll have to wait and read the instructions james123, i bought one very similar to that, and it mentioned not to put the probe in water...

also, i will never ever overlook the type of battery these units use. the same instrument i was talking about used a flat battery, the expensive ones that dont last long, instead of typical AA/AAAs, suffice to say it has now run flat, and is basically junk to me. The rest of my thermometers with AAAs are still on their original single battery, and if needed, ikea sells 10 pack batteries for 2.50...never again! never again!

 

[Chiefsmokingbud]

Yeah james you can't put it in water. I did however put a coat of silicone on my probe and put it in my nute tank, and it works!