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Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Discussions => Topic started by: philtravel on March 17, 2012, 06:06:56 pm

Title: Monitoring power or temperature while you are away from coach with pets inside
Post by: philtravel on March 17, 2012, 06:06:56 pm
We want to monitor the inside temperature on our I phone while we are out and our dogs are inside. Has any one used a baby monitor that you can see on the phone? or any other ideas?

Any one use one of these? Temperature@lert USB Standard Edition - Temperature Sensor USB (http://www.temperaturealert.com/Wireless-Temperature-Store/Temperature-Alert-USB-Sensor.aspx)
Title: Re: Monitoring power or temperature while you are away from coach with pets inside
Post by: txforetravel on March 17, 2012, 06:24:35 pm
I have not used that product but I'm going to take a second look at it.  I like the fact that it just sends an email.  Now, there are other products /Apps you can get from the Apple store to monitor your house, coach, whatever and even be able to turn lights on/off, furance temp, ac temp etc. 

The down side to all of this is you will need constant internet access from the coach.  So if you rely on your phone for internet service, these devices will not help out when the phone is with you out and about.

Now, if you can piggyback onto the campground wifi without dissruption, it might work well.  My experience with campground wifi is that they are not reliable. 

Title: Re: Monitoring power or temperature while you are away from coach with pets inside
Post by: philtravel on March 17, 2012, 06:43:41 pm
I have a Verizon card I leave on a laptop. It is on all the time so I am thinking this may be the way to go for me. I would like to know what others are using.
Title: Re: Monitoring power or temperature while you are away from coach with pets inside
Post by: Barry & Cindy on March 17, 2012, 06:53:21 pm
When dry camping, a better idea is to add a Magnum auto gen start that kicks on when temp rises to your chosen set point. Just set auto start and leave roof air set to on.
Title: Re: Monitoring power or temperature while you are away from coach with pets inside
Post by: J. D. Stevens on March 18, 2012, 01:26:29 am
We have used iCam to monitor the dog in the coach while we are away from the coach. The MacBook is used as a camera in the coach and the iPhone will display up to four cameras. A camera could be pointed at a thermometer or other meter. We once set up both MacBooks in the coach in order to show different areas.

It does require Internet connections for the camera device as well as the iPhone. It also requires you to turn of screen savers and power savers on the computers.
Title: Re: Monitoring power or temperature while you are away from coach with pets inside
Post by: Dwayne on March 18, 2012, 09:57:32 pm
We do this routinely.  We have a hotspot for internet service and leave the laptop on with iCam active.  It is aimed down the center of the coach from the front dash tray.  We prop up a big cheapo thermometer easily visable on the webcam and check in periodically on the iphone app.  Works great so long as you are in good internet coverage.  It is nice to know that the air is on and working while away.  Our rig is too old for an auto gen start.  Of course if the power goes off, after a time the laptop battery and hotspot would die.  I guess I should rig up a 12V inverter to power those two items.  We don't have an onboard inverter, just the battery converter / charger.
Title: Re: Monitoring power or temperature while you are away from coach with pets inside
Post by: Barry & Cindy on March 18, 2012, 11:33:26 pm
No motorhomes are too old for Magnum auto gen start standalone model.

ME-AGS-S (http://magnumenergy.com/Products/Pics/picAGS-S.htm)
ME-AGS-S Automatic Generator Start Controller (Standalone Version) (http://magnumenergy.com/Products/AGS-S.htm)

About $250 and can be self-installed with a few dash wire connections. One seller:
Search Results (http://www.affordable-solar.com/store/inverter-accessories/magnum-me-ags-s-a) uto-gen-start

Will start gen if temp climbs or battery voltage lowers, so it covers ups and downs.
Title: Re: Monitoring power or temperature while you are away from coach with pets inside
Post by: Dave Head on March 18, 2012, 11:38:13 pm
Yep - that's one on my list. No autostart in 95 models...
Title: Re: Monitoring power or temperature while you are away from coach with pets inside
Post by: philtravel on June 27, 2012, 08:51:55 am
Well, We finally connected the temp monitor. Works very nice. We have it set up to send a text each hour with the temp. and an alarm if it goes up above hour pre set temp. We also set up a wireless monitor camera that will stream to the iPad or iPhone with sound in both directions. I am thinking it will work as a on board camera while driving as well. It will allow us to record video to the phones iPad computer Etc. It is controlled by the phone as you can pan up/down and 360 degrees around.
Title: Re: Monitoring power or temperature while you are away from coach with pets inside
Post by: Dwayne on June 27, 2012, 03:28:15 pm
Would like more info on the temp monitor and text.  Does it use internet to send the text or are you leaving a cell phone behind?
Title: Re: Monitoring power or temperature while you are away from coach with pets inside
Post by: philtravel on June 27, 2012, 07:42:44 pm
We leave our air card on connected to a laptop the is basically dedicated to the coach for sling box and now the camera and temp monitor. I have an old 3G card with unlimited use that I use for business.