Hi All,
What type of indoor/outdoor thermometer do any of you use? Can they have remote locations, such as in the water bay? Any particular brand?
Thanks,
Raymond
Raymond, I have two thermometers in the coach. Both are by ACU-Rite and were bought at Walmart. One remote is outside as I wanted to see from the dash what was going on outside. The other has the remote in the water bay. I think they were about 10 bucks each.
Gary B
Our coach is 17 miles away in storage so I can't tell you the brands. I mounted the one with a wire and sensor on the end on the dash in front of the passenger. I ran the sensor wire thru the "firewall" next to the heater box and then down to the frame. I stuck it in place with Shoo Goo. This way I get temps from air flowing by the coach and not air that heats up in the confinement of the front cap.
The other sensor has the reader end on the Harvest table in the kitchen and the remote sender sits in the shade on the top of the pas. inside dual. Works great and I don't forget it when we leave as I have a warning tag hanging on the steering wheel. This one is only used when we are staying for a long time.
Radio Shack 63-332 + two additional remotes
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11361230# (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11361230#)
We have the remotes in water pump, manifold, drain valve areas. They report to inside unit, which shows min, max & current temps on each remote.
Traceable® Radio-Signal Remote Hum./Therm Humidity - NIST Traceable® Radio-Signal Remote Humidity Meter /Thermometer (http://www.control3.com/4380p.htm)
Two remotes. Bay freezer & Step bay
We use LaCosse Technology units. One does indoor/outdoor with the outdoor in the compartment with the step actuators. The other does indoor/outdoor with three remote thermometers. The remotes are in the service entrance bay, water pump bay, and main bay. Battery life is less than I like, but they serve the purpose for trips in cold weather.
Dito, I also use two remotes. The units are not cheep but they are calibrated so you can trust them and know when it says it is freezing you know it is. I had the cheep units before and found they are not very accurate. I have a hard time trusting a thermometer that is telling me it is 40 when all the water outside is frozen :o
Battery life is good.. I leave them on all the time an just replaced the batteries for the first time in 3 years.. 2AA in main and 2 AAA in remotes.. :D
Hi All,
As usual, I came to the right place for info. Thanks to all. This is the best forum going!
Raymond
After reading the last posts I decided to go to Radio Shack (Source in Canada) and bought one. Slightly different face as it has 4 lines of readings and the remote has an led read out showing temp and humidity as well. I have put the remote in the Manibloc section (even though I have drained all lines) and the station in living room window facing coach so I can see the temp in the coach bay from living room. Nice thing is it only cost $2 more than the US one which is a change as we usually get soaked with the price difference.
Good suggestion. Only problem is with it in the living room we will have to get someone to call us when we are away so I know the temp' in that bay!!!! :P ^.^d
John H
Another option is a remote wired unit for a more permanent installation. On my coach these are the same units that Foretravel installed above the drivers area to show inside and outside temperatures:
McMaster-Carr (http://www.mcmaster.com/#digital-thermometers/=kkfqzv)
Edit note: Link is not working completely: Click on "panel mount mini thermometer" You can also search item number: 4141K11
I've heard that wireless remotes with a battery don't work too good for a basement freezer. The subzero temperatures start to make the battery non-reactive and they just can't put out enough juice to transmit reliably. The above unit still has a AAA battery for the display.
Our Chaney fridge/freezer remote wireless thermometer work great and batteries last a long time in freezer and fridge. This is a fridge saver as it has high & low temp alarms, high & low temp memories.
It has warned us several times that our freezer door is ajar.
I think the Chaney would work ok with a basement freezer.
Chaney Instruments 986 Digital Refrigerator Freezer Thermometer (http://www.ambientweather.com/ch986.html)
Model 986 is a later model than the popular 985.
I use lithium batteries for the freezer sensors and they seem to last a lot longer.
The link says the Chaney is Out of Stock. Amazon has the Accurite counterpart available for $29.95. I just ordered one based on Barry and Cindy's recommendation ACU_RITE Refrigerator/Freezer Wireless Digital Thermometer 00986: Amazon.com: (http://www.amazon.com/ACU_RITE-Refrigerator-Wireless-Thermometer-00986/dp/B004QJVU78/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1355408674&sr=8-4&keywords=accurite+wireless+thermometer).
I also appreciate the thought on the lithium batteries and will try them.
the sales girl at radio Shack advised me to get the Lithium batteries but as I have a pile of regular I thought I would use them up first, but at least she was on the ball with the knowledge.
I do not think I need the fridge one as this new Whirlpool is going great (should have done that change a year earlier-oh well)
John h
We also use lithium AA batteries in fridge & freezer. (Chaney also recommends lithium for freezer)
Kent,
An interesting note about the 985 or 985 Chaney thermometers...I have two of their units in my home; tried them in refrigerators and freezers.
If you use two or more units in close proximity, say within 100 feet, they operate in the same frequency(s)and thus will interfere/compete with each other when used. Stand alone, one unit works very well.
Jim,
It would be nice if mfg show the freq used, as we would like to put in other wireless temps, even other brands, but are not sure if they would interfere with what we have.
Barry,
When I used two units within 50 feet of each other I had interference from the two refrigerators and two freezers (attempting to use two systems at home). I tried everything to eliminate the interference with no luck. So I called the company and was told they all operate on one frequency (about 433 MHz) and they had no plans to use multiple frequencies. Bummer! So now use both receiver units to read the temps from just two freezers. Otherwise their product is great.
Attempting to make lemonade from a lemon situation...well at least I'll have extra transmitters if they go bad.
I've had success using multiple Oregon Scientific temperature sensors. I have several units, one with 3 remote sensors (base by DS, 1 in frig, 2 in utility bay & 3 under the coach with remote probe thru propane screen). Sensors are programmable via internal slide switch.
THGR122NX_THN132N | Two Wireless Sensors Bundle | Thermometers | Weather | (http://us.oregonscientific.com/cat-Weather-sub-Thermometers-prod-Two-Wireless-Sensors-Bundle.html)
Works well nfor several years now,,,, Bill
They also operate on 433mghz
John H
The Chaney 00985 is on sale at MTC Home (http://www.millerthermometer.com) for just 23.99 for the pair.
I have used them for 14 years and have had minimal problems.
FWIW,
Regards,
Hi Jon,
Thanks for the info. I'll be trying this thermometer.
Thanks again,
Raymond