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Topic: Monitoring power or temperature while you are away from coach with pets inside (Read 850 times) previous topic - next topic

Monitoring power or temperature while you are away from coach with pets inside

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
1999 U320
Mount Dora Fl

Re: Monitoring power or temperature while you are away from coach with pets inside

Reply #1 –
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. 

Tom & Bill

2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Re: Monitoring power or temperature while you are away from coach with pets inside

Reply #2 –
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.
1999 U320
Mount Dora Fl

Re: Monitoring power or temperature while you are away from coach with pets inside

Reply #3 –
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.

Re: Monitoring power or temperature while you are away from coach with pets inside

Reply #4 –
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.
J D Stevens
1997 U295 CAI 36' Build #5085
2002 Subaru Outback
Motorcade 16869
Bellville, TX

Re: Monitoring power or temperature while you are away from coach with pets inside

Reply #5 –
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.
Dwayne Keith
1992 U240
3116/MD3060

Re: Monitoring power or temperature while you are away from coach with pets inside

Reply #6 –
No motorhomes are too old for Magnum auto gen start standalone model.

ME-AGS-S
ME-AGS-S Automatic Generator Start Controller (Standalone Version)

About $250 and can be self-installed with a few dash wire connections. One seller:
Search Results uto-gen-start

Will start gen if temp climbs or battery voltage lowers, so it covers ups and downs.

Re: Monitoring power or temperature while you are away from coach with pets inside

Reply #7 –
Yep - that's one on my list. No autostart in 95 models...
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: Monitoring power or temperature while you are away from coach with pets inside

Reply #8 –
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.
1999 U320
Mount Dora Fl

Re: Monitoring power or temperature while you are away from coach with pets inside

Reply #9 –
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?
Dwayne Keith
1992 U240
3116/MD3060

Re: Monitoring power or temperature while you are away from coach with pets inside

Reply #10 –
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.
1999 U320
Mount Dora Fl