Digital Temp Monitoring

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Adam Moran, Apr 14, 2009.

  1. Adam Moran

    Adam Moran Gardener

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    Does anyone have/or has built a unit that monitors the outside temp say every 4 hours which can be downloaded onto a pc?? Which also runs on batt power?
     
  2. walnut

    walnut Gardener

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  3. PeterS

    PeterS Total Gardener

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    Adam - I am not aware of such a facility - but it might exist. You clearly want a temperature measuring device like the ones in Walnut's link, but which stores temperatures internally - which you can then download. I suspect that is too sophisticated for gardeners.

    However this is bread and butter to control engineers. There are a couple of links below. But these may be too sophisticated, which is another way of saying too expensive. Also control engineers tend to have computers permanently connected.
    http://www.temperatures.com/das.html
    http://www.gecinstruments.com/
     
  4. Pro Gard

    Pro Gard Gardener

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    Pm Hex, i think he has a setup similar to what your after.
     
  5. Kristen

    Kristen Under gardener

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    I've got a couple of things.

    Firstly some network cable connecting a bunch of "Dallas" [now part of Maxim] temperature sensors (they are just wired in parallel - so called 1-wire) which plugs into a USB dongle, and from there I use LogTemp to record the temperature - handy bit of software, records and plots multiple sensors and has a variety of alarms and so on.

    If you go down that route, and are handy enough to be a bit of an electronics hobbyist, I recommend the book "Weather Toys" by Tim Bitson - which is all about using the 1-wire Dallas sensors to build weather detectors and software. Its a good read even if you are interested but not planning to build-your-own.

    Secondly I have a cheap-and-cheerful weather recording system. Has all the normal instruments (wind speed/direction, temperature, humidity, rainfall - battery powered) which you mount outside on a pole, and which transmits wirelessly to an indoor "base unit", also battery powered, that records the data and adds its own indoor temperature (and perhaps Humidity). That then connects to USB and downloads periodically. Software is provided. The Base Unit LCD screen is pretty much unreadable (unless you get it at just the right angle:D), so for me this has much more to do with getting data to PC, rather than having a swanky LCD readout on my coffee table!!

    Mine came from eBay for about £65 I think

    http://stores.ebay.co.uk/signatrol-ltd
     
  6. Adam Moran

    Adam Moran Gardener

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    Thankyou for the replys.

    Not being into electronics i wouldnt have a clue how to build something like this. However, would it be that hard to build??

    I think if you could knock them out for £20 they would sell very well??
     
  7. Kristen

    Kristen Under gardener

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    I doubt you will make them for £20 - otherwise they would be buyable for that price.

    The USB adaptor is US$ 28.04 (US$ 13.75 if you buy 1,000+), then you need a bit of wire and solder on a temperature chip which is US$ 1.97 (falling to US$ 1.61 for 1,000+)

    and then you will need some software. Freebie software available on the net, but its not exactly "shrink wrapped and idiot proof" :)

    "would it be that hard to build??"

    I don't have much working knowledge of electronics, but I did learn to solder at school, and I've managed to solder some up with some cable to monitor the temperatures of some things around the house. So that bit is definitely not hard.
     
  8. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    Adma; I found this on dealextreme - its only $14.97 (that includes delivery) but its not battery powered; its USB so you would need to leave your PC on I think - and the remote sensor is only 75 cm - so maybe too limited for you.

    http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.18853

    I've used dealextreme in the past (not bought this temp gadet however) it might take a couple of weeks to come as they are based in Hong Kong. The quality of their stuff is very basic as reflected in the price :thumb:
     
  9. Larkshall

    Larkshall Gardener

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    I don't need that, my Operating System has a facility for taking existing weather conditions from weather stations around the world. I have connected mine to Cambridge and Brize Norton weather stations. Cambridge for my own weather and Brize Norton because my step-daughter lives in Carterton.

    Present reading:- Cambridge: Mist, Overcast, 9.0 C feels like 7.6 C, North-NorthWest / 5.8mph, sunrise 06:02 / Sunset 20:01
    Brize Norton: Haze, Scattered Cloud, 10.0 C feels like 8.5 C, North / 6.9mph, Sunrise 06:09 / Sunset 20:04
     
  10. Hex

    Hex Gardener

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    Hi Adam
    A friend of mine is using one of these dataloggers, http://tinyurl.com/ce972y
    They seem pretty good value at £40 and measure humidity as well as temperature. Mine is sitting in its box until i get the rest of the digging done :wink:
     
  11. Kristen

    Kristen Under gardener

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    That looks just the job Hex, and La Crosse is a good name

    One question, not quite clear from their blurb. Will it record internally, and then download to PC next time connected, or does it need to be connected to PC to be able to "record"?

    If I could put it in the greenhouse, and plug it into the PC once a week, that would be perfect!

    The external sensors would let me get a reading in the greenhouse next door, and an outdoor reading. Even more perfect. Good price too. Did I say perfect already?!
     
  12. Kristen

    Kristen Under gardener

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