Temperature logging in unoccupied campervan?

[Sixty-nine Chevy]

Hi all

Has any one ever put a cheap temperature logger (apparently available from around £10) into their wintering campervan to see how inside temperature compares with outside? We are going into our first winter with a campervan and are cautious of the freezing up issues. We can of course do a full drain, but I am sure that there will be times when we are not using the campervan for just a few days and so would like to leave water in it. I can imagine that the inside will actually not get down to freezing even if we have some frost during the night. Or am I being too optimistic?

Ian.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Bit OTT maybe... What about a digital max/min thermometer?

 

[Figaro]

DBK set up a remote WiFi accessed thermometer to monitor van temperature for his doggie.
I think it was a pi thingy.
I'm sure he'll be along soon to give you full info, or do a search.

 

[Steve and Denise]

At this time of year we tend to set the temperature Alde at around 7 degrees if the weather gets cold it comes on via electric.

 

[Pausim]

I wouldn’t rely on the temperature inside staying above freezing for long. If we are using the van within a few days and the weather forecast is warm then I might leave it but generally I drain down every time in winter. It doesn’t take very long once you have done it a few times.

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[DBK]

This thread has a link to my gadget and some other solutions.

Wanted - Internal temperature wifi enabled sensor?

I am hoping to get a gadget to monitor the internal temperature of the van, that will talk my phone. I want to be able to check the temperature when we leave the dog in the van. Can anyone reccommend such and gadget please?

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

But it needs a MiFi always on to work. It would be possible to build one with a GSM (mobile phone) module but I don't need that as I use the MiFi.

But as suggested, looking at the weather forecast should be enough and leaving a max/min thermometer in the van will give you an idea how the forecast temperatures relate to internal. However, depending on the design of your MH it may not be the internal temperature which is the issue. Underslung tanks will freeze before the inside and pipes tucked in cupboards may get colder although leaving cupboard doors open might help.

I would leave the heating on low or drain down if that isn't practical.

 

[Jev88]

any good?

https://cpc.farnell.com/lascar/el-usb-lite/datalogger-usb-temp/dp/IN04739?mckv=sPewMmHKW_dc|pcrid|224697271420|kword||match||plid||slid||product|IN04739|pgrid|49730280129|ptaid|pla-370500412304|&CMP=KNC-GUK-CPC-SHOPPING&gclid=CjwKCAiAlO7uBRANEiwA_vXQ-4pSRRsnZmgM4dpSd1sFujPxbLKjVVSX8BbobCFcvT5hHZlH6tfhSxoCfKIQAvD_BwE

temp logger

 

[Dave and Mand]

We use one of these, it transmits about 150 meters from van to house.

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-5...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=312826168045

 

[Sixty-nine Chevy]

Hi all. Thanks so much for the very useful replies!

 

[richard burkinshaw]

I agree with Pausim.

our experience even in a winterised van with double floor is that inside temperatures follow outside temperatures quite quickly, in hours, not days.

this is because of relatively low thermal mass. unlike your house which weighs a few hundred tonnes (yes) and therefore takes yonks to fully heat up and cool down, your van of a few tonnes (mostly unheated and thermally separate chassis and engine) doesnt have much heat capacity so gets hot and cold very quickly.

so dont risk it and in any case think about which bits are at frost risk and protect those (pipes behind stuff against outside walls, under floor stuff etc)

R