Weather Station upgrade

[kevenh]

An upgrade to our analogue weather station has been on the cards for awhile.
Today I realised what’s been bugging me about the current one.
It’s busted.
It always seemed to be warmer in real life than the thermometer reading.
Well, if the glass tube has fallen down to rest on a screw head well, that will mess up the scale.

tl;dr I’m thinking about swapping my analogue gauges for something like a ThermoPro TP-65
Do the outdoor sensors do a decent job tucked safely inside the gas bottle locker?
What have you done?

I’d just like a simple inside & outside temp display with MH humidity (hydrometer?) display.

Edit: change of subject for clarity post of purpose

 

[Lenny HB]

Do the outdoor sensors do a decent job tucked safely inside the gas bottle locker?
What have you done?

That won't work, as gas is drawn off the bottle gets colder so it would be very inaccurate.
I fitted mine with cable ties on a chassis rail.

 

[Just smiffy]

I just look out the window.....

cheep as chips....

 

[DBK]

I use one of these:

Amazon product ASIN B07GZKBVMC
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07GZKBVMC/

Unlike the previous one, which was a Bressor, it was very easy to set up. The sensor sits in a waterproof bag under the van. When we come back I take it off and use it in the home where it hangs on a nail in a sheltered spot in shade in the garden.

 

[kevenh]

I use one of these:

Amazon product ASIN B07GZKBVMC
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07GZKBVMC/

Unlike the previous one, which was a Bressor, it was very easy to set up. The sensor sits in a waterproof bag under the van. When we come back I take it off and use it in the home where it hangs on a nail in a sheltered spot in shade in the garden.

Nice. That is a nearer match to what I hoped to find.
You and Lenny HB have both mentioned under chassis locations.
In my quick knowledge boost, aren't the sensors better further from the ground?

I mentioned the gas bottle locker.
Are the effects of the actual gas bottle's temp going to affect the locker?
More than the ground's local effect on a chassis mounted sensor?

My application isn't for science so happy to repeat your locations and sensor device secure methods

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[Lenny HB]

You and @Lenny HB have both mentioned under chassis locations.
In my quick knowledge boost, aren't the sensors better further from the ground?

I don't think it makes much odds on an outside sensor, indoor ones you normally have a shoulder height. To to get an accuarte reading it needs to be in the shade. With it under the van it does mean after driving it reads high for about ½ hour due to engine heat and if it's been sunny the ground will be hot for a while.

 

[Lenny HB]

Unlike the previous one, which was a Bressor, it was very easy to set up. The sensor sits in a waterproof bag under the van.

My Bressor the display is getting a bit faint, these cheap ones don't appear to last long.
I've never bothered putting the sensor in a bag as it's designed for outside use never had any problems.

 

[Reallyretired]

My outside sensor is on the inside of the gas locker door. Because the locker is well ventilated I dont think the cooler gas bottles would effect it much but sun on the locker door definitely does.
Probably best mounted underneath out of the sun but would need some protection.

 

[DBK]

Nice. That is a nearer match to what I hoped to find.
You and Lenny HB have both mentioned under chassis locations.
In my quick knowledge boost, aren't the sensors better further from the ground?

I mentioned the gas bottle locker.
Are the effects of the actual gas bottle's temp going to affect the locker?
More than the ground's local effect on a chassis mounted sensor?

My application isn't for science so happy to repeat your locations and sensor device secure methods

I think it's difficult to find somewhere on a MH to get a really accurate reading. Ours lives under the back box but if it is looking down at the ground in sun then it will over-read by a few degrees but I'm used to that and just compensate. I find it more interesting to wake up and see how cold it is outside and early in the morning it probably gives a fairly accurate reading.

I did try with an earlier model just putting the sensor on top of a tyre on the shady side of the vehicle. This probably gave a fairly accurate reading. Or it did until I drove off and over it when I forgot it was there.

 

[Lenny HB]

Because the locker is well ventilated I dont think the cooler gas bottles would effect it

This was on one of our previous Hymers with an external locker, it was summer after a night 6000' up with strong winds.

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[kevenh]

Brill. All great feedback & why it's good to ask for help - even with 1/2 formed ideas - in our great forum

I think I have my weather station plan

 

[Sandancers]

How about this ? Less than £10 from memory, internal and external sensors and internal humidity, had it about three years replaced the battery once otherwise no bother. External sensor is tucked up just about under the awning box, but in the shade.

 

[kevenh]

Thanks Sandancers

What I'm thinking of is a device like DBK has for to replace the broken analogue gauges that are by the MH door and a simpler/smaller internal temp device like you posted to replace a marmite clock at the back of our MH in the lounge (I don't mind it, mrskevenh has a stronger & -ve opinion).

EDIT: add marmite clock

 

[Lenny HB]

How about this ? Less than £10 from memory, internal and external sensors and internal humidity, had it about three years replaced the battery once otherwise no bother. External sensor is tucked up just about under the awning box, but in the shade.

View attachment 345001

That looks like a wired one, wireless are much easier to install & you can easily move sensor about to get the best position.

 

[Sandancers]

True, ours is on a bit of wire from the inside to just under the awning box. But I'm only looking for an indication of outside temp. If you REALLY wanted a super accurate outside temp then you'd have to put a known calibrated temperature indicator along side your wireless jobbie and check it over many temperature points. Which might be classed as "a bit of a faff" !!!

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[JohnJan]

100% guaranteed accuracy, weather system from the lakes

 

[Cleve]

That won't work, as gas is drawn off the bottle gets colder so it would be very inaccurate.
I fitted mine with cable ties on a chassis rail.

I pinched Lenny’s idea and it worked well. Changed the battery after a bit over 18 months. Refitted with new cable ties. Sadly sometime while in Normandy in September it dropped off. When the weather station offer is on at Lidl or Aldi again I will buy a new set but this time I will use 3 cable ties not 2.

Clive

 

[Lenny HB]

Bought this one yesterday to replace my battered Bressor, £29.99 on Amazon, £22.99 on eBay ordered from eBay yesterday arrived today delivered by Amazon.

 

[kevenh]

I use one of these:

Amazon product ASIN B07GZKBVMC
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07GZKBVMC/

Unlike the previous one, which was a Bressor, it was very easy to set up. The sensor sits in a waterproof bag under the van. When we come back I take it off and use it in the home where it hangs on a nail in a sheltered spot in shade in the garden.

DBK
I got the Yuanguo like yours.
The external sensor is in a plastic bag.
The RH% humidity reading is always above 90% - even before the waterproofing iirc.
The temperature is usually a good match for the guide temp from apple/google apps.

Do you just use the temperature & not worry about humidity or is your reading a better match for expectations?
Maybe I shd bring the sensor indoors with the main panel & see it's readings line up :?

EDIT: The location is under the rear of the MH on a support beam near-ish to where the water heater is above.

 

[DBK]

DBK
I got the Yuanguo like yours.
The external sensor is in a plastic bag.
The RH% humidity reading is always above 90% - even before the waterproofing iirc.
The temperature is usually a good match for the guide temp from apple/google apps.

Do you just use the temperature & not worry about humidity or is your reading a better match for expectations?
Maybe I shd bring the sensor indoors with the main panel & see it's readings line up :?

EDIT: The location is under the rear of the MH on a support beam near-ish to where the water heater is above.

At home the sensor sits outside in a place sheltered from the rain so it doesn't need to be in a bag. But when I fit it to the MH it goes in a bag to protect it from spray when driving. This means of course the RH reading doesn't work but I'm really only interested in the temperature. No sensor will work in a bag -it needs to "sniff" the outside air.

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[Billylou]

Thought I’d reserect this thread as I’m interested in purchasing a weather station for the van. Three years have past since this thread started so I’m interested in any recent purchases that could be recommended along with any revolutionary ideas regarding the location of the sensor. Many thanks