Wireless Thermometer Installation

[John S]

Hello all:

I got a wireless thermometer for Christmas for the Tomcat. I thought I might see where some of you guys have mounted your external sensors, before I velcro it somewhere. I'm sure it's not rated for saltwater service, but it's going to see it. Appreciate the thoughts.

John

[Sea Wolf]

John-

I'd mount the outside unit up under the gunnel where it would be protected some, especially from water and salt spray.

I'd also enclose it in a plastic bag, like a strong Zip-Loc bag or two for weather/moisture resistance.

The plastic bag won't interfere with the radio signal from the unit to the master one inside, although it might slow down the rate at which the external unit will sense temperature changes.

You might be careful during the summer in very hot climates and in the sun. I'd read the Owner's Manual ovr to see what the maximum temperature the unit should be subjected to. Here in Redding, it could get up to 140+ under there in the summer.

Your inside master unit should be mounted out of the sunlight's heat coming through the windows, of course.

I have a similar unit from Oregon Scientific and think it's great to have around!

Joe.

[Swee Pea]

I bought a Honeywell unit a couple of months ago. http://www.weatherconnection.com/honeywell/product.asp?itmky=531139&model=TE653ELW&cat=1&subcat=&sortby=&filtermfg=&page=
I mounted the sending unit under the gunnel using the EZ Hold It bracket available at Cabela's. or direct at http://www.ezhold-usa.com/ So far, the unit has worked flawlessly there. The recieving unit was mounted on the shelf in the cabin. I am very happy with it. I was trying to upload some pictures to my folder, but because the pictures were taken with a 6.1 megapixel camera, the files were too large. I have to re shoot at a lower resolution. Its been raining so I will try to post some time in the near future.

John
Swee Pea

[Captains Cat]

John, try it again and just let it run. If you're on a slow connection, it'll take awhile but the system will "resize" them for you. Mike/Bill, please correct me if I'm wrong...

Charlie

[Alyssa Jean]

The one I bought only cost $12. I put it up under the visor. It will most likely get eated up by salt as everything else does.

[MOOSE]

Like Joe, we have the Oregon Scientific version. We love it and use it all the time. We mounted the receiver over the opening center window and the sensor/sending unit in the combing up against the cabin bulkhead. While the sensor is in the shade, we do seem to get some abnormally high readings at times, I think due to the fiberglass heating up in the sun to greater than ambient air temperatures. I have yet to come up with a better place to mount it however.
Al

[John S]

I like the idea of putting the sending unit in a ziploc bag That should take care of the saltwater enviroment concerns.

The bag will make mounting the sensor a little more interesting.

The EZ Hold is a neat product, I hadn't seen it before, I always appreciate it when you guys turn me on to something I need to buy that I haven't heard of yet.

So far I think the best place for my sensor, on the TomCat, is up inside the gunnel, out of site, it won't be accurate there when the camper canvas is on, but I don't know where else to go.

I'd still like to hear more of how other C-brats are installing these, so chime in.

John

[CAVU]

John,
I have sealed my outside sending unit in a vacuum bag using my food saver and I also put one of those small silica get packages in with it and it had survived three years outside in a tree in my backyard. I don't think the salt water will have any effect if you keep it sealed. My experience with zip-lock bags is that they are pretty permeable to moisture. If I were mounting one on my boat I think I would put it under the eyebrow. Maybe duct tape it to a piece of foam to insulate it from the hot fiberglass and seal the whole thing in a vacuum bag to protect it from salt spray?

[John S]

Ken,

Good idea, I have a vacuum sealer and it definitely makes a more waterproof seal, but...........I don't have an eyebrow on my TomCat. There must be somewhere on this boat that makes sense and would be accurate, but I don't know where that is yet.

John

[CAVU]

John,
I can't tell from the pix in your album, but would there be room to tuck the sensor package under the radome? That might help shade it from the worst of the sun.

[John S]

I don't think the Radome is an option, it bolts directly to the top of the cabin.

I am planning on installing a radar arch this spring, that will give me some options of places to mount it (somewhere on the arch) but it might be kind of ugly amongst all that beautiful stainless steel. (in its little bag and all)

John

[thataway]

We have had the same exact units from Radio Shack for 4 years and they are still working fine at our home. Temp ranges we have found are 120 to about 18 in the extremes. One stays on a patio table open to sun and rain, another on a porch table and the master in the kitchen.

I have a similar unit on the Tom Cat 255--and put the external sensor in the container inside of the gunnel. This is protected form the spray, and relfects outside temperatures fairly well. I would be concerned about salt spray under the eyebrow (if you had one).

We did nothing to seal these units up and they have stayed water proof several very major hurricanes and rainstorms with rainfall over 2" per hour.

[John S]

[C-WEED]

John: I have the same transmitter with a larger receiver that I have had since 2000. The transmitter is fairly water resistant. Mine is mounted on a pole off the back porch. It gets rained on and blasted by the late afternoon sun as it sets below the roof line resulting in a temporary spike in temps during the hot summer. Since the transmitter tells outdoor temperature I would try it above the starboard aft cabin window. Just to the right of the door. The bimini should provide descent shade and it would be within easy direct reading from anywhere in the cockpit.
And I am sure it would still work when you fold the bimini forward and loose material covers the sensor.

If the sun affects it too much when not using the bimini. I would then try the side storage in the gunnels. It would just be harder to direct read.

They are also useful for monitoring refer temperatures.

[Adeline]

How about velcroing the sender inside the starboard lazarrette ?