Temperature sensor

checksum · 03-26-2006, 09:50 PM

Anybody know of a good temp sensor I can use wuth my carpc, something that would connect to the com port of the PC and give me the outside temperature?

checksum · 03-26-2006, 10:45 PM

Well, after doing some searching I found this:

http://store.qkits.com/moreinfo.cfm/QK145
If I am not mistaken, this will work with road runner, it plugs into the serial port, then you solder a sensor on one of the channels. right?
This one:

http://store.qkits.com/moreinfo.cfm/DS18S20

Now my question is, if I need to place the sensor outside the car, what is the best placement for the sensor, since I am trying to read outiside temperature. And since the sensor is so small, I am guessing it might break off easily.

Also is there a way to switch between the channels in case you want to use another sensor, let's say inside the car?

agentloveless · 03-26-2006, 10:54 PM

4 Sensors Temperature Measurement Kit (Optional for Road Runner):
http://www.kitsrus.com/kits.html#k145
(Check Main site www.kitsrus.com for ordering information)

Placement of the sensor is up to you, mine is attached to the inside of the trunk on the metal, seems to work well for me and be fairly accurate.

checksum · 03-26-2006, 11:00 PM

Thanks, that's the same one I have posted, my question is if you have more than one sensor, how do you switch between them?? Since this supports up to 4 channels...

Quote:

Placement of the sensor is up to you, mine is attached to the inside of the trunk on the metal, seems to work well for me and be fairly accurate.

But are you reading the outside temp since it is placed inside of the trunk?? Also did you just taped it there or did you use some kind of glue??

agentloveless · 03-26-2006, 11:32 PM

I wish I new the name of the stuff I used. It was some heatsink compound for my pc I had lying around. I know it seems funny that my outside sensor is inside but I figured if it didn't give accurate readings i could simply disconect the sensor and put on somewhere else. Also, maybe this method would not work so well for the darker collored cars.

Anyways, I only have two channels hooked up, and in road runner it displays the inside and outside at the same time so I do not need to switch between them. Hope that is helpful.

checksum · 03-26-2006, 11:36 PM

Thanks,
Actually these kits are fairly easy to build. I can easily build one at my work, we have all the tools necessary, just have to look around the lab and find all the right parts. THe only problem would be programming the pic.

pshadwick · 03-27-2006, 08:25 AM

Most OEM temp sensors are mounted either under the front bumper or attached to a side mirror.