Cheap thermometer

[66splitbus]

Im looking to add several thermometers to my ISY install. I just need the temperature, I dont need to actually control any devices like AC or Heat. Anyone recommend an inexpensive solution? What about a water proof sensor for an aquarium?

[larryllix]

Im looking to add several thermometers to my ISY install. I just need the temperature, I dont need to actually control any devices like AC or Heat. Anyone recommend an inexpensive solution? What about a water proof sensor for an aquarium?

I do not have one but the Insteon 2441ZTH sends temperature information. I believe a remote wired probe is available for it also. Runs on batteries or optional wallwart.

 

Note: The "Z" in the model number.

 

http://www.aartech.ca/search/search_query/2441ZTH in Canada

 

http://www.smarthome.com/2441ZTH/INSTEON-Wireless-Thermostat/p.aspx

[66splitbus]

Hi, thanks for the reply. I did see that one but I need a dozen or more so at $80 a pop that becomes a little on the expensive side. I need to monitor the water temp and air temp for a bunch of aquariums with sensitive critters living in them. Im looking to just set some variables and create alarms so I really dont even need to see the display on the actual probe.

 

Any other ideas out there?

[shannong]

I haven't found a good source for Insteon temp sensors, yet. I have a 2441ZTH wireless tstat but I'm returning it.

 

I finally gave up on Insteon for tstats and climate control and decided to add Zwave to my ISY. That'll allow me to add Zwave thermostasts and temp sensors. There are more sensor options with Zwave.

 

It won't save you money, though. It'll cost you $100 to add Zwave to the ISY and I haven't seen any Zwave sensors under $50 each so it still won't be cheap.

 

The Autelis supports up to 32 one-wire temp sensors and can send the data to ISY over the Ethernet network. If you have several tanks close together or wiring can be extended perhaps just one or two of these could meet your needs.

 

http://www.autelis.com/universal-rs232-serial-1wire-interface-isy.html

[shannong]

You might want to look at this thread on using RaspberryPI for this. It's not for the lighthearted but the components are cheap.

 

http://forum.universal-devices.com/viewtopic.php?f=95&t=12435

[Exten]

You could coat a cheap 1 wire sensor with silicone ( or similar) and drop it in the tank.

But I think I'd rather mount the sensor on the outside of the tank on the glass.

For all practical purposes the temperature would read the same whether totally

underwater or attached to the tank glass on the outside. But I know nothing of

exotic creatures immersed in a hydrogen/oxygen compound.

[shannong]

You could coat a cheap 1 wire sensor with silicone ( or similar) and drop it in the tank.

But I think I'd rather mount the sensor on the outside of the tank on the glass.

For all practical purposes the temperature would read the same whether totally

underwater or attached to the tank glass on the outside. But I know nothing of

exotic creatures immersed in a hydrogen/oxygen compound.

 

What would it be connected to that would push the data to ISY?

[apostolakisl]

I would use a CAI webcontrol board with one wire sensors. One wire sensors cost pennies each and the cai board is $35 and can handle 8 temp sensors. You can also get submersible one-wire temp sensors for about $5 each. The latest CAI firmware has the built-in ability to push temp measurements to ISY variables. You can set the CAI to deliver those values as you please. For example every so many minutes, or if the temp hits some number, or changes by some number, etc. You can find other threads in here talking about how to configure the CAI for the ISY. You will also need a project box of some sort to put the CAI into and a 9v wall wart.

[Mark H]

"You could coat a cheap 1 wire sensor with silicone ( or similar) and drop it in the tank."

 

It's worth noting that if the "wrong" kind of silicone is used, even fully cured, it will kill everything in the tank.

 

Please don't ask me how I know this.

[larryllix]

 

It's worth noting that if the "wrong" kind of silicone is used, even fully cured, it will kill everything in the tank.

Those types usually say that. The Kitchen and Bath caulk silicones typically contain a fungicide to prevent mold.

 

I silicone grease my probe to the side of my PV batteries and cover it with a bit of urethane foam to keep it mostly "thermally in contact" and influenced by the liquid inside.

[shannong]

I would use a CAI webcontrol board with one wire sensors.

 

Do you have first hand experience with one-wire temp sensors on the CAI board?

 

Do the one-wire temp sensors work well for ambient temperatures such that they react quickly enough to be effective for HVAC control?

[apostolakisl]

 

It's worth noting that if the "wrong" kind of silicone is used, even fully cured, it will kill everything in the tank.

Those types usually say that. The Kitchen and Bath caulk silicones typically contain a fungicide to prevent mold.

 

I silicone grease my probe to the side of my PV batteries and cover it with a bit of urethane foam to keep it mostly "thermally in contact" and influenced by the liquid inside.

 

 

There really isn't any point in making your own. They sell them pre-made water proof. Now I don't know much about fish, so maybe the pre-made ones are poisonous? But they look like stainless steel. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Length-1M-DS18B ... 2c7b9c97fb

 

And they are cheaper than I remember.

 

 

EDIT: IF all else fails, read the directions. They are stainless steel.

[apostolakisl]

I would use a CAI webcontrol board with one wire sensors.

 

Do you have first hand experience with one-wire temp sensors on the CAI board?

 

Do the one-wire temp sensors work well for ambient temperatures such that they react quickly enough to be effective for HVAC control?

 

Yes, I have used them quite a bit. I haven't done any scientific eval on them to know how accurate they are, but they seem to be pretty accurate. They report .1 degree increments on the CAI and that posts over to ISY. Since it can't do decimals(like ISY), it posts the value times 10. So 25.1 would be 251.

 

Lots of people use CAI with 1-wire to control heaters and venting fans and stuff. I am just using to track temps and send alerts.

[jgorm]

I setup the raspberry pi and the one wire bus. It was a bit tricky, but not hard. I think I spend about $100 for everything including 10 regular sensors and 5 waterproof ones.

[apostolakisl]

This thread tells you how to configure CAI to post to ISY. viewtopic.php?f=81&t=10141&p=77241&hilit=watson#p77241

 

You would still need to write a small program on the CAI to tell it when to post what to where on ISY.

[larryllix]

This thread tells you how to configure CAI to post to ISY. viewtopic.php?f=81&t=10141&p=77241&hilit=watson#p77241

 

You would still need to write a small program on the CAI to tell it when to post what to where on ISY.

Awesome little board! Is there any prefabricated cases or power supplies for them?

[apostolakisl]

This thread tells you how to configure CAI to post to ISY. viewtopic.php?f=81&t=10141&p=77241&hilit=watson#p77241

 

You would still need to write a small program on the CAI to tell it when to post what to where on ISY.

Awesome little board! Is there any prefabricated cases or power supplies for them?

 

As far as the box, not that I know of. The wall wart is just a basic, normal, probably already have one, 9v deal.

[66splitbus]

Wow, fantastic info, thanks everyone! Time to follow some links and do some homework.

[MaddBomber83]

I would also check out IOGuy's sub forum here under Automation Shack.

 

He had the CAI board and changed over to the Raspbery PI. That is the reason that I did my temperature probes with the PI.

 

You can see my guide (I think it has been linked here already) in my signature.

 

 

As for the question on the 1 wire response time, if you hold the probe in your hand it goes from ambient to skin surface temperature in about 20-30 seconds. I find they react nicely to the air changes in our rooms.

 

I have ~ 20 of them installed throughout the house, outside and HVAC system. They also make humidity detectors that I'll be placing in the bathroom and in the garden.

[shannong]

He had the CAI board and changed over to the Raspbery PI. That is the reason that I did my temperature probes with the PI.

 

What was the reason you switched? Would you mind sharing a few pros and cons for CAI vs Pi?

[Xathros]

He had the CAI board and changed over to the Raspbery PI. That is the reason that I did my temperature probes with the PI.

 

What was the reason you switched? Would you mind sharing a few pros and cons for CAI vs Pi?

 

I have both a CAI and a Pi. The CAI is a good solid stable interface for these sensors and other I/O needs. The Pi can do this and so much more being a full linux based computer. I use the Pi as a webserver, ftp server, syslog server and as an interface to other things that cannot talk directly to the ISY.

 

-Xathros

[shannong]

I have both a CAI and a Pi. The CAI is a good solid stable interface for these sensors and other I/O needs.

-Xathros

 

Sure, Pi is full linux. But I run a VM for linux network services that is much better than a limited system on a chip and without any additional hardware purchase.

 

In context of sensor data for HA with ISY, can you share your thoughts on CAI vs Pi?

[apostolakisl]

I can't comment to the issues ioguy had. I have been real happy with mine (I have 10 of them). I have written some pretty big programs for them, but the nice thing for newbies is you can write something really short and simple. For example, this all the code you need to have CAI post temp to ISY once every 5 seconds.

 

START

WEBSET URL1 T1

WEBSET URL2 T2

WEBSET URL3 T3

WEBSET URL4 T4

(etc up to

DELAY 5000

END

 

Other steps include connecting the 1-wire sensors to the 1-wire terminal on CAI (up to 8 go on a single bus), connecting power to CAI, and configuring CAI with a user/pass and IP address. CAI has automatic enrollment of 1-wire sensors. Lastly, you need to configure URL1-8 with the IP address, user/pass and the REST language that ISY requires so that the temp gets posted to ISY variables of your choice.

 

Certainly you could get way more complex with your CAI programming and perhaps take ISY out of the loop altogether and just let CAI monitor your temps, process things as per your requirements, turns things on/off, and send email notifications.

[Xathros]

I have both a CAI and a Pi. The CAI is a good solid stable interface for these sensors and other I/O needs.

-Xathros

 

Sure, Pi is full linux. But I run a VM for linux network services that is much better than a limited system on a chip and without any additional hardware purchase.

 

In context of sensor data for HA with ISY, can you share your thoughts on CAI vs Pi?

 

For strictly sensors, the CAI is likely the easiest route as apostolakisl stated above. The Pi is just capable of much more albeit more complex. Cost wise, they are roughly the same and both require external power supplies. The Pi would also require an add-on board to connect the one wire sensors whereas the CAI is ready to accept then sensors right out of the box.

 

A full VM may be more capable than the Pi but the Pi only draws a few watts and runs off a cell charger. One of my goals was to eliminate the cost of a full PC 24/7 and not lose the basic services that it provided. The Pi was a perfect fit for that.

 

-Xathros

[shannong]

Thanks to all for the comments. I'm going to do some R&D on using CAI for sensor data to augment my ISY setup.