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  • Min Max Thermometer

    From Sam Plusnet@21:1/5 to All on Tue Apr 8 20:32:29 2025
    We have a 'new' greenhouse (I put it up last autumn).
    I dug out an old-style mercury min-max thermometer and, whilst it does
    sort of work, when you try to reset it the "Max" pin resets, but the
    "Min" pin refuses to move.

    Hence I want a new thermometer.
    Humidity measurement might also be handy but not essential.
    Remote sensing (readout in the house) also sounds like a good idea, but
    I would still need readings to be shown in the greenhouse itself.

    I've looked at some of the remote sensor types, but I'm not sure if they
    would work, given our 22 inch thick stone walls and a greenhouse that is roughly 8 - 10 metres away (sorry about the mixed units).

    Anyone got experience with these? Or any recommendations?


    --
    Sam Plusnet

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  • From Joe@21:1/5 to Sam Plusnet on Tue Apr 8 21:09:45 2025
    On Tue, 8 Apr 2025 20:32:29 +0100
    Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> wrote:

    We have a 'new' greenhouse (I put it up last autumn).
    I dug out an old-style mercury min-max thermometer and, whilst it
    does sort of work, when you try to reset it the "Max" pin resets, but
    the "Min" pin refuses to move.

    Ours has always been reluctant. Try pressing and releasing the reset
    button repeatedly, or moving a magnet up and down around the marker.

    Hence I want a new thermometer.
    Humidity measurement might also be handy but not essential.
    Remote sensing (readout in the house) also sounds like a good idea,
    but I would still need readings to be shown in the greenhouse itself.

    I've looked at some of the remote sensor types, but I'm not sure if
    they would work, given our 22 inch thick stone walls and a greenhouse
    that is roughly 8 - 10 metres away (sorry about the mixed units).

    Anyone got experience with these? Or any recommendations?

    I've had a few 433MHz weather stations with remote sensors. Range
    quoted usually 20m-ish, actual range about 4m through one external
    block wall. Radio control items always exaggerate the range possible. I
    built some Tx-Rx pairs using XBee modules with about one inch antennae,
    which could manage about 15-20m on 900MHz, but presumably most
    commercial thermometers use 433MHz.

    Supply voltage matters a lot, the 433MHz modules available on Ebay and
    the like will operate over a fairly wide voltage range, but they need
    12V for maximum range. Doorbells typically use some exotic tiny 9V or
    12V battery to reach through a house. If the sensor uses a pair of
    AAAs, it probably won't have much range. We have some remote sockets
    with the controller using 3V, which reaches about 5m through one
    internal wall. Mostly.

    --
    Joe

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  • From Clive Page@21:1/5 to Sam Plusnet on Tue Apr 8 21:51:02 2025
    On 08/04/2025 20:32, Sam Plusnet wrote:
    We have a 'new' greenhouse (I put it up last autumn).
    I dug out an old-style mercury min-max thermometer and, whilst it does
    sort of work, when you try to reset it the "Max" pin resets, but the
    "Min" pin refuses to move.

    Hence I want a new thermometer.
    Humidity measurement might also be handy but not essential.
    Remote sensing (readout in the house) also sounds like a good idea, but
    I would still need readings to be shown in the greenhouse itself.

    I've looked at some of the remote sensor types, but I'm not sure if they would work, given our 22 inch thick stone walls and a greenhouse that is roughly 8 - 10 metres away (sorry about the mixed units).

    Anyone got experience with these?  Or any recommendations?


    We got an indoor/outdoor thermometer a few years ago made by these people https://www.tfa-dostmann.de/en/produkte/thermometers/

    I can't see an illustration of exactly the same model but it has worked
    pretty well. The outdoor unit is seems to be able to transmit through
    several walls and about 20m distance without problems.
    It's only a thermometer with max/min over 24 hours, but it looks as if
    they also do hygrometers.


    --
    Clive Page

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    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Jeff Layman@21:1/5 to Sam Plusnet on Tue Apr 8 22:23:38 2025
    On 08/04/2025 20:32, Sam Plusnet wrote:
    We have a 'new' greenhouse (I put it up last autumn).
    I dug out an old-style mercury min-max thermometer and, whilst it does
    sort of work, when you try to reset it the "Max" pin resets, but the
    "Min" pin refuses to move.

    Try swinging it at arms length (hold it tight!) letting centrifugal
    force do the moving. If that doesn't work a powerful magnet (neodymium)
    should move it.
    > Hence I want a new thermometer.
    Humidity measurement might also be handy but not essential.
    Remote sensing (readout in the house) also sounds like a good idea, but
    I would still need readings to be shown in the greenhouse itself.

    I've looked at some of the remote sensor types, but I'm not sure if they would work, given our 22 inch thick stone walls and a greenhouse that is roughly 8 - 10 metres away (sorry about the mixed units).

    Anyone got experience with these? Or any recommendations?

    If possible put the receiver on a windowsill in direct sight of the transmitter. FWIW I can get reception from about 7m away through two
    brick walls.

    --
    Jeff

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Chris Hogg@21:1/5 to Sam Plusnet on Wed Apr 9 08:17:46 2025
    On Tue, 8 Apr 2025 20:32:29 +0100, Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> wrote:

    We have a 'new' greenhouse (I put it up last autumn).
    I dug out an old-style mercury min-max thermometer and, whilst it does
    sort of work, when you try to reset it the "Max" pin resets, but the
    "Min" pin refuses to move.

    Hence I want a new thermometer.
    Humidity measurement might also be handy but not essential.
    Remote sensing (readout in the house) also sounds like a good idea, but
    I would still need readings to be shown in the greenhouse itself.

    I've looked at some of the remote sensor types, but I'm not sure if they >would work, given our 22 inch thick stone walls and a greenhouse that is >roughly 8 - 10 metres away (sorry about the mixed units).

    Anyone got experience with these? Or any recommendations?

    I've recently bought one of these https://tinyurl.com/3xmj3sn9 off
    Amazon. Does most of what you want, although the outdoor sensor is
    'dumb' and doesn't have it's own display. All the displays are on the
    indoor unit. I'm very pleased with it so far.

    --

    Chris

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Jim the Geordie@21:1/5 to Chris Hogg on Wed Apr 9 10:31:55 2025
    On 09/04/2025 08:17, Chris Hogg wrote:
    On Tue, 8 Apr 2025 20:32:29 +0100, Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> wrote:

    We have a 'new' greenhouse (I put it up last autumn).
    I dug out an old-style mercury min-max thermometer and, whilst it does
    sort of work, when you try to reset it the "Max" pin resets, but the
    "Min" pin refuses to move.

    Hence I want a new thermometer.
    Humidity measurement might also be handy but not essential.
    Remote sensing (readout in the house) also sounds like a good idea, but
    I would still need readings to be shown in the greenhouse itself.

    I've looked at some of the remote sensor types, but I'm not sure if they
    would work, given our 22 inch thick stone walls and a greenhouse that is
    roughly 8 - 10 metres away (sorry about the mixed units).

    Anyone got experience with these? Or any recommendations?

    I've recently bought one of these https://tinyurl.com/3xmj3sn9 off
    Amazon. Does most of what you want, although the outdoor sensor is
    'dumb' and doesn't have it's own display. All the displays are on the
    indoor unit. I'm very pleased with it so far.

    I have something similar by TECHNOline. It works fine, but struggles at
    around 20m between transmitter and receiver.

    I have a perfectly good Max/Min, but obviously not as precise. If the
    pin sticks and the push-button fails to free it then I take from the
    wall and whirl in circles and let centripetal force do the job. :)

    --
    Jim the Geordie

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From RJH@21:1/5 to Chris Hogg on Wed Apr 9 10:21:53 2025
    On 9 Apr 2025 at 08:17:46 BST, Chris Hogg wrote:

    On Tue, 8 Apr 2025 20:32:29 +0100, Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> wrote:

    We have a 'new' greenhouse (I put it up last autumn).
    I dug out an old-style mercury min-max thermometer and, whilst it does
    sort of work, when you try to reset it the "Max" pin resets, but the
    "Min" pin refuses to move.

    Hence I want a new thermometer.
    Humidity measurement might also be handy but not essential.
    Remote sensing (readout in the house) also sounds like a good idea, but
    I would still need readings to be shown in the greenhouse itself.

    I've looked at some of the remote sensor types, but I'm not sure if they
    would work, given our 22 inch thick stone walls and a greenhouse that is
    roughly 8 - 10 metres away (sorry about the mixed units).

    Anyone got experience with these? Or any recommendations?

    I've recently bought one of these https://tinyurl.com/3xmj3sn9 off
    Amazon. Does most of what you want, although the outdoor sensor is
    'dumb' and doesn't have it's own display. All the displays are on the
    indoor unit. I'm very pleased with it so far.

    While we're at it, used one of these for a few years now:

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/DNT-RoomLogg-Conditioning-Hygrosensors-Evaluation/dp/B07XRQ8YSS?th=1

    Works well with range down 3 floors to the cellar and outside to the garden, and records to an SD card - as you'd hope and expect for almost £200 . . .

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Sam Plusnet@21:1/5 to Jeff Layman on Wed Apr 9 20:53:40 2025
    On 08/04/2025 22:23, Jeff Layman wrote:
    On 08/04/2025 20:32, Sam Plusnet wrote:
    We have a 'new' greenhouse (I put it up last autumn).
    I dug out an old-style mercury min-max thermometer and, whilst it does
    sort of work, when you try to reset it the "Max" pin resets, but the
    "Min" pin refuses to move.

    Try swinging it at arms length (hold it tight!) letting centrifugal
    force do the moving. If that doesn't work a powerful magnet (neodymium) should move it.

    Now where did I put the bits from the last time I dismantled a spinning
    rust HDD? I knew it would come in handy one day.
    That said, if the pin sticks in place, I suspect it will carry on doing
    that.
    ; Hence I want a new thermometer.
    Humidity measurement might also be handy but not essential.
    Remote sensing (readout in the house) also sounds like a good idea, but
    I would still need readings to be shown in the greenhouse itself.

    I've looked at some of the remote sensor types, but I'm not sure if they
    would work, given our 22 inch thick stone walls and a greenhouse that is
    roughly 8 - 10 metres away (sorry about the mixed units).

    Anyone got experience with these?  Or any recommendations?

    If possible put the receiver on a windowsill in direct sight of the transmitter. FWIW I can get reception from about 7m away through two
    brick walls.

    I've looked at a number of 'indoor display + outdoor sensor' systems,
    and I am now divided between one of those or a simple analogue mercury
    min/max.

    --
    Sam Plusnet

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From nib@21:1/5 to Sam Plusnet on Wed Apr 9 20:55:18 2025
    On 2025-04-09 20:53, Sam Plusnet wrote:
    On 08/04/2025 22:23, Jeff Layman wrote:
    On 08/04/2025 20:32, Sam Plusnet wrote:
    We have a 'new' greenhouse (I put it up last autumn).
    I dug out an old-style mercury min-max thermometer and, whilst it does
    sort of work, when you try to reset it the "Max" pin resets, but the
    "Min" pin refuses to move.

    Try swinging it at arms length (hold it tight!) letting centrifugal
    force do the moving. If that doesn't work a powerful magnet
    (neodymium) should move it.

    Now where did I put the bits from the last time I dismantled a spinning
    rust HDD?  I knew it would come in handy one day.
    That said, if the pin sticks in place, I suspect it will carry on doing
    that.
      > Hence I want a new thermometer.
    Humidity measurement might also be handy but not essential.
    Remote sensing (readout in the house) also sounds like a good idea, but
    I would still need readings to be shown in the greenhouse itself.

    I've looked at some of the remote sensor types, but I'm not sure if they >>> would work, given our 22 inch thick stone walls and a greenhouse that is >>> roughly 8 - 10 metres away (sorry about the mixed units).

    Anyone got experience with these?  Or any recommendations?

    If possible put the receiver on a windowsill in direct sight of the
    transmitter. FWIW I can get reception from about 7m away through two
    brick walls.

    I've looked at a number of 'indoor display + outdoor sensor' systems,
    and I am now divided between one of those or a simple analogue mercury min/max.


    Why not both?

    (And then trying to work out which is right when they disagree!).

    nib

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From The Natural Philosopher@21:1/5 to Sam Plusnet on Thu Apr 10 11:01:25 2025
    On 09/04/2025 20:53, Sam Plusnet wrote:
    I've looked at a number of 'indoor display + outdoor sensor' systems,
    and I am now divided between one of those or a simple analogue mercury min/max.

    Are mercury thermometers still available?

    --
    Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the
    gospel of envy.

    Its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.

    Winston Churchill

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Sam Plusnet@21:1/5 to nib on Thu Apr 10 19:37:36 2025
    On 09/04/2025 20:55, nib wrote:
    On 2025-04-09 20:53, Sam Plusnet wrote:
    On 08/04/2025 22:23, Jeff Layman wrote:
    On 08/04/2025 20:32, Sam Plusnet wrote:
    We have a 'new' greenhouse (I put it up last autumn).
    I dug out an old-style mercury min-max thermometer and, whilst it does >>>> sort of work, when you try to reset it the "Max" pin resets, but the
    "Min" pin refuses to move.

    Try swinging it at arms length (hold it tight!) letting centrifugal
    force do the moving. If that doesn't work a powerful magnet
    (neodymium) should move it.

    Now where did I put the bits from the last time I dismantled a
    spinning rust HDD?  I knew it would come in handy one day.
    That said, if the pin sticks in place, I suspect it will carry on
    doing that.
      > Hence I want a new thermometer.
    Humidity measurement might also be handy but not essential.
    Remote sensing (readout in the house) also sounds like a good idea, but >>>> I would still need readings to be shown in the greenhouse itself.

    I've looked at some of the remote sensor types, but I'm not sure if
    they
    would work, given our 22 inch thick stone walls and a greenhouse
    that is
    roughly 8 - 10 metres away (sorry about the mixed units).

    Anyone got experience with these?  Or any recommendations?

    If possible put the receiver on a windowsill in direct sight of the
    transmitter. FWIW I can get reception from about 7m away through two
    brick walls.

    I've looked at a number of 'indoor display + outdoor sensor' systems,
    and I am now divided between one of those or a simple analogue mercury
    min/max.


    Why not both?

    (And then trying to work out which is right when they disagree!).

    Given that SWMBO is a confirmed (and voluble) Luddite, I may do just
    that. After all, the greenhouse was built for her.


    --
    Sam Plusnet

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Chris Hogg@21:1/5 to tnp@invalid.invalid on Thu Apr 10 20:20:32 2025
    On Thu, 10 Apr 2025 11:01:25 +0100, The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:

    On 09/04/2025 20:53, Sam Plusnet wrote:
    I've looked at a number of 'indoor display + outdoor sensor' systems,
    and I am now divided between one of those or a simple analogue mercury
    min/max.

    Are mercury thermometers still available?

    Aren't they all alcohol these days? I also have a digital max/min -
    looks like an analogue max/min but no rising/falling liquid thread.

    --

    Chris

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Fredxx@21:1/5 to The Natural Philosopher on Thu Apr 10 21:34:28 2025
    On 10/04/2025 11:01, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
    On 09/04/2025 20:53, Sam Plusnet wrote:
    I've looked at a number of 'indoor display + outdoor sensor' systems,
    and I am now divided between one of those or a simple analogue mercury
    min/max.

    Are mercury thermometers still available?


    Yep

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mercury-Temperature-Measurements-Glass-Thermometer/dp/B0DQ8VMWQC?th=1

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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