Temperature monitoring
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Posted by Dave Close on March 10, 2007, 1:20 am
Please log in for more thread options don't want intelligence, just reporting. All I want to do is to collect the information and record it. I can buy an "atomic clock" with a remote temperature sensor for about $20. Most of that cost is for the clock, not the sensor. But when I look for a similar device that can send data to a computer, prices quickly go (way!) above $100. Either this is a missed market opportunity or I'm just not looking in the right place. I'd like the remote sensor to transmit its data either wirelessly, via X10-like power line signaling, or over a simple three-wire phone cord. Its reports should be periodic, say every five minutes, or on command. The report should be the ambient temperature to a half-degree C and the id of the sensor. I have found some devices that can be programmed to take some action when the ambient temperature falls outside some boundary. I don't want any action taken except to report the temperature, not just when its low or high but all the time. What have I missed? -- Dave Close, Compata, Costa Mesa CA "Greed is to the moralists of the dave@compata.com, +1 714 434 7359 left what sex is to the moralists dhclose@alumni.caltech.edu of the right." - Cathy Young -- Dave Close, Compata, Costa Mesa CA "Politics is the business of getting dave@compata.com, +1 714 434 7359 power and privilege without dhclose@alumni.caltech.edu possessing merit." - P. J. O'Rourke | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Posted by b_weijenberg on March 10, 2007, 5:34 am
Please log in for more thread options The RFXSensor together with an RFXCOM USB receiver does exact what you want. The 433.92MHz version of the RFXCOM receiver is also able to receive Oregon Scientific weather sensors and the RFXPower. The RFXPower is a device to measure the whole house power usage. See www.rfxcom.com US people can also use the W800 receiver but have to select the 310MHz version of the RFXSensor then. The W800 can't receive Oregon Scientific sensors nor the RFXPower. Bert | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Posted by Marc_F_Hult on March 10, 2007, 10:34 am
Please log in for more thread options
>I'm seeking to buy or build several temperature monitoring devices. I
>don't want intelligence, just reporting. All I want to do is to collect >the information and record it. > >I can buy an "atomic clock" with a remote temperature sensor for about >$20. Most of that cost is for the clock, not the sensor. But when I look >for a similar device that can send data to a computer, prices quickly go >(way!) above $100. Either this is a missed market opportunity or I'm >just not looking in the right place. > >I'd like the remote sensor to transmit its data either wirelessly, via >X10-like power line signaling, or over a simple three-wire phone cord. >Its reports should be periodic, say every five minutes, or on command. >The report should be the ambient temperature to a half-degree C and the >id of the sensor. > >I have found some devices that can be programmed to take some action >when the ambient temperature falls outside some boundary. I don't want >any action taken except to report the temperature, not just when its low >or high but all the time. > >What have I missed? How many sensors? You have apparently have a <$100 budget so this is an important question. What temperature range? 10-30C (ambient "room" temperature) or -40C to 60C (full range ambient including (eg) hot attics)? How far apart do the sensors need to be? All in one room or throughout a house? Why does the report have to initiated by the sensor rather than the conventional approach of polling by the recording device? What device will you use to store the data? If not a PC, how will you use/transfer the data once it is stored? You can easily make what you want (self reporting) for about $5 per sensor if you would be willing to learn to program microcontrollers. I'm currently enamored of the Atmel ATtiny-45, an 8-pin AVR http://www.atmel.com/dyn/resources/prod_documents/2586S.pdf microcontroller the size of fingernail that has 10-bit analog inputs other I/O and is ~60x faster (20 MIPS) than the original IBM PC 0.3 MIPS). It can run on as little as 1.8 volts and 300 microamps (and 0.1 microamps when sleeping). It can be programmed using BASCOM for which a free version is available http://www.mcselec.com/ It costs about $2 from www.digikey.com Or check out the PICAXE http://www.rev-ed.co.uk/picaxe/ especially Peter Anderson's offerings http://www.phanderson.com/picaxe/ http://www.phanderson.com/picaxe/picaxe_overview.html and this $8 kit in particular http://www.phanderson.com/stamp/onewire.html The Maxim / Dallas 1-wire technology meets your needs and budget if you are willing to do some minor soldering and construction and *IMPORTANT* you use Cat5 wiring instead of "phone wire" by which I understand untwisted (eg) "satin" cord. http://www.maxim-ic.com/1-Wire.cfm www.phanderson.com/ There are also temperature sensors with voltage output such as the LM34 and LM 35 that can be read by any of a bajjilion different devices/loggers with 8-bit or better analog to digital converters including (eg) an old or new PC. http://www.national.com/pf/LM/LM35.html Or simple thermistors which can be extremely accurate but typically require signal conditioning, and for wide ranges,at least 12-bit analog to digital converters. HTH ...Marc Marc_F_Hult www.neuralhome.info | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Posted by B Fuhrmann on March 10, 2007, 10:40 am
Please log in for more thread options "Dave Close" wrote ...
> I'm seeking to buy or build several temperature monitoring devices. I
> don't want intelligence, just reporting. All I want to do is to collect > the information and record it. > > I can buy an "atomic clock" with a remote temperature sensor for about > $20. Most of that cost is for the clock, not the sensor. But when I look > for a similar device that can send data to a computer, prices quickly go > (way!) above $100. Either this is a missed market opportunity or I'm > just not looking in the right place. . . . > What have I missed?
There is a common misconception people have that anything that they want and cannot find readily is a "missed opportunity". What they are missing most of the time is that there isn't a large enough market for the item at the price that they want, to make it an opportunity. There is a lot of demand for indoor outdoor thermometers, with or without clocks which add very little to the cost) but not for the additional expense of adding output circuits which almost no one would use. However, if you are willing to do some work on your own, there may be some hobbiest level items that do what you want. Check out Peter Anderson's projects at www.phanderson.com/ www.phanderson.com/tm125.html is a multiple sensor to RS-232 module for $40 He designs his modules for students to use in his electrical engineering courses. If you want something polished with fancy software, there are a lot of industrial systems with industrial quality, service, AND prices. -- Bill Fuhrmann | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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> don't want intelligence, just reporting. All I want to do is to collect
> the information and record it.
>
> I can buy an "atomic clock" with a remote temperature sensor for about
> $20. Most of that cost is for the clock, not the sensor. But when I look
> for a similar device that can send data to a computer, prices quickly go
> (way!) above $100. Either this is a missed market opportunity or I'm
> just not looking in the right place.
>
> I'd like the remote sensor to transmit its data either wirelessly, via
> X10-like power line signaling, or over a simple three-wire phone cord.
> Its reports should be periodic, say every five minutes, or on command.
> The report should be the ambient temperature to a half-degree C and the
> id of the sensor.
>
> I have found some devices that can be programmed to take some action
> when the ambient temperature falls outside some boundary. I don't want
> any action taken except to report the temperature, not just when its low
> or high but all the time.
>
> What have I missed?
> --
> Dave Close, Compata, Costa Mesa CA "Greed is to the moralists of the
> d...@compata.com, +1 714 434 7359 left what sex is to the moralists
> dhcl...@alumni.caltech.edu of the right." - Cathy Young
>
> --
> Dave Close, Compata, Costa Mesa CA "Politics is the business of getting
> d...@compata.com, +1 714 434 7359 power and privilege without
> dhcl...@alumni.caltech.edu possessing merit." - P. J. O'Rourke