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djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32625 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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DanHoug Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2016 Posts: 4791 Location: Bemidji, MN
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 5:13 am Post subject: Re: Where to place an ambient temperature probe? |
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i know you've bought yours already but i buy a rectangular AA powered therm to eliminate a cord and then tuck it in the left side of the dash/windshield area. run the temp probe out the door hinge area and use some 3M VHB double tape to tape the sensor to the antenna mast or drip rail.
i really like an outside thermometer and have them in every vehicle including my old Mercedes. at the sensor location described above, it'll be inaccurate if parked in the sun but it cools off quick. there is SOME sun influence while driving but generally a 60mph breeze removes solar heat about as quick as it is added. but it nudges up a bit if the sun is on the drivers side. _________________ -dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.
'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd
Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com |
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dobryan Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006 Posts: 16504 Location: Brookeville, MD
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jimf909 Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014 Posts: 7472 Location: WA/ID
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 6:13 am Post subject: Re: Where to place an ambient temperature probe? |
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I have a wireless indoor/outdoor unit in the high-top area and the remote sensor/sender is in a zip lock bag ( ) in a covered spot on the rear RMW swingout.
A second indoor/outdoor thermometer (just for fun) is mounted on the dash with the probe wire running behind the air vent cover, out through the big rubber grommet in the floor and over to the space between the body and the windshield washer bottle. Both areas chosen for dryness, air circulation and away from direct sunlight.
I like the usb outlet you've selected. I'm cleaning up wires, installing a new head unit and adding outlets now too.
Here's the wireless indoor/outdoor thermometer. I like the recorded temps for highs/lows for the past 12, 24, 72, and since last reset. This was a temp from this winter when I needed two electric space heaters to keep my wfh office (the van) warm.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00WXIR8SO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Here's the $10 indoor/outdoor thermometer bought from Uniwerks design. It's a perfect fit for this place in the van.
https://www.uniwerksdesign.com/product/inside-outside-thermometer/
_________________ - Jim
Abscate wrote: |
Do not get killed, do not kill others.
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Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro).
Last edited by jimf909 on Tue Mar 30, 2021 6:36 am; edited 3 times in total |
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bobbyblack Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2015 Posts: 4351 Location: United States, Iowa
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 6:18 am Post subject: Re: Where to place an ambient temperature probe? |
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My PO put it between the driver side headlight and radiator. (Take off the upper grill, find a grommet to poke the wire through). Works good. _________________ '87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch |
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djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32625 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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DuncanS Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2013 Posts: 4583 Location: New Hampshire
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 6:25 am Post subject: Re: Where to place an ambient temperature probe? |
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Dave--i run my outside temp probe behind the front bumper on the extreme left corner away from the coolant hoses. The bumper is a silver fiberglass one and so picks up only modest gain gain when parked in the sun which soon stabilizes with the breeze of driving. Seems close enough. The readout is right at the instrument cluster and the wire sneaks down somehow behind everything and outside, but can't remember just now. Couldn't have been too hard.
Its a dual temp/probe F item and the inside temp is located above the RV mirror.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WS11X45/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Duncan |
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djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32625 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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cmayna Samba Member
Joined: August 18, 2014 Posts: 1148 Location: SF Bay area, CA
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 7:26 am Post subject: Re: Where to place an ambient temperature probe? |
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My probe is behind the grill near the driver's side headlight. Wire runs to receiver which is located in the ashtray. Battery lasts a couple years. I use those Acu-Rite meters to check the fridge temp as well as the temps of my garage freezers. _________________ '90 Westy / automatic.
If I'm not working on the camper or my '50 Chebbie truck, I'm either fishing with the wife or smoking Salmon.
Craig |
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bobbyblack Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2015 Posts: 4351 Location: United States, Iowa
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 7:57 am Post subject: Re: Where to place an ambient temperature probe? |
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djkeev wrote: |
Thanks for the ideas.
I dislike wires sprouting forth out of the dash!
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So, like those holes in the firewall with grommets for wiring in front by the headlights? Or, in the cabin? _________________ '87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch |
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MarkWard Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 17154 Location: Retired South Florida
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 8:30 am Post subject: Re: Where to place an ambient temperature probe? |
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I'd like it in the intake. Might as well know what the air temp is going into the engine. The outside temp is what it is. Not sure why that knowledge is so important. Its either "Too Hot", "Too Cold" or "Perfect". _________________ ☮️ |
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Sodo Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2007 Posts: 9613 Location: Western WA
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 8:31 am Post subject: Re: Where to place an ambient temperature probe? |
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My wife wants to see outdoor temps too.
If you had one INKBIRD tem controller you could A/B/C switch between several temp sensors for "trans / outdoor / fridge."
Probably better just to buy 3 INKBIRDs then you have spares.
But if you are using the INKBIRD relays the unit will 'take actions' when you switch A/B/C.
Also note that using it for fridge temp is easier said than done.
See this thread: Truck Fridge Digital Thermostat
Refrigeration techs have a better understanding how the compressor delays etc work with a controller.
Look at the INKBIRD store on Amazon, they offer all kinds of crazy units, some with phone apps, datalogging, and some with four displays.
Some with wireless sensors that don't need a wire.
Mark Inkbird has stainless steel temperature probes.
You could drill a small, tight hole in a rubber intake part and poke the probe in, it would seal tight.
I'd like to monitor EJ25 engine sump oil temperature next.
I suspect high oil temp is why my EJ25 "seems" to start gulping oil after 3 or 4,000 miles.
There's only one way to find out.
For oilpan, you could drill a little hole and epoxy the sensor directly into a hole.
Then later you can enlarge & thread the hole for a proper screw-in sensor etc. _________________
'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb |
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fxr Samba Member
Joined: December 07, 2014 Posts: 2325 Location: Bay area CA
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 9:01 am Post subject: Re: Where to place an ambient temperature probe? |
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I put my probe just behind the passenger side headlamp. This is a cheap button-cell powered in/out thermometer, $7 from Pep boys. Industrial Velcro'd to just under the radio. _________________ Jim Crowther
1984 1.9l EJ22 Westy Wolfsburg Edition
Vespa GTS 300 |
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GreggK Samba Member
Joined: May 17, 2008 Posts: 898 Location: Colorado/Philidelphia
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 2:02 pm Post subject: Re: Where to place an ambient temperature probe? |
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Multiman MV installed the same unit in his van on the steering column. Maybe see where he ran his probe. I know the wire isn't too long. I have the same one too and bought two units so I could splice the probe wire and get twice the length. _________________ '86 2wd Poptop transplant
FAS TDi engine swap. Peloquin LSD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=692188&highlight=slow+but+steady |
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djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32625 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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DanHoug Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2016 Posts: 4791 Location: Bemidji, MN
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 2:20 pm Post subject: Re: Where to place an ambient temperature probe? |
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we can have 90F temp swings in 36 hours in MN. there's a threshold, each car is different, where you know it will start and where it won't. in the north, it's useful info partly because it relates to life or death and partly a point of pride. yes, ya already know the weather before you go to start the cars. however, on the Mercedes, at 14F i know it will pop right off. 7F, it's gonna struggle.
but i MOSTLY like a thermometer to see the temp differences as one is driving... low spots, high passes, going thru towns. "LOOK! It dropped TWO degrees right here!" ayup, it is truly exciting conversation in our travels. _________________ -dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.
'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd
Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com |
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harvgwen Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2021 Posts: 160 Location: British Columbia, Canada
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 3:10 pm Post subject: Re: Where to place an ambient temperature probe? |
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Where I live an outside temp gauge can be useful to know if there is a risk of ice on the road. _________________ 1986 Westfalia Vanagon, 2.2 Subaru
British Columbia, Canada |
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djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32625 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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cmayna Samba Member
Joined: August 18, 2014 Posts: 1148 Location: SF Bay area, CA
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 4:50 pm Post subject: Re: Where to place an ambient temperature probe? |
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Here's my ambient temp gauge in it's little home. The sensor is behind the front bumper.
_________________ '90 Westy / automatic.
If I'm not working on the camper or my '50 Chebbie truck, I'm either fishing with the wife or smoking Salmon.
Craig
Last edited by cmayna on Fri Apr 09, 2021 9:02 am; edited 2 times in total |
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dobryan Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006 Posts: 16504 Location: Brookeville, MD
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