OT: Calling the scientists- cheap temp data loggers?

[BobbyJones]

Hoping that within the very diverse crowd here someone can offer some insight.

I've been looking at cheap temp data loggers and anemometers on Amazon to record environmental conditions for outdoor equipment tests. I can't believe how inexpensive this stuff is nowadays.

The big question is: Is any of it decent? Hard to tell the sophistication of some of the reviews.

Anyone have experience with these inexpensive devices?

Thanks In Advance!

[thegunner]

what are you trying to do with the sensors? i've had good luck automating small arrays of sensors to gpio on raspberry pis, but i'm not sure what level of accuracy you're after.

[BobbyJones]

what are you trying to do with the sensors? i've had good luck automating small arrays of sensors to gpio on raspberry pis, but i'm not sure what level of accuracy you're after.


We don't need super accurate, but we are looking for super simple.

Looking to eliminate a lot of subjectivity, as in "It sure got cold at 3am" or "It was pretty windy" along with the hyper localization that comes from being in varied terrain.

[thegunner]

We don't need super accurate, but we are looking for super simple.

Looking to eliminate a lot of subjectivity, as in "It sure got cold at 3am" or "It was pretty windy" along with the hyper localization that comes from being in varied terrain.

if it were me, i'd buy a ton of raspberry pi zero w boards (assuming it's all within wifi range), plug in some cheap sensors, and have them output data somewhere.

but i don't think that'd be super simple, since you'd have to write some code (i guess it's relative)

[OtayBW]

Why not go to one of the manufacturers sites and check out the spec sheets? One cheap data logger and temp sensor that I ran across lists an accuracy of ±0.21°C across a measurement range of -20°C to 70°C. Seems like that might be reasonable for what you're looking for.

[CNY rider]

A Davis weather station will take highly accurate measurements and offer the data in an easy to download format.

[Peter B]

You could do worse than Onset (https://www.onsetcomp.com/).

[Tony T]

I just built a sensor for a freezer with a headless raspberry pi zero using this write-up:
http://www.billconnelly.net/?p=375
If the temp goes above a preset temp, I get an email.

The $5 sensor has a typical accuracy of ±0.25°C over the sensor's -40°C to +125°C range and precision of +0.0625°C.
https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-mcp9808-precision-i2c-temperature-sensor-guide

I also log hourly readings and output to an ASCII graph:

[rwsaunders]

You could do worse than Onset (https://www.onsetcomp.com/).


+1...we use HOBO's on construction sites, in particular for recording indoor temperature and humidity information.

[NHAero]

Another longtime Onset Computer user - temp, RH, current, state, CO2.

+1...we use HOBO's on construction sites, in particular for recording indoor temperature and humidity information.

[nublar]

https://www.dicksondata.com/products/find/temperature/data-logger

With a USB OTG cable you can read it live and download data onto your phone

[DaveS]

+1 for onset. I’ve used them for a number of lab applications through the years.


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