Club 80-90 Forums

I have just splashed out and bought one of these:



http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alarm-Temperatu ... eter+Clock

I usually disconnect my starter battery if I leave the van un-used for any time. So the dash clock is never the right time.
This little clock plugs into the cig lighter and has a back-up internal battery to keep it going when the 12V power is off.

The other useful thing about it is that it gives you a battery charge (voltage) reading, plus inside / outside temperature.

I have no idea how accurate these readings are, but for the price I am not too worried.

I will let you all know how I get on with it, and if it lasts more than a week!

Just seen the price - nothing short of miraculous. Do keep us updated. Cheers, mitch.

So good I just ordered one from your link (mind you, I hate supporting the Chinese manufacturing industry)

The (after market) dash clock on our van has been iffy for a while, I used to have an inside/outside thermometer on the Hi-Top and liked that, plus the volts gauge = just the job. I will wire mine to the Leisure to monitor it's voltage. Apparently only 4 left in stock now.

ghost123uk wrote:So good I just ordered one from your link (mind you, I hate supporting the Chinese manufacturing industry)

The (after market) dash clock on our van has been iffy for a while, I used to have an inside/outside thermometer on the Hi-Top and liked that, plus the volts gauge = just the job. I will wire mine to the Leisure to monitor it's voltage. Apparently only 4 left in stock now.

There are loads of similar units on fleebay.

I don't know how they manage to make them, package them, then ship them half way round the worlds for the price.

It can't be a lot cheaper to ship just an empty box!!

Update -
The clock / meter thingy is still going ok. - It keeps reasonable time, and while I have no way of checking the accuracy of the other readings, they give a reasonable indication.

I noticed at one stage while driving along that the voltage indicator dropped a couple of volts for a short time. At first I was puzzled by this, but then wondered if it was the 'fridge kicking in. Could be I guess.

I imagine I'm being dull...it happens a lot. I can see how it can read internal temperature but how the hell does it work out external temp? Is there another probe or sensor or something I'm not seeing that you have to run through the window or bodywork or something?

Looks to me that the external temp sensor is visible in the picture... on a trailing wire?

Yeah but I'm wondering where you place that? I think in most modern cars they are in the wheel arch or within a bumper to avoid 'wind chill' effect. I wonder if reading the temp on the inside of the front window would be (moderately) accurate.

LeeME3 wrote:Yeah but I'm wondering where you place that? I think in most modern cars they are in the wheel arch or within a bumper to avoid 'wind chill' effect. I wonder if reading the temp on the inside of the front window would be (moderately) accurate.

A lot of modern cars are under the wing mirros

nicq wrote: A lot of modern cars are under the wing mirros

Not sure why but I like that I now know this!

Under the wing gets engine temp and brake temp.

LeeME3 wrote:I imagine I'm being dull...it happens a lot. I can see how it can read internal temperature but how the hell does it work out external temp? Is there another probe or sensor or something I'm not seeing that you have to run through the window or bodywork or something?

It's got a probe on a fairly long wire that I have sent along the front of the dash, down the door jamb, then forward to the inside of the front bumper. It's got a self adhesive pad. I was quite expecting it to drop off, but it's still there.

I think wind chill will only happen if it's wet.

In the photo the sensor is the round object that looks a bit like an ear phone. The one that actually came with the clock is smaller and lozenge shaped.
The internal temperature reads a bit high as I have located the clock on the front dash tray and it gets solar gain.

a1winchester wrote: It's got a probe on a fairly long wire that I have sent along the front of the dash, down the door jamb, then forward to the inside of the front bumper. It's got a self adhesive pad. I was quite expecting it to drop off, but it's still there.

I put mine up on the front crossmember, as high up as I could so it out of most of the wind.

a1winchester wrote:The internal temperature reads a bit high as I have located the clock on the front dash tray and it gets solar gain.

You're not kidding, I had mine reading about 55 on Sunday (parked up in the sun at the Cholmondeley Festival of Power )

LeeME3 wrote:Yeah but I'm wondering where you place that? I think in most modern cars they are in the wheel arch or within a bumper to avoid 'wind chill' effect. I wonder if reading the temp on the inside of the front window would be (moderately) accurate.

Wind chill doesn't affect the sensor, wind chill can't make any thing colder than the ambient temperature, it can only take away heat from something hotter than the ambient temperature.

Good scientific input there as always

But if the sensor was wet, would not the increase in evaporation due to a "breeze" past it affect it's temperature (just being daft here It is just an academic matter, not at all important for this application I know ) Mind you, I could be wrong here