Compass & inside/outside temp unit. - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Mayor · RV-Dreams Community Member

Compass & inside/outside temp unit.

Paul and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

I'm not interested in the compass ... I just follow the sun. :)

However, I am interested in the inside/outside temperature units ... for the 5th wheel ... not the truck.

The truck already has one built in.

Paul

Delaine and Lindy · RV-Dreams Family Member

We got our inside-out side Temp unit at Wally World and its worked for 3 years. And its wireless..........

mktobob · RV-Dreams Family Member

Wally World Indoor/outdoor wireless...$10. I have two of them and they have been working great for three years.

Racerguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Wal-Mart...La Crosse technology.5 years now and still working. Around $ 10.00.

Gypsy Turtle 2 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Ok, so based on the comments here, I went to Walmart and bought the wireless indoor outdoor thermometer for $10.

Now for the dumb question. Do you mount/velcro (or otherwise) the transmitter directly to your RV or do you place it on the picnic table or somewhere else in the shade? And, have you ever forgotten to bring it in when you pulled out? I know I can add it to our check list but looking for a solution that doesn't require me to think about it :)

Thanks!

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

Some put the outside temperature unit outside and try to remember to get it when leaving. I know people who have run over them and others who have forgot to retrieve the unit when breaking camp. I took a cheap Tupperware like container and put ours inside and bungee corded it close to the propane tank. It runs a couple degrees higher in cold weather than the real outside temperature, but it is safe.

Luvglass · RV-Dreams Family Member

We just set the wireless sending unit on the shelf underneath our door side slide and it stays there. When the slide is closed there's nowhere for it to go and when it's open it's in the shade an reads pretty accurately.

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Naturally the issue with outside sensor for more or less “forgetaboutit” mounting is keeping it dry. In a fiver, two places are suggested: One, under the stair storage hole. Trouble with that one is that water can get splashed up there during travel but it works for some. I think Howard did that one and didn’t seen him change the last time I saw his rig.

I put ours up in the 5’er hitch – the king pin area – with Velcro. That does heat up in the sun naturally, but it is dry and has worked for 4 years and seems to give a pretty acceptable reading as I’m not trying to be the official reporting station for the area.

I agree, La Crosse seems to be pretty good.

Sorry, have no idea about the need for a compass in a 5^th wheel other than a TV antenna positioning device? If so, probably a marine product would be best due to the shaking in the trailer when you tow.

Safe travels

Bill

-- Edited by Bill and Linda on Sunday 9th of January 2011 08:24:27 AM

Trabuco · RV-Dreams Family Member

We have the La Crosse as well in our S&B and will move it to the 5er once we get setup!

Gypsy Turtle 2 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks for the suggestions on where to put the remote unit. I think we've decided on using the slide-out tray as Fred suggested. Seems that should work quite well.

One more question: Is there a trick to getting the outside temperature to display? I've done everything they suggested in the directions and it's still displays --- for outdoor temp. I've checked the batteries, inserted them in order, pushed the reset buttons-nothing.

Did I just get a bum unit?

Again, thanks for the help.

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Gypsy Turtle 2 wrote:

Thanks for the suggestions on where to put the remote unit. I think we've decided on using the slide-out tray as Fred suggested. Seems that should work quite well.

One more question: Is there a trick to getting the outside temperature to display? I've done everything they suggested in the directions and it's still displays --- for outdoor temp. I've checked the batteries, inserted them in order, pushed the reset buttons-nothing.

Did I just get a bum unit?

Again, thanks for the help.

DW is the expert on this La Cross stuff. But first thing to try, IMO, is to bring the sensor inside; you’ve probably done that, right near the main unit. Remove the batteries from the remote sensor, wait a sec, and then reinstall. I.e. get it to connect the first time without any distance or stuff between them.

Next trick, some of the sensors / receiving units, have 3 channels. There is a switch someplace. Try another channel. At the end of the day these things are using “public” non-licensed radio frequencies and are not protected from interference. So you sort of have to “fiddle with them” to get everyone talking.

Then again, it could be just broke. Sorry.

Safe travels

Bill

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Considering that many of the indoor/outdoor thermometers have multiple channels, I will probably institute a thought as soon as we move into our Mobile Suites for full time living.

Most people have some kind of plaque that they hang on the pin box of their fifth wheel coaches. In addition to that, I plan on having a small piece of wood to hang from under the overhang on which I will attach the remote sensor. In addition, I plan on putting a second remote sensor in the underbelly, somewhere near the water manifold and the holding tanks.

That will allow me to monitor temperatures in three different areas. The remote sensor that will hang on the pin box will be in a place where I can't miss seeing it when it comes time to hook up and move on. That way, I don't have an excuse for losing that one.

Terry

Mayor · RV-Dreams Community Member

Great advice...Thanks
Temp? Bought at WalMart and works just fine.
Compass...I will just use my GPS...

Paul and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Mayor wrote:
Any one have experience with units available?

I'm going for the La Crosse.

Got one for Christmas but, had a slight flaw with the LCD display that meant I had to return it. However, I ordered the same one to replace it. It gave me all the information I needed.

With the 5th wheeler, just in the front by the front cabinet, but behind the hitch, seems like a perfect place! No direct sun, dry, removable when moving (double-sided velcro) and in a perfect place for me to remember to remove the outside sensor while I'm hooking up to the hitch!

Paul