What's the Best Hot Tub

Author Topic: Hot Tub Thermometer  (Read 14733 times)

PotomacG

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Hot Tub Thermometer
« on: September 20, 2006, 01:02:45 pm »
Hello there hot tub folks!

Has anyone found a solid accurate thermometer that floats with a temp range around 80 - 110 degrees fahrenheit?

I have tried two different floating digital thermometers (ones with batteries inside) and they both failed miserably.  

I really don't want a "rubber ducky" or "baby bath" type unit.  I am also not fond of the cheaper "pool and spa" units because their temp range is too broad (making them hard to read).

Now that the weather is cooling down, I am not in a big hurry to get one.  I am more interested in having one for the summer months when the tub's temp can rise several degrees on a really hot day.

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Hot Tub Thermometer
« on: September 20, 2006, 01:02:45 pm »

drewstar

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Re: Hot Tub Thermometer
« Reply #1 on: September 20, 2006, 01:15:36 pm »
 

Have you seen this?  I found it while googling for porn.  Bible study material.

http://www.ambientweather.com/orscthwaflth.htm
07 Caldera Geneva

PotomacG

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Re: Hot Tub Thermometer
« Reply #2 on: September 20, 2006, 01:45:59 pm »
That's one of the two that I tried that failed miserably.  The water tight inner compartment just isn't  :o


badval

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Re: Hot Tub Thermometer
« Reply #3 on: September 20, 2006, 02:55:05 pm »
How odd - the FedEx guy just delivered that exact same one to me a few hrs ago.

The warranty insert says it has a 12 month warranty - the customer care # is 800.853.8883.  Maybe they'll give you a refund?

Mine is going in the tub in a few minutes.  How long did yours last before it failed?  Will give a report on mine after it has seen some water time.

barshnik

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Re: Hot Tub Thermometer
« Reply #4 on: September 20, 2006, 04:27:48 pm »
I have an indoor wireless weather station (approx. $100) by Lacrosse that accepts up to 3 remote wireless sensors.  One of these  (the sensor itself is on the side of the spa, the wire to the thermocouple and the small thermocouple itself sits in the spa filter well) remote units is for the spa, another remote sensor is for the wine storage unit, and the third for outdoor temp and humidity.

I can (and have) set an alarm on the base unit that alerts me if the spa water temp goes above 104 or below 99.  The wine cooler alarm goes off if temp rises above 59 or below 49.

This way, I can check all temps from my bedside when going to bed or getting up before getting in the spa.  Lacrosse also has a unit that hooks to your internet connection so you can check any temps (including spa) from wherever you happen to be that has an internet connection.

No particular preference to Lacrosse, many other mfgrs make weather stations that accept wireless remote sensors.  Once in the spa, my Artisian displays the temp on the LCD display on deck.

I love this arrangement, couldn't live without it...

John F
LV, NV

windsurfdog

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Re: Hot Tub Thermometer
« Reply #5 on: September 20, 2006, 05:00:17 pm »
Quote


Have you seen this?  I found it while googling for porn.  Bible study material.
Drewstar, you are a hoot.... :D ;D :) ::) 8-)
We, the unwilling, led by the unqualified, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful...

gores95

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Re: Hot Tub Thermometer
« Reply #6 on: September 20, 2006, 08:31:37 pm »
Quote
I have an indoor wireless weather station (approx. $100) by Lacrosse that accepts up to 3 remote wireless sensors.  One of these  (the sensor itself is on the side of the spa, the wire to the thermocouple and the small thermocouple itself sits in the spa filter well) remote units is for the spa, another remote sensor is for the wine storage unit, and the third for outdoor temp and humidity.

I can (and have) set an alarm on the base unit that alerts me if the spa water temp goes above 104 or below 99.  The wine cooler alarm goes off if temp rises above 59 or below 49.

This way, I can check all temps from my bedside when going to bed or getting up before getting in the spa.  Lacrosse also has a unit that hooks to your internet connection so you can check any temps (including spa) from wherever you happen to be that has an internet connection.

No particular preference to Lacrosse, many other mfgrs make weather stations that accept wireless remote sensors.  Once in the spa, my Artisian displays the temp on the LCD display on deck.

I love this arrangement, couldn't live without it...

John F
LV, NV

Does the Artesian temp display match up with the Lacrosse reading?  Just curious how accurate the temps are that display on the spas.

Marc
« Last Edit: September 20, 2006, 08:32:19 pm by gores95 »

gores95

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Re: Hot Tub Thermometer
« Reply #7 on: September 20, 2006, 08:40:56 pm »
Quote
How odd - the FedEx guy just delivered that exact same one to me a few hrs ago.

The warranty insert says it has a 12 month warranty - the customer care # is 800.853.8883.  Maybe they'll give you a refund?

Mine is going in the tub in a few minutes.  How long did yours last before it failed?  Will give a report on mine after it has seen some water time.

Please let us know how yours does.  I am very interested in one of these.  Did you get these two units?

http://www.ambientweather.com/orscbawipoan.html

barshnik

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Re: Hot Tub Thermometer
« Reply #8 on: September 20, 2006, 08:41:16 pm »
It is astounding how closely and consistantly the readings match - always to the degree - just lucky to get two thermostats that match closely.  The weather station reads to tenth's of a degree, the spa deck with no decimal.

John F
LV, NV

Webini

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Re: Hot Tub Thermometer
« Reply #9 on: September 20, 2006, 08:49:55 pm »
Quote
How odd - the FedEx guy just delivered that exact same one to me a few hrs ago.

The warranty insert says it has a 12 month warranty - the customer care # is 800.853.8883.  Maybe they'll give you a refund?

Mine is going in the tub in a few minutes.  How long did yours last before it failed?  Will give a report on mine after it has seen some water time.

Keep us posted as to how it works for you.  I had my eye on the same one.

Slight thread hijack - my current floating (ducky) thermometer keeps ending up in the filter well.  Any issue with him or this wireless until living in there?  I don't want to screw up my filtration.

PotomacG

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Re: Hot Tub Thermometer
« Reply #10 on: September 21, 2006, 08:19:26 am »
Quote
How odd - the FedEx guy just delivered that exact same one to me a few hrs ago.

The warranty insert says it has a 12 month warranty - the customer care # is 800.853.8883.  Maybe they'll give you a refund?

Mine is going in the tub in a few minutes.  How long did yours last before it failed?  Will give a report on mine after it has seen some water time.

I actually went through two of these.  I received a replacement unit on the first one and a full refund on the second.  It's a nice looking unit and it would be great if it lasted.  The problem is, the four screws that hold the electronics to the battery compartment have no O-rings, just little plastic washers.  The first unit stayed water tight for over a week.  The second unit failed within 48 hours. Also, the screws are threaded into plastic posts, thus you can not overly tighten them without stripping them.  

This unit will not last in a hot tub the way it is currently designed.  And before you ask:  I always removed the unit from the tub prior to soaking or running the jets.

PotomacG

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Re: Hot Tub Thermometer
« Reply #11 on: September 21, 2006, 08:23:14 am »
Quote
I have an indoor wireless weather station (approx. $100) by Lacrosse that accepts up to 3 remote wireless sensors.  One of these  (the sensor itself is on the side of the spa, the wire to the thermocouple and the small thermocouple itself sits in the spa filter well) ...

John,

Is the thermocouple made of metal?  Might it scratch the tub?  

Also, can you provide a link to a picture of this unit?

Thanks.

barshnik

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Re: Hot Tub Thermometer
« Reply #12 on: September 21, 2006, 09:54:57 am »
I'll post pictures this afternoon after work.  No chance of any scratching...

John F
LV, NV

badval

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Re: Hot Tub Thermometer
« Reply #13 on: September 21, 2006, 10:24:01 am »
Quote
Quote
How odd - the FedEx guy just delivered that exact same one to me a few hrs ago.

The warranty insert says it has a 12 month warranty - the customer care # is 800.853.8883.  Maybe they'll give you a refund?

Mine is going in the tub in a few minutes.  How long did yours last before it failed?  Will give a report on mine after it has seen some water time.

Please let us know how yours does.  I am very interested in one of these.  Did you get these two units?

http://www.ambientweather.com/orscbawipoan.html

No I didn't get teh whole setup - just wanted the thermometer to guage how accurate the onboard one is.  So far, they have been the same, but the little one gives 1/10th degrees too so while the tub may read 100o, the little one reads 100.6o.  

So far, so good.  Used tub last night - left thermometer in - & it still works.  Might take it out today, let it completely dry, & add a touch of silicone to the screws & reinstall them.  If those are the weak link, maybe that will fix it.

Quote
Slight thread hijack - my current floating (ducky) thermometer keeps ending up in the filter well.  Any issue with him or this wireless until living in there?  I don't want to screw up my filtration.

I have 2 plastic blanks where the speakers would go if I had the sound option.  I "flossed" the tether under one of those so it can float around a few feet, but stays on the other side of tub from filter & away from more powerful jets.


barshnik

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Re: Hot Tub Thermometer
« Reply #14 on: September 21, 2006, 07:18:47 pm »
OK, for those interested, here are some pics of a way to keep an eye on your spa temp from inside the house.  The sensor is good for around 100' from the base unit, 2 3AAA batteries last over a year (I've had it almost 2 years now without changing yet.)

Here is the base unit.  Notice the 2nd row always displays indoor temp and humidity, and the 6th row displays the choosen remote sensor.  The spa is 'out 2', the wine cooler is 'out 1' and outside temp & humidity is 'out 3) - you cycle through them by pressing the 'Ch' (channel) button on the lower right.

The spa sensor is temp only, thus the blank 'RH' (humidity.)  The wine cooler and outside sensor show both temp and humidity.

http://members.cox.net/barshnik/MainUnit.jpg

Here is the sensor attached to the glass block upper left (wire to the themocouple, wireless to the main unit):

http://members.cox.net/barshnik/Sensor.jpg

And now the thermocouple, you can see it is plastic covered, and cannot scratch anything.  The wire is thin enough to have no effect on the spa cover.

http://members.cox.net/barshnik/Thermocouple.jpg

And the deck display, showing the same temp (minus the decimal):

http://members.cox.net/barshnik/DeckDisplay.jpg

Hope this helps,

John F
LV, NV

Hot Tub Forum

Re: Hot Tub Thermometer
« Reply #14 on: September 21, 2006, 07:18:47 pm »

 

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