USB thermometer and hygrometer with logging feature

[troypiggo]

I was reading this post by Ivo (Yoddha) about the latest updates to his AstroPhotography Tool (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showpost.php?p=625919&postcount=76), and noticed one of the new features is planned to support TEMPerHUM sensors (http://pcsensor.com/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=31). Curious about what they are, I had a look at the website. I think some here might be interested in it.

It's a USB device that measures ambient temperature and relative humidity. So you can have it near your scope and it can calculate the dew point. You'll know whether or not you need your dew controller on.

It also has a logging feature, so can record the temperature at different times during the night. Handy for matching darks etc after the event.

Pretty cool.

Found one on eBay for around $25-$30 delivered (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/USB-hygrometer-and-thermometer-Hid-TEMPerHUM-/220647274861?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0) . It's on its way :)

[wasyoungonce]

I saw that post as well and was ...interested.

Other uses...for DSLRs temp matching for dark frames as well...although ambient is not quite the sensor temp (http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=DSLR&Number=3942043&Forum=,,f85,,&Words=temperature&Searchpage=2&Limit=25&Main=3718026&Search=true&where=bodysub&Name=&daterange=1&newerval=4&newertype=w&olderval=&oldertype=&bodyprev=#Post3942043).

[pjphilli]

Hi Troy - Looks good and just in time for Father's day! Cheers Peter

[troypiggo]

I've just been pointed to an even cheaper source for the above if anyone is interested. Not sure if posting it here is against any rules or anything.

[[1ponders]]

post away troy. especially after I've already ordered the first one :rolleyes:

[rally]

Troy,

The claimed resolution is very high, but the accuracy is low !

Resolution
Humidity is +/- 0.03%
Temperature is +/- 0.06° C

Accuracy
Humidity is +/- 5%
Temperature is +/- 2° C

Makes it questionable in my eyes.
So it might need a bit of fiddling to set the points you need to make it reliable.
If its consistent ? that might be manageable.

Rally

[troypiggo]

Here's the link to one slightly cheaper from DealExtreme (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.42591).

[troypiggo]

Yeah, I noticed the accuracies. But for the price, still seemed like reasonable value. You'd only want the right ballpark anyway, wouldn't you? I mean, for the dewpoint you wouldn't wait until the temp was exactly at that value. You'd kick in the dew straps a few degrees over anyway, wouldn't you?

[rally]

Troy,

I think you will find if both the Humidity and the Temperature readings are that far out in the wrong diretcion together, the dewpoint calculation will become meaningless and you will either always have the heater on or it never turns on when you need it !

My (limited) understanding is the Dewpoint calculation is actually quite a fine line !

But exerimentation may yield a workable system - I don't know enough to help here.

Rally

[pjphilli]

Hi

Have just installed a TEMPerHUM but when I try to start it I get a Device Error message. The the screen comes up but Temperature/Humidity/Dewpoint boxes all show WAITING.

Looked in Device Manager under USB Composite Device.
Installed driver is usbccgp.sys but the message is Device Cannot Start
(Code 10).

Have uninstalled and reinstalled a couple of times with the same result.

Can anyone help or is the device a dud?

Cheers Peter

[troypiggo]

Mine still hasn't arrived yet :(

[[1ponders]]

mine neither
I'm about to give it up as a lost cause. Last tracking information after 10 days was just left hong kong.

[troypiggo]

I got an email from the seller a few days ago asking if I'd received it yet. At the time I hadn't check the PO Box. I have since and it wasn't there, so I might reply to him now and see what they say.

[multiweb]

Got mine about a week ago. Took only 2 days to arrive. :shrug: Works fine. Logging too. You have to install the drivers provided o the CD.

[pjphilli]

Hi

Well you can't tell me what is wrong with mine if you haven't received yours yet. It took me a couple of hurry ups before it arrived. Maybe this is a dud site. If they don't come clean soon it is back to PayPal for a refund.

Cheers Peter

[troypiggo]

Well I got mine a while ago, but just now getting around to installing it. I'm getting the same error as Peter (phphilli) reported above.

I used the software on the CD and also downloaded from the website.

Tried the dotnetfix, but message says it's incompatible with my version of .NET. I have all the latest of that, as far as I know.

Plug in the TEMPerHUM, little red LED on it lights up, but don't get that new device message you normally get.

Run the hidTEMPerHUM software and get error message "Device Error" and the software runs but never seems to see the device.

Any ideas? Did you solve it Peter?

[Yoddha]

Troy, Peter

What version of Windows you are using? Also can you try APT to see if it will work with your sensor? It doesn't use .NET

[Yoddha]

Also try to plug it on different USB port, sometimes this helps Windows to find the device correctly...

[troypiggo]

I'm running Win XP, latest service packs etc. Tried plugging into the other USB port, still no go.

I'll give APT a go.

[troypiggo]

Can't seem to find option for temperature etc. That only in the full version of APT?

[[1ponders]]

I'm running XP as well Troy, on 3 computers and not a problem. Have you tried emailing them. I've had great contact with them. Seem more than happy to work through any problems. I wanted to change the Temp line colour (its was easy when I found out LOL), also questioned them about any calibration, asked for a help file (haven't got that yet ;) ) but when ever I emailed them a reply was never more than a day away

[Yoddha]

It looks like the version of .NET that have to be installed on the machine is 2.0. Please note that the different .NET application can need different versions and there is no problem to have .NET 1.0, 2.0, 3.5 and etc. in same time.

Try to get the 2.0 from the Microsoft site.

[Yoddha]

Troy, if APT sees the sensor it will display the temperature, humidity and current dew point in the space between application title and the clock.

If you don't see such info, then the sensor is not found.

Can you open the Device Manager and look if there is conflicts if the device is detected at all?

Maybe you have got a broken one :( It is good idea to contact the vendor...

[wasyoungonce]

Haven't tried mine yet....it still hasn't arrived.:zzz2:

[troypiggo]

I've got:

.NET 1.1
.NET 2.0 SP2
.NET 3.0 SP2
.NET 3.5 SP1
.NET 4

There's no conflicts in device manager, but I also can't seem to find it in there. Seems it just isn't detecting it.

I'll contact them by email as Paul has suggested.

[Moon]

I had all sorts of problems getting my HID Temper1 working in a stable way until I found this excellent program the other day: ThermoHID by Steve Timms (http://www.play-time.demon.co.uk/ThermoHID/)

It has an FTP feature, so I set it up to upload the data to my web site : LINK (http://deepspaceplace.com/weather.php)

It supports reading up to 3 sensors at once, so I'll add some more sensors to the back of the mirror and inside the OTA so I can see what is going on.
James

[troypiggo]

Great link and program, James. Thanks for that. Got it running, but unfortunately it too isn't detecting the device. Must be something wrong with it. :(

[Moon]

That's a shame. See if you can get a replacement or refund I suppose.
I'm going to see if I can calibrate 2 of these and use them to compare the mirror temperature to the ambient temperature.

[pjphilli]

Hi Troy

I also found that my Temperhum was not recognised by my PC. Tried everything until I moved it to another USB port fed from a different motherboard hub and found that it now works perfectly. Have you tried this?

Cheers Peter

[troypiggo]

My notebook only has 2 USB ports and it isn't picked up by either. :(
I'll try another computer first, then get around to contacting the manuf.

[Visionoz]

Read here: http://ukulelereview.com/2008/04/21/temper-hum-usb-hygrometer-and-thermometer/ and I hope that it is not true that this device is inaccurate !! :shrug:

HTH
Cheers
Bill

[leinad]

Nice toy. The Kendrick Premier Deluxe controller can do this; and uses it to control multiple dew heaters also. Costs a few pennies; but does the job very well, and is uber cool for monitoring temps throughout the night and provides auxilary power ports for motor focus controller or other devices.
Has software control and monitoring also.

[wasyoungonce]

Got my TEMPerHUM today...installed drivers then plugged in. Failed 1st time to run.

Re-try...all ok now...running sweet.