DS18S20 Installation Ideas

[Shinyshoes]

I have recently purchased a number of DS18S20 sensors and I am looking for Ideas on how/where to install them. My ceiling is a textured (knock-down) white ceiling so, while small, these sensors are black and therefore would be quite noticeable if I just installed them attached them to the ceiling. I was considering painting them white, and therefore they would be much less noticeable, but I am concerned the paint would change the accuracy of the sensor.

I know these sensors are quite popular amongst the home automation group, so would anyone be willing to share pictures of how/where they installed them? Obviously I am looking for the least invasive/noticeable installation possible.

Thanks

 

[pete_c]

Recently installed a combo Humidity/Temperature sensor in the shell of a smoke detector in the basement. The smoke sensor is still kind of big though. Wonder if the shell of a small PIR sensor would work or making something like one would work.

Personally don't know that I would want to mount a sensor with just heat shrink tubing on it in a wall though. Not sure how accurate the reads would be versus mounting it a bit off the wall.

In my home I have my temperature sensors mounted in legacy external phone jacks. I guess cuz I originally purchaed a few of them from AAG. I have since changed them to white instead of ivory but still do not like the way that they appear. I have one in the kitchen near the small "telephone" style cabinet and desk "area". Its stands out a bit as its just the same external white phone jack box with extra breathing holes in it. I was thinking of moving it so you don't see it under the kitchen cabinet.

I do have two sensor (living room and family room mounted on single RG6 style wall plates. Still noticible. I don't really know if painting it would have an effect. I could try painting one though as I bought a few of these sensors to test the CAI web control device.

 

[Shinyshoes]

I don't really know if painting it would have an effect. I could try painting one though as I bought a few of these sensors to test the CAI web control device.

I would appreciate that if you could paint one and run it side by side with another. I was going to do this myself, but I didnt order any additional sensors, so if it hoops my sensor, I would have to place another order........

Anyone else want to chime in on how they installed a DS18S20?

 

[Lagerhead]

Anyone else want to chime in on how they installed a DS18S20?

Out of sight.

 

[Michael McSharry]

I would not be concerned with the paint affecting the accuracy. I do question the placement selection. You will find condiserable variation in temperature between the floor and ceiling any time you need to apply heat or cooling air to the room. There will be 10's of degrees variation depending upon how high the ceilings are. Pete is also correct in that if you mount the sensor tight into the ceiling then you will be measuring the temperature of the ceiling gypsum rather than the temperature of the air at the ceiling level.

Your placement should be determined by what purpose the sensor will serve. If it related to some form of action to reach a desired room temperature then you will want the sensor to be placed at a height where the desired temerature is at. This will normally be around eye level. It also needs to be thermally separated from the structure as you want to control the air temperature and not the wall or ceiling temperature. The structure will eventually get to the same temperature as the air, but at a much slower rate so it is not effective for use in a control system feedback.

I have most of my room sensors mounted in the telephone RJ11 plug that is at 14" from the floor and the sensor is crimped directly into the RJ11 plug. It is actually less-noticable that having nothing in the telephone jack. Its height is not ideal as it is a little low and also is subject to more of the effect of cold weather when the telephone jack is mounted on an outside wall, but overall serves my purpose of relative temperture monitoring among the rooms. From a 1-wire electical wiring perspective the direct crimping is a very desirable attribute to minimize reflections. The correlary to this is that you want to have access to your 1-wire wiring as sometimes you need to cast one spell or another upon it to make it all work together.

Since you are very energy conscience you are using LED lighting and these do not get hot so a sensor mounted in the same fixture should be able to be hidden well.

Another idea is mounting it in a gutted air freshener that was designed for wall mounting. They may not be the most attractive wall hangings, but at least they look like they kind of belong there.

If your wall hangings such as pictures are reasonably static then a reasonable place for the sensor is behind the picture at the top where there is an air gap. The same approach can be taken for items mounted on a ledge or other permanent horizontal structure where an ornament of some type becomes the stealthy holder for the temperature sensor.