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10-28-2017, 10:45 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Retired from Dallas & Full-Timing, Texas
Trailer: 2017 21' Escape as of 01/16/17
Posts: 1,312
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Weather Station
Greetings Peeps,
We are looking for a nice weather station for our rig, but it is more difficult than I thought. The basic requirements are:
- Battery powered
- Indoor/outdoor readings
- Fit 7” x 7” area
- Flat back for mounting on wall
I thought I found the perfect one, but it runs on 120V and does not have a straight back. A little help, please?
Fred M.
__________________
Fred M.
"Whoever said retirement was overrated...
...never had an Escape"
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10-28-2017, 10:50 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,543
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Sorry Fred, I have no good ideas. I just suck on my index finger to wet it, then hold it up in the air outside to tell the weather.
Actually, we do just use a simple remote thermometer, but I always worry about leaving the remote sensor behind as mounted on the trailer would result in inaccurate readings.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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10-28-2017, 10:53 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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Check Lee Valley Tools catalogue.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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10-28-2017, 11:13 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: North Van., British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19, sold; 2019 Escape 21, Sept. 2019
Posts: 8,784
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Bennett
Sorry Fred, I have no good ideas. I just suck on my index finger to wet it, then hold it up in the air outside to tell the weather.
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Not me, I leave the hatch open and when rain starts dripping in I know it's raining.
Ron
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10-28-2017, 11:25 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,543
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron in BC
Not me, I leave the hatch open and when rain starts dripping in I know it's raining.
Ron
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That requires a lot more technology than my method.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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10-28-2017, 01:31 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Retired from Dallas & Full-Timing, Texas
Trailer: 2017 21' Escape as of 01/16/17
Posts: 1,312
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Weather Station
Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo
Check Lee Valley Tools catalogue.
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Hmmm...my favorite store! I will actually do that. Thanks!
Fred M.
__________________
Fred M.
"Whoever said retirement was overrated...
...never had an Escape"
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10-28-2017, 01:37 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Benton County, Iowa
Trailer: 2013 Escape 21 Classic Number 6, pulled by 2018 Toyota Highlander
Posts: 8,250
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Weather station
Hi Fred
A very low cost and relatively accurate weather station can be easily made by a talented guy like you.
You'll need a piece of nylon cord and a smooth rock, preferably granite, about the size of your fist. Using a good Boy Scout lashing, tie a cradle for the rock with the cord. Suspend the cord off the corner of your awning.
Check rock every 4 hours.
1. Rock is wet, it's raining
2. Rock is white, it's snowing
3. Rock is hot to the touch it's +30C, comfortable to touch 20 C to 30C , cold to touch less than 10C.
4. Rock is swinging it's breezy
5. Rock is banging off the side of your Escape putting cracks in your gel coat it's very windy, call Reace immediately.
6. Rock is gone and awing all bent up, Tornadic or Hurricane force winds. Go to a hotel
Glad to help!
Iowa Dave
__________________
Ain’t no trouble jacking a double Burma Shave
Dave
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10-28-2017, 01:48 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: North Van., British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19, sold; 2019 Escape 21, Sept. 2019
Posts: 8,784
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Iowa Dave
Hi Fred
A very low cost and relatively accurate weather station can be easily made by a talented guy like you.
You'll need a piece of nylon cord and a smooth rock, preferably granite, about the size of your fist. Using a good Boy Scout lashing, tie a cradle for the rock with the cord. Suspend the cord off the corner of your awning.
Check rock every 4 hours.
1. Rock is wet, it's raining
2. Rock is white, it's snowing
3. Rock is hot to the touch it's +30C, comfortable to touch 20 C to 30C , cold to touch less than 10C.
4. Rock is swinging it's breezy
5. Rock is banging off the side of your Escape putting cracks in your gel coat it's very windy, call Reace immediately.
6. Rock is gone and awing all bent up, Tornadic or Hurricane force winds. Go to a hotel
Glad to help!
Iowa Dave
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No one can say that we're not a helpful group.
Ron
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10-28-2017, 02:37 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Fremont, California
Trailer: 2016 21. '15 Ford Explorer V-6
Posts: 1,560
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Fred, Without a beer in your photo for size reference, I can’t get a proper perspective, and am not much help.......
__________________
Steve and Debbie
2016 - 21'
“Get out the map and lay your finger anywhere down” -Indigo Girls
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10-28-2017, 04:42 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Janesville, WI, Wisconsin
Trailer: Escape 19 (sold) Escape 21 2014
Posts: 1,882
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RedDog
In keeping with the advice you have received to date:
I like the Storm app on my iPhone for all weather. It has a new big brother called Storm Radar.
No mounting necessary, nothing to put out or take in, mindless in interpretation and works most of the time. Also this app gives you the opportunity to blame someone else when the forecast is wrong.
This message was brought to you by The Weather Channel, an IBM company.
__________________
Paul and Janet Braun
2003 Toyota 4Runner V8 now 2012 Toyota Sequoia V8
Escape 19' 2010 now 2014 Escape 21'
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10-28-2017, 10:35 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Austin, Texas
Trailer: 2017 5.0 TA
Posts: 146
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Red Dog
I thought I found the perfect one, but it runs on 120V and does not have a straight back.
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Hi Fred,
Most consumer devices such as this don't actually run on 120v AC. The power supply that plugs into the wall often delivers a lower voltage DC power to the device. Look at the fine print on the back of the power supply or the device to find the actual power needed (voltage, AC or DC, current in amps). If it is 12v DC then you can directly connect it to the trailer's 12v system. If it is some other voltage, then you might use something like this DC/DC power supply (with the appropriate ratings) to wire it to the trailer: http://a.co/9odDIW4
The easiest way to find a power connector to fit the device is to just cut off the cable from the included 120v AC power supply and splice that to the trailer or the above DC/DC power supply (which then connects to the trailer). A little wire stripping, soldering and heat shrink will be required. An inline fuse would be a good idea too.
__________________
Thomas G.
2017 5.0 TA
2017 F-150, 5.0L, SuperCrew, 6.5' bed, 4x2, 6-speed, 1:3.55 rear axle; B&W Turnover Ball; Andersen Ultimate Aluminum Gooseneck; Fold-a-cover w/caddy
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10-29-2017, 02:00 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Port Townsend, Washington
Trailer: 2010 17B “MATT”, then 2017 19 “Lilly”
Posts: 1,584
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I’d really like to get one of these, but haven’t seen one in person, so don’t know if it has a flat back or not. Maybe Santa will bring me one and I will let you know!
https://www.ambientweather.com/dain6...w.html#caption
__________________
💩-p+☕️+n
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10-29-2017, 10:58 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Steveston B.C., British Columbia
Trailer: 2012- 17'B.... 2016 Tacoma SR5 TRD
Posts: 504
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__________________
I've almost been everywhere man.
Almost been everywhere.....
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10-29-2017, 12:01 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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I have 2 of these, one at home and one in the trailer, for past 7 years. IT works off battery 12v and picks up local accuweather forecasts and can be programmed for most major metro areas. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Bushne....c100338.m3726
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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10-29-2017, 12:17 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: North Van., British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19, sold; 2019 Escape 21, Sept. 2019
Posts: 8,784
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ThomasG
If it is some other voltage, then you might use something like this DC/DC power supply (with the appropriate ratings) to wire it to the trailer:
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Or an adjustable one if you can't find one that matches the power supply output voltage.
( and No, this isn't how I wire things, it's only a test set-up)
Still like my weather system, barometer goes up, barometer goes down, no battery required.
Ron
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10-29-2017, 12:29 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: North Van., British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19, sold; 2019 Escape 21, Sept. 2019
Posts: 8,784
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sclifrickson
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Devil Dog
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Pretty classy items. Maybe a little more upscale than my barometer. It looks like one of them operates on 3 AAA batteries so it wouldn't be difficult to hardwire it.
Don't know about the anemometer though. I've lost a couple from boats from high wind velocities. Not sure how it'd handle highway speeds if it was left on when traveling.
Ron
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10-29-2017, 12:54 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: East Dover, Vermont
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA!
Posts: 678
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Bennett
Sorry Fred, I have no good ideas. I just suck on my index finger to wet it, then hold it up in the air outside to tell the weather.
Actually, we do just use a simple remote thermometer, but I always worry about leaving the remote sensor behind as mounted on the trailer would result in inaccurate readings.
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I put my remote up outside under the bed area with tie wraps to the wiring. It is just a cheapo indoor outdoor thermometer. The indoor part lives in the drawer by the bed and goes on that counter when we are camped. It traveled 15000 miles that way in our Scamp and now seems happy in our Escape.
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10-29-2017, 04:20 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Steveston B.C., British Columbia
Trailer: 2012- 17'B.... 2016 Tacoma SR5 TRD
Posts: 504
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron in BC
Pretty classy items. Maybe a little more upscale than my barometer. It looks like one of them operates on 3 AAA batteries so it wouldn't be difficult to hardwire it.
Don't know about the anemometer though. I've lost a couple from boats from high wind velocities. Not sure how it'd handle highway speeds if it was left on when traveling.
Ron
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I don't think you want to leave it on the roof of your RV while on the road.
__________________
I've almost been everywhere man.
Almost been everywhere.....
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10-29-2017, 05:31 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Port Townsend, Washington
Trailer: 2010 17B “MATT”, then 2017 19 “Lilly”
Posts: 1,584
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron in BC
Don't know about the anemometer though. I've lost a couple from boats from high wind velocities. Not sure how it'd handle highway speeds if it was left on when traveling.
Ron
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I have wondered about that. I have assumed that something made for boats would be able to handle the highway, but would appreciate any real world experience!
__________________
💩-p+☕️+n
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10-29-2017, 06:59 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: North Van., British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19, sold; 2019 Escape 21, Sept. 2019
Posts: 8,784
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sclifrickson
I have wondered about that. I have assumed that something made for boats would be able to handle the highway, but would appreciate any real world experience!
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A 10 on the Beaufort scale is a whole gale, 63 mph (for those who may not know what a knot is That's highway speed when towing. I've lost one anemometer due to storm force winds and one due to slamming into a big head sea which launched it into space. I've also lost one wind direction vane. So if I was to spring for a nice set of instruments like that I wouldn't be driving down the hwy. with it out.
Ron
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