Outdoor thermometer for plastic windows - selection and installation

Today, relying on the accuracy of television or Internet weather forecasts is a thankless task; in addition to the significant discrepancy between different resources, their accuracy is low at a particular moment, reaching significant discrepancies with reality. Therefore, the most reliable way to find out the exact ambient temperature is to install an outdoor window thermometer outside.

In a specialized store, the buyer is faced with the difficult task of choosing an external temperature meter from numerous varieties; on the shelves, traditional Soviet-era thermometers compete with inexpensive high-tech products made in China, in many cases with advanced functions. To make the right choice of temperature meter, it is useful to study the main types offered on the market, familiarize yourself with their approximate prices, installation options, and reviews.

Thermometers on glass

General recommendations for installing outdoor thermometers

There are many models of thermometers on the market that you can choose to determine the temperature outside the window. The most popular are liquid models. Electronic devices are innovative, but due to cost they are not available to every buyer. They can be attached in different ways - with Velcro, with self-tapping screws.

Rice. 2. Liquid thermometer mounted on frame

What recommendations do experts give for installing a thermometer on a window to determine the temperature outside?

• It is worth choosing the installation location so that it is convenient to take readings. The location can be anything. But convenience is not the most important factor in choosing a location. It is more important that these readings be as accurate as possible.
• Where will the thermometer show the most accurate data? The device must be secured so that it is not affected by artificial heat sources and, if possible, is not constantly exposed to direct sunlight.

What heat sources affect the accuracy of thermometer readings? This could be an external air conditioner unit, a window, or a ventilation system. In the cold season, the thermometer located outside the window can be heated by radiation from the apartment.

Based on all the indicated features of choosing a location, you need to mount the thermometer on the northern part of the building. If this is not possible, ensure that the installation site requirements are met as closely as possible.

Best Digital Thermometers

These are the most expensive types of outdoor thermometers because they are equipped with a display with pictures and digital data notation, making it easier to take readings. One quick glance is enough to accurately understand the temperature. In addition, the models are capable of displaying a number of additional values ​​(indoor temperature, time, weather forecast, alarm clock, etc.). The operating principle of an outdoor electronic thermometer is based on measuring the resistance of conductors or thermocouples embedded in it with different electronegativity. All data is measured, converted into digital values ​​and displayed on the screen.

BRESSER TemeoTrend ST

Rating: 4.9

Experts ranked first in the category an outdoor weather station, which is capable of not only displaying current readings, but also making a weather forecast for the next 12 hours. The device is placed in the house, and a wireless outdoor sensor is mounted outside. The maximum allowable distance between them is 30 m, so the base does not have to be close to the window - it can be installed above a desk or bed. The thermometer has an LCD screen on which temperature data is displayed in large numbers. The outdoor device operates in the range from -20 to +60º C. It is powered by a battery. If you need to look at the monitor at night, the amber backlight turns on. In addition to the temperature inside and outside the house, the outdoor station displays the time in 12 or 24 hour format.

Experts liked the model because it had a snooze alarm. Thanks to this, an outdoor electronic thermometer completely replaces your home clock and will help you not oversleep in the morning.

Advantages

• large digital display, visible from a distance of 3-4 m;
• wireless street sensor;
• weather forecasting capability;
• setting data in both Celsius and Fahrenheit;
• displays the current time.

Flaws

• high price;
• batteries are not included;
• outside it shows temperatures only down to -20 degrees;
• The remote sensor also requires regular replacement of batteries.

HAMA EWS-880

Rating: 4.8

The Hama thermometer shows the temperature inside and outside the house, separating the digital data with additional icons on the side, making it easier to navigate (view of the house and the external sensor). At the top of the screen, an image of the sun, clouds or clouds is displayed, which indicates the upcoming weather (it will be sunny, cloudy or cloudy). The outdoor sensor can be located at a distance of up to 50 m from the base. In the dark, the display is illuminated using a button located on the back of the case. In addition to weather data, the outdoor weather station displays the time in large numbers. The dimensions of the thermometer are 141x84x47 mm and it does not take up much space on the desktop. Batteries are already included in the kit. According to reviews, users like that the thermometer operates for a long time using AA batteries, and also that two additional sensors can be connected to the model (purchased separately).

Experts singled out the outdoor weather station as the best for the conditions of the Far North. It is capable of recording negative temperatures down to -70 degrees, while other models begin to produce incorrect data.

Advantages

• clear interface;
• displays time in large numbers;
• makes a weather forecast;
• there is a screen backlight;
• The outdoor sensor can be placed up to 50m.

Flaws

• inconvenient backlight button;
• The outdoor sensor is not protected from moisture - mount only under a canopy.

Types of outdoor window thermometers

To determine the temperature outside the window, I use several types of thermometers:

• Liquid

The simplest thermometers are the thermometer version proposed by Celsius. They are available and allow you to accurately determine the temperature. In addition, the advantage of such models is their long service life. An alcohol thermometer with colored alcohol is the best option for determining temperature if you want accuracy at a reasonable cost. You can buy it at any store that sells household goods.

Rice. 3. Liquid thermometers

• Mechanical

This is another simple and cheap option, but not as accurate. It resembles a watch. It works thanks to the functioning of a special spiral, which is assembled from two strips. Each strip is made of metal, and two different metals form a bimetallic spring. The accuracy of this model is low.

Rice. 4. Mechanical thermometer

• Electronic

These are the most modern, provide correct temperature measurement, not only accurately perform the assigned function, but also have a stylish design. This is the latest technological achievement in the area in question. The design of the device requires power. It is carried out from a battery, a solar battery or a combined method. Additional options: thermometer shows time, air humidity, pressure. Disadvantages: digital electronic thermometer has a high price and short service life.

Rice. 5. Modern electronic thermometer

Types of window thermometers, their pros and cons

All thermometers sold in the retail chain are divided into several classes depending on the manufacturing technology and the principle of temperature measurement. The groups differ in cost, measurement accuracy, and functionality.

Alcohol

An alcohol window thermometer is a sealed glass tube with a narrow internal capillary channel, in the lower part of which there is a microflask with colored alcohol. When heated, alcohol rises up the capillary; the height of the alcohol column is displayed on a digital scale and corresponds to the ambient temperature.

Liquid thermometers have the following distinctive features:

• They have the lowest cost among analogues (from 30 rubles), although the price of some devices exceeds the lowest price threshold by several orders of magnitude (PCT brand).
• They are easy to install on a window opening or balcony frame made of any materials: if the frame is made of metal-plastic, the thermometer is attached to it with Velcro; in the wooden version, it is nailed to the outer frame.
• Easy to care for and maintain: when the thermometer is dirty or you need to wash the outside of the windows and the flask is in the way, you can simply pull it out of the upper and lower plastic holders.
• They have a wide range of decorative frames: many alcohol thermometers are designed for installation in children's rooms; they are produced in the form of animal figures (frog, lizard), insects (bee, ladybug) made of plastic, on the surface of which there is a capillary tube. Such products are fixed to glass using Velcro, suction cups, and double-sided tape; design disadvantages usually include the small size of the capillary.

Price list for alcohol thermometers

• Alcohol thermometers have fairly high measurement accuracy, according to GOST 28498-90 for liquid glass thermometers, with a temperature range from -38 ° C to +100 ° C and a measuring scale in 1-degree increments, the accuracy of the device readings should not exceed one division. Since the standard scale of household thermometers covers the range from -50 °C to +50 °C, the error in the readings of a household alcohol meter is 1%.
• When using an alcohol thermometer, it should be taken into account that over time, the alcohol gradually evaporates with condensation in the upper part of the capillary tube, and a device that is too old will show a lower temperature.
• The main disadvantage of an alcohol temperature meter is that the column of colored alcohol is too narrow, difficult to notice from a long distance and in low light conditions.

The principle of operation of bimetallic thermometers

Bimetallic

The principle of operation of bimetallic thermometers is based on the difference in the linear temperature expansion of interconnected metals (for example, brass and Invar, steel and Invar). In a bimetallic thermometer, the plates are welded (soldered, riveted) together over the entire plane; heating the metals leads to bending of the spiral tape towards the material with a lower linear expansion coefficient (invar).

Bimetallic thermometers have the following advantages and disadvantages:

• The devices in appearance resemble a car speedometer with divisions, opposite which the arrow stops, indicating the temperature. The arrow indicator is clearly visible from a long distance; additional ease of use is provided by blue and red colored sectors.
• Bimetallic thermometers, especially in transparent versions, have an aesthetic appearance and are available in housings of various colors and sizes.
• Many modern devices are additionally equipped with a hygrometer - an air humidity meter.
• An outdoor bimetallic window thermometer for plastic windows can be bought for 60 rubles, the cost of devices with advanced functions is several times higher.
• It is believed that the principle of bimetallic measurement has the highest error, amounting to 1 - 3% of the measuring scale, therefore, in household appliances in the range from -50 ° C to +50 ° C, the inaccuracy in temperature readings can reach up to 3 ° C.
• Most bimetallic thermometers are attached to window glass using double-sided tape - a method that is not very reliable when removing the device multiple times to clean the window. The problem can be easily solved by updating the fasteners yourself with a purchased piece of adhesive plate, which can be glued to the glass by sticking it onto the body of the thermometer.

Cost of bimetallic thermometers
Such thermometers are sold in the store!!!

Electronic

It should be noted that the above liquid and mechanical thermometers are obsolete; in a modern office or apartment they will look too cheap, unaesthetic, falling out of the general style of the room. Therefore, the future belongs to electronic devices, which, thanks to the Chinese manufacturer, are sold in a wide range on the shelves of many specialized stores and markets.

The operating principle of electronic meters is based on some materials changing their electrical parameters when there are temperature deviations; in the simplest devices, the sensor is a thermistor that changes its resistance to the passage of electric current when the ambient temperature changes. The readings are recorded by the electronic circuit of the device and converted into a digital value on the thermometer display panel.

Elements that respond to ambient temperature, in addition to thermistors, can be thermocouples, semiconductor materials; in portable non-contact temperature meters (pyrometers) they capture infrared radiation and convert it into an electrical signal.

Stationary electronic ambient temperature meters have the following distinctive features:

• The temperature measurement results are displayed digitally on a liquid crystal display; they are clearly visible to the naked eye from a considerable distance - this is incomparable in terms of convenience and practicality with liquid and bimetallic devices.
• In addition to measuring ambient temperature parameters outside, many electronic thermometers show indoor temperature, time, atmospheric pressure, and humidity levels. More advanced devices, called weather stations, additionally have a calendar and alarm clock, display peak temperature values ​​for the day, and forecast the weather several days in advance.
• Electronic devices have an aesthetic appearance and look good in modern office spaces, kitchens and rooms decorated in modern or high-tech design styles. Some devices are equipped with a backlight or light indication that is clearly visible in the dark.
• The accuracy of electronic devices is the highest among analogues and has a standard reading error of 0.1%.
• An important advantage of electronic devices is the ability to install them anywhere . The devices can be hung on glass from the outside and inside, and placed anywhere in the room or apartment. When placed indoors, a temperature sensor connected to the device by an electrical wire is brought outside.

Indoor digital weather stations
DIGITAL THERMOMETER WITH REMOTE OUTDOOR SENSOR.

An electronic temperature meter requires electrical power; it is supplied in the following ways:

• Solar battery . The solar-powered device is installed on Velcro outside the window and is completely autonomous; it creates some inconvenience when washing the external glazing. Solar-powered thermometers are a rarity on the domestic market; they are produced by a leading European manufacturer - the German company TFA.
• Autonomous AA batteries . The device is installed indoors on a table or hung on the wall, the sensor with an electrical cable is taken outside the room, placed outside the window in a shaded place.
• Separate battery power supply. The disadvantage of electronic devices is the presence of a remote sensor, which is connected to the main unit via an electrical cable. In high-tech thermometers, this drawback is radically solved - the electronic unit with an indicator and the remote sensor are independently battery powered. The electronic circuit of the temperature sensor converts the readings taken into an electrical impulse and then into a radio wave, which is transmitted to the weather station receiving the radio signal with further display of the readings on the indicator.

A budget electronic thermometer from the popular Swedish brand RST (manufactured in China) can be purchased for a price slightly above 600 rubles, the minimum price for electronic thermometers is from 500 rubles, more functional devices cost several times more.

Price list for popular electronic models

Chic digital window thermometer from AliExpress

Outdoor window thermometer “Sunny”

This is the simplest and most affordable version of a thermometer that can be installed on both a plastic window and a wooden one. The window thermometer has Velcro, with which it is securely attached to the glass surface.

Peculiarities:

• The material used is plastic;
• Height – 7.5 cm, width – 7.5 cm;
• Measures temperature in a range of 100 degrees: from -50 to +50.

This is the most convenient and easy-to-use device, equipped with a bimetallic spring with a matte body.

Rice. 6. Outdoor window thermometer “Sunny”

Types of street thermometers

Modern technologies are now making their way into all areas of human life, and even thermometers that are ordinary at first glance have managed to receive several “upgrades”. Let's figure out what kind of street thermometers there are and how they differ.

Liquid thermometers

Perhaps these thermometers are the most common option for windows. Most likely, before replacing the old frames with new plastic ones, this was exactly what hung in your apartment. In appearance and operating principle, such a thermometer is similar to a medical one (mercury):

• on the base (made of plastic or wood) there is a scale with temperature values;
• a glass flask is attached to it, inside of which there is tinted alcohol;
• When heated, the liquid inside the flask expands; when cooled, it decreases in volume.

By changing the level of liquid in the flask, we can find out the current air temperature indoors or outdoors. This type of thermometer has its pros and cons.

Among the advantages of liquid thermometers are:

1. Low cost (from 100 rubles). Moreover, the price will not affect the quality of temperature measurement, but may affect the durability of the device;
2. Inconspicuous and uninteresting for robbers. This item will especially please residents of the first floors;
3. Easy installation - fastening to a plastic window is done using Velcro.

Naturally, such a thermometer cannot boast of an aesthetic appearance. It is not suitable in cases where the window is designed to match the interior of a room or balcony, and any prominent details will spoil its design.

A few more disadvantages of such thermometers:

1. The Velcro of the thermometer loses its properties when re-attached, which can lead to the loss of the thermometer or its breakage if dropped;
2. The low price of the device is often a consequence of the manufacturer’s use of low-quality materials, which is why the thermometer quickly fails;
3. Small divisions and numbers. This becomes a problem for older people or people with poor vision.

In general, this is the most budget-friendly and simplest option for a thermometer for a plastic window. But it will have to be periodically replaced with a new one.

Outdoor window thermometer "Baron"

This model has its own features in the form of a barometer function. Suitable for wooden and plastic windows. The device is equipped with a bimetallic spring, the body is quite durable, transparent, plastic. Velcro is used for fastening - they provide reliable fixation on the glass surface.

Rice. 7. Outdoor window thermometer “Baron”

Installing an outdoor thermometer on a wooden window

Attaching a thermometer to a wooden window is quite simple. Special models of thermometers, which are designed for wooden windows or universal options, are attached using self-tapping screws and a screwdriver.

The use of nails is allowed, but not recommended:

• Using a hammer to attach the thermometer may damage the device itself.
• A thermometer fixed with nails will not be fixed securely enough.

Rice. 9. Outdoor thermometer on a plastic window

Do I need a thermometer behind a plastic window?

From the time of their invention until the recent historical past, street thermometers more or less coped with their responsibilities - showing the air temperature on the street. Just like today and fifty and a hundred years ago, they lied godlessly. This was not due to the characteristics of the devices themselves, but to the fact that they were installed anywhere and anyhow. Therefore, it was not uncommon for there to be disputes about how cold or hot it was on a particular day. The debaters simply forgot that the street thermometers, the readings of which they relied on, were placed in different conditions. For some - on a window illuminated by the Sun in the morning, for others - on the frame of an eternally shaded balcony, and for others - on a post in the courtyard of a private house.

In the 21st century, the need for this device outside the window has completely disappeared. Almost everyone has a cell phone or smartphone, which with one touch can show on the display absolutely accurate and objective data on air temperature, humidity, wind strength and “subjective” sensations of the weather, if necessary adding to the readings the value of atmospheric pressure and a precipitation forecast for the coming a day or a whole week.

But the power of inertia of thinking and habit is so strong that instead of finding out without getting out of bed what the weather is waiting for you outside, many wander to the street thermometer outside the window and learn with joy or sorrow that the weather outside is not like that at all. what they dreamed about.