Was stumbling around the internet yesterday, looking for a new humidity guage (my Red-tail Green Rat dumped my $35 magnetic hygrometer in its bath water), when I ran across an interesting item--the
SensorPush Wireless thermometer / hygrometer that will work with iPhone and Android devices.
The device is rather small, 40mm x 40mm x 16.5mm / 1.57" x 1.57" x 0.65", and it can be placed around the home to monitor humidity and report back to your iPhone (in my case); or, if you're so inclined, you can spend a little more and have it report back to a SensorPush Gateway, and have it uploaded to the "cloud" and you are then able to connect to it from anywhere on the Internet. I haven't purchased a Gateway yet, but I probably will if the probe I receive this weekend works as advertised.
Anyway, this will save some footwork, bending over a lot, and dispense with sticky analog dials, multiple digital devices, etc. The batteries for the SensorPush Probe should last almost two years since you won't be exposing it to lower temperatures and battery is fairly easy to replace.
One of the only hassles is that even though the probe works from 0 - 100% humidity, the
prolonged exposure to > 80% RH may create an offset of up to +3% in the readings. This effect gradually reverses after return to < 80% RH conditions. So, if you have some reptiles that require really high humidity, you'll have to account for that 3% variance. Still not bad if you ask me.
I also contacted the company and they said that they are coming out with a more robust probe,
one that would probably work better for the herpeculturist, and one that will hopefully work better in higher humidity. I asked to be added to the "beta-tester" group and Jonathan, one of the company reps, said he did.
I also asked if they would do volume discounts, I have 33 enclosures myself, and he said, yes, they could do volume discounts. So, if everything works as specified, planned, etc., it would be a bit cheaper buying bulk.
Now then, one might ask: $45-$50 per probe, maybe less with discounts...are you insane? Possibly. Sure, you can buy a Walmart special for $15, or maybe a better one for around $20, but I'm looking at things at an automated point of view, something that I can see from the Internet, and something that trends the humidity readings over time and results that can be exported, etc. I probably won't do all 33 enclosures at once, but depending on their bulk discount and my testing, I might. Only time will tell.
Anyway, I just threw this out there for those interested. I'm sure I'll receive my lion's share of detractors, naysayers, etc., but at least I threw this out for discussion and maybe a few of you might even come along for the ride and buy a few for your enclosures.
Later...
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