Temperature Sensor for Radiant Floor Heat

Devices & Integrations
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1

Hello,

I’ve been searching around trying to find a temperature sensor to monitor my radiant floor heat system. All I’m looking to do is monitor the actual temperature of the floor in SmartThings. I’m currently trying to use a SmartThings multi sensor but I think its just giving me the ambient temperature of the room.

Does anyone know of a product that is a smart temperature contact sensor?

2

You could use a typical zigbee leak sensor, as those also monitor temperature. You would need a small styrofoam box to cover it to avoid ambient air temperature impacting the readings. Not exactly a contact temperature measurement, but that is the smallest battery powered device that comes to mind. Although, probably not much different than your ST Multi Sensor.

If you’re a tinkerer, you could easily build a temperature sensor using my ST_Anything software, running on a small ESP8266 microcontroller, and connected to a DS18B20 temperature sensor (or similar.) Let me know if you like to try this path, as I’d be happy to assist you.

3

Thanks for the idea ogiewon. I’e done a few things with a raspberrypi, so I’m happy to try the diy route. I am not getting the accurate readings i was hoping from the ST multi sensor.

I’ll have to pickup an ESP8266 microcontroller and a DS18B20 to play around with. I have never heard of these boards.

4

Here is the NodeMCU ESP8266 board that I typically recommend. It is inexpensive and the most reliable WiFi connected board that I have used with ST_Anything. You’ll also need some 4.7k resistors to wire them up.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010O1G1ES/ref=twister_B0783HX3WP?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

An here are the DS18B20 temperature sensors that I would recommend. (Or similar… these are not exactly flat, but they do work very well, and are waterproof.)

https://www.amazon.com/Gikfun-DS18B20-Temperature-Waterproof-EK1083x3/dp/B012C597T0/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1540729642&sr=1-5&keywords=Waterproof+DS18B20

And you many want a breadboard for prototyping. It makes temporarily wiring everything up much easier.

https://www.amazon.com/EL-CP-003-Breadboard-Solderless-Distribution-Connecting/dp/B01EV640I6/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1540729880&sr=1-5&keywords=arduino%2Bbreadboard&th=1

And you’ll probably want some of these jumper wires (or similar) as well…
https://www.amazon.com/Elegoo-EL-CP-004-Multicolored-Breadboard-arduino/dp/B01EV70C78/ref=pd_bxgy_147_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01EV70C78&pd_rd_r=6ed83309-daad-11e8-8a27-e7c97784a407&pd_rd_w=MN7HV&pd_rd_wg=Dlb1s&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=6725dbd6-9917-451d-beba-16af7874e407&pf_rd_r=1WKGBPJRG050ECGBN08V&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=1WKGBPJRG050ECGBN08V