Inside / Outside Temp: How does it work?

[Linc]

I just bought my 1st RV. It is a 1989 370 LE Airstream motorhome. I can't figure out how to get the inside / outside temprature to work. I don't have instructions for it. It was a factory item I am told.
I would like to hear from anyone else with a 370 LE.

Linc

[Diver Dave]

My temp does not work either, have you figured yours out yet?

[Linc]

No I ended up taking it out.
Linc

[DEITZ645]

We have a 34' '87 Excella 1000 and the clock and temperature are the old 7 segment red LED's. The inside worked like a charm and the outside registers -40° all the time.

Inside Temp: In the bottom center of the interior plastic end cap there is a quarter sized "vent" and if I pull that vent there is a thermistor that will register the inside temperature.

Outside Temp: On the front curb side belly pan in the vicinity of the stabilizer jack the same thermistor is riveted to the belly pan sheeting. One of the wires was broken on ours. When I went to repair ours all the wires broke off of it and they disappeared into the abyss of the belly pan so it will always be -40° outside for us

[Keyair]

The dash unit on my '84 345 reads 500deg C... so I assume it is toast, or the thermister is.
Anyone found a suitable replacement?

[345bill]

[QUOTE=Keyair;844101]The dash unit on my '84 345 reads 500deg C...

I got the answer... just move to VGS, it'll be accurate in July/August.

[Keyair]

Its like someone said to me recently when I said I wouldnt attend HIS Church.... "Then you will go to Hell...."
I responded with a grin, "Why do you think I moved to California... Pactice!"

[Keyair]

Pulled mine out of the dash to see if I can get it working...
Here is what it looks like..


So, the only thing wrong with it(I think) is the external "Thermister" has failed.
As I said in a previous post, mine reads +500deg when powered up.
I shorted the sensor (grey) wires together, and it reads -40c or -28f when I do that.
I know that a "Thermister" is short tech-speak for a "thermal-resister".
If I can find the correct unit, I can fix it, but I am not a electronic person, so maybe someone who undersatnds this stuff can explain what I need?

[Keyair]

Measuring Temperature

[cooperhawk]

Kinda like a Vacuum thermos bottle. Keeps hot hot, and cold cold.
My question is how do it know the difference.

[raveson]

On my 89 345, the thing still works well. Depress and hold either of the two buttons (inside or external) and the temp is displayed. The only problem is the skin of the face plate has worn through from extended use.

[Keyair]

Originally Posted by raveson

The only problem is the skin of the face plate has worn through from extended use.

Only too happy to send you a photo of the faceplate... you could print it out and maybe have it laminated and stick it over your worn face?

I hope nobody feels that I hijacked the thread here, but in figuring mine out I hope everyone who has a nonfunctional unit will benefit!

[Keyair]

So, I figure that it has 2 Thermisters in play... one outside somewhere and one inside.
There is only one pair of wires that leave the unit, so I traced the pair of gray wires they exit the case. They go thru the firewall and then go back into the engine area... i will have to put more time into finding where it goes later.
I turned my attention to the unit and disassembled it looking for the inside thermister...

Faceplate, front and rear..





Inside unit









It seems that Thermisters come in many shapes and sizes...
Electronics are not my thing!
Could it be the small brown round unit with the black tipmarked L8k or 18K on the top left side of the above pic?

[fltlevel510]

Have you thought about replacing the unit with something off the shelf like the wireless indoor/outdoor thermometers that are available at just about every discount store. You may even find one that fits in the existing slot on the dash.

For example: Amazon.com: Oregon Scientific RAR381-BK Wireless Indoor/Outdoor Thermometer with Digital Clock, Black: Kitchen & Dining

[Keyair]

Originally Posted by fltlevel510

Have you thought about replacing the unit with something off the shelf like the wireless indoor/outdoor thermometers that are available at just about every discount store. You may even find one that fits in the existing slot on the dash.

Absolutely, but a/ I have not found one that is even close to a good fit, and B/ I am a weirdo... I wanna try fixing this one first!

[walter1]

How and specifically where is sensor (thermister) mounted underneath?
Is it shielded in any way?

I am installing digital indoor/outdoor hard wired thermometer. I don't want radio transmitter type, all I want it to do is tell me outdoor ambient temperature at ~ 1 foot off ground.

Ideas on how to mount sensor? Stand off from aluminum belly skin 1/4" or so?

Wire will be coming out of trailer through refrigerator bottom vent screen.

[Keyair]

Working on where it is on my M/H Walter...
As I stated, I chased the wire thru the firewall, and into the fwd part of the engine compartment, but then it went rearward and disappeared into the wiring harness under the doghouse, and I didnt have time to go further. I will tell you what I find!

[walter1]

Thanks.

I think the temp sensor in new cars is somewhere near the left front corner of the front bumper. Not having a car built this century, I wouldn't know.

Thanks again. Any ideas on where or how to mount the temperature sensor bulb under an Airstream trailer is appreciated.

[Keyair]

Originally Posted by walter1

Not having a car built this century, I wouldn't know.

Me neither Walter...
Youngest one I own is almost 13, and the oldest is almost 38, and I have 4 that age!!

[walter1]

Sweet.

Newest here is 1991 Volvo, then '66 Volvo 122, then 1930 Model A, with '52 Ford 8N tractor for working and '47 Indian Chief for fun.

None of those fancy GPS equipped/computer run cars around here.