More thoughts / ideas:
- At about 5:30 PM, right around the time the heat measured at the entryway started to rapidly increase, I noticed two things. First, our AC unit was louder and persistent – it hasn’t seemed to have turned off since in the 30 minutes since. Second, the cat went absolutely bananas – eyes super dilated, calling out, then splayed on the ground in an almost seizure like stretch, then a weird slow walk. I had remarked on this odd behavior to the fam yesterday.
- In looking at the data / charts I have now, it’s clear there was a huge spike in the temperature measurement in the entryway as the sun approached and then covered that sensor. Annnnnnd… now I’m wondering about the advisability of leaving those batteries and that board in that temperature, even if it’s only for 30 minutes of peak temperature. Fortunately, I connected the sensors with a length of wire so I could conceivably keep the batteries out of direct sun / heat. I might need to extend this further.
- I think it would be interesting to review the delta / change in temperature over time, rather than the actual temperatures over time. Right now I’m just looking at these colored squiggles and thinking “Oh, that looks neat, and this bit is spikey, and how about that uptick, huh?” But, by looking at the change over time, I could actually quantify these things.
- I know I’d suggested the next time I make something like this, I’ll just use another XIAO board, since they’re only slightly more expensive than the Wemos D1 Mini’s, but given the kinds of problems I was having with the XIAO seizing up, maybe not? I could get another 5 D1’s for about $15 and I have plenty of extra sensors and wire now that I’ve taken down my XAIO setup, but I don’t have any extra tap light enclosures. :) I know I can make do with off-the-shelf battery holders – and goodness knows I’ve got plenty – but I do kinda want to have them all be about the same.
- It’s now 6:03 PM and the AC unit just shut off. I know there are API ways to know when the AC unit is active, but that requires the cooperation of my smart thermostat company – and they haven’t replied to my requests. I could build something that would sense motion and tape it to the AC unit, but it would be easier to build another temperature sensor and place it near an HVAC vent and treat the sudden drop or rise in temperature as an indication the HVAC was on.
- Testing the Effect of Interior and Exterior Window Coverings on Interior Temperatures
- Testing Interior Temperatures – preliminary results
- Readings so far… 07/11/2026
- Now with remote sensors
- Repeatedly Redundant (Sensing Sensors)
- WHY IS EVERYTHING BROKEN?!
- Musings on measurements and a wacky cat
- WWMWD?
- Back on track
- House Temperature Readings So Far