Can't find a stand alone LCD temperature sensor WITH ALARM

computer

Platinum Member
Nov 5, 2000
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Guys, I've been looking for a a simple LCD temperature sensor with alarm. I thought I found some, but these don't work, and I wasted my money and time building a PC around them!
http://www.bestbyteinc.com/pro...ation=&aitem=5&mitem=7
Even if you could figure out how to "program" it, it loses the settings when you power down! I noticed this when I changed °C to F, and when I cut power and powered one back up, it was back to C. Plus, there's only ONE temp reading, not two, and "T1" shows about ~150° at all times! I asked the company about this, and no reply yet. The text description of the item is obviously very misleading. If they don't reply I'll just get my CC company to get my $ back, but that still leaves me with no product.

A bit more info and background as to why, in case anyone asks: ;)
I do not want a 3.5" or 5.25" device that must consume a bay. I need to be just like what's at that link. Since there's only a couple internal or external HD enclosures that have the SENSE to have temp sensors WITH AN ALARM, I'm having to locate these stand-alone sensors with alarms. I plan to put these on the outside of my main PC case, and on the outside of the external enclosures I use. I already have a DigiDoc 5 in my main PC, but it's pointless to use something like that to monitor only ONE temperature, plus it of course requires a drive bay.

Right off hand, the only units I can think of that have a temp sensor WITH AN ALARM is Cremax, and they suck. I have two of their units, both of which died. Their "aluminum coffin" IcyDock line, http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=17-186-017&depa=0 , are terrible coolers since they only have the one tiny 40mm fan at the rear. The other one I have is the BodyGuard 525, http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=11-198-803&depa=0 , which I thought would be great for all drives, however what they don't tell you is one of the two fans is redundant and only comes on if the other fails. I wired them both together to have them both on always, and oddly enough that didn't lower the temps any. Larger or thicker fans can't be used due to the way they designed the enclosure. (BTW & FWIW.....Yes, problems with it started before I wired the two fans together--it always beeps when I start my PC. The other one is no longer recognized in the BIOS or Windows).

There's another generic enclosure usually called "ATN-999", http://www.fury-tech.com/modul...alum_mobileRack&page=3 , which looks like the Cremax aluminum coffin line, but with a larger fan in the BOTTOM of the enclosure. Although better than the Cremax at cooling, it still appears to not have enough cooling since the fan is still small with low CFM. The other problem with these is every "opinions" type sites or review sites all say the fans fail in these on a regular basis. Although I used one of these in my Dad's PC and it still works after about a year, I'm not going to trust those fans. They are of course special proprietary fans by "Comax" with no model #, of which I can't find the company or anyone else that makes these types of fans.

So, all this lead me to find another type of HD cooler. All the ones with great cooling have no temp sensor and alarm:
http://store1.yimg.com/I/xoxide_1824_37608636
http://www.macase.com.tw/ms-10.htm
Since I couldn't find anyone that sells the Hermannator, I got some of the ones at the first link ($10 is a steal for these). As you can see, both have great large heatsinks, PLUS high CFM fans! Fantastic cooling, but, no temp sensor. Hence my apparent futile quest for a small stand alone temperature sensor with alarm. :disgust: :frown:

I'm also open to any suggestions for HD enclosures like those at the last two links, but with temp alarms......if they exist.

I appreciate any info.
Thanks guys.

 

computer

Platinum Member
Nov 5, 2000
2,735
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Originally posted by: LED
Have you eer used CompuNurse?...
Yes, thanks, the place where I got these others had one CompuNurse type, but it lacked something. Moments ago I was checking an email reply I got from a place in Australia that had similar units. He suggested a few places, among them; FrozenCPU and CoolerGuys. While looking there, I saw they have a NEW CompuNurse (where you linked), and another one here http://www.coolerguys.com/840556000006.html that does pretty much what I want. More interesting though, was I found out at FrozenCPU how to get what I have to work! Under "Features:" here, http://www.frozencpu.com/tmp-09.html?id=39MYL3nL , it states how to get them to work. What I have uses the same front panel. I still don't know what they mean by: "REC - Using a screwdriver, adjust the pre-setting temperature" since the REC button is what recalls the MAX and MIN temps. The pot has apparently nothing to do with the "REC" button. At any rate, all that's needed is to adjust the pot which sets the alarm temp, which is "T1", it's that simple. I was trying to make it more difficult than it was. The problem now is what I have only goes down to 100°, (which of course they also left out in its description) and I really need ones that will go down to ~90°F. But, that's going by the SMART temp readings and the sensor mounted spindle readings should be higher, so they may work after all.

Now if I could only find one that is backlit with a audible alarm that runs off 12v. What I have now is not backlit. One of the CompuNurse models flashes the display red for an alarm which is nice, but there's no audible alarm so you'd have to be in the room, plus have the display mounted where you can always see it. The other Nurse model that has the audible alarm has doesn't flash the display, but also runs off a battery! Why oh why can't these people make ONE MODEL that does it all?? Audible, visual, and 12v power from the PC. I guess I'll have to design my own. I have to do that a lot with many devices. At least what I have now I got working and they may work out after all. A backlit blue display that flashes red on alarm is not really necessary with an audible alarm, but it sure looks nice. ;)
 

computer

Platinum Member
Nov 5, 2000
2,735
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BTW, if anyone is interested in these, they are a little bit cheaper at the FrozenCPU place since their shipping is only $2.50 for one unit. Coolerguys want's over 7 bucks for one! FrozenCPU only has one type of the CompuNurse models though.