Green Building Forum - Hygrothermal Monitoring Sat, 02 May 2026 05:57:09 +0100 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 Hygrothermal Monitoring https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=180435#Comment_180435 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=180435#Comment_180435 Mon, 22 Jul 2013 20:30:43 +0100 Noodle
In particular we were hoping they would help us with a "in situ Material Thermal Conductivity" test - apparently to estimate your existing u value by drilling core samples - rather than monitoring over cold periods - (quicker and can be done any time of year). And also more importantly help monitor and log Interstitial condensation or: "Interstitial Hygrothermal Gradient Monitoring" as they phrase it! To monitor the changes we make and help inform the debate.

Anyway to cut it short this costs far more than we anticipated ( think many thousands), I know a lot of people here do various monitoring so thought there must be a way for us to do this ourselves, does anyone know of any home/diy approaches? Albeit slightly less professionally than the experts super expensive kit and monitoring devices?]]> Hygrothermal Monitoring https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=180446#Comment_180446 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=180446#Comment_180446 Mon, 22 Jul 2013 22:24:23 +0100 SteamyTea http://www.homechip.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_31&products_id=47]]> Hygrothermal Monitoring https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=180493#Comment_180493 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=180493#Comment_180493 Tue, 23 Jul 2013 15:36:22 +0100 djh Posted By: SteamyTeaGo to www.homechip.com and look at these, they are what I use.
http://www.homechip.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_31&products_id=47" >http://www.homechip.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_31&products_id=47
The trouble with i-buttons is that you have to take them out to read them.

There are various threads around in this forum and the navitron one about DIY humidity monitoring.

The AECB has a special offer on some slightly more expensive kit, but perhaps not as expensive as that you've been shown. Look on their website for details.]]> Hygrothermal Monitoring https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=180496#Comment_180496 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=180496#Comment_180496 Tue, 23 Jul 2013 16:23:45 +0100 SteamyTea I do intend to get some hygrometers to connect to my RPi sometime, but for a quick and cheap way to monitor iButtons are pretty good.]]> Hygrothermal Monitoring https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192473#Comment_192473 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192473#Comment_192473 Tue, 31 Dec 2013 17:53:53 +0000 bella Hygrothermal Monitoring https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192476#Comment_192476 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192476#Comment_192476 Tue, 31 Dec 2013 18:22:34 +0000 DarylP
If you have the space, I can recommend these...: http://www.conrad-electronic.co.uk/ce/en/product/105057/Voltcraft-DL-121TH-USB-Temperature-Humidity-Data-Logger

No IT skills needed, just a laptop and 2 mins setup time.

Cheers :smile:]]> Hygrothermal Monitoring https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192477#Comment_192477 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192477#Comment_192477 Tue, 31 Dec 2013 18:52:11 +0000 bella Posted By: DarylPIf you have the space,

Thank you for that - and price looks good too BUT I need something I can seal behind IWI and leave in place, then read off as and when.]]> Hygrothermal Monitoring https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192479#Comment_192479 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192479#Comment_192479 Tue, 31 Dec 2013 19:30:40 +0000 DarylP ahhh... may be a little more complicated then.

Good luck:smile:]]> Hygrothermal Monitoring https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192481#Comment_192481 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192481#Comment_192481 Tue, 31 Dec 2013 19:42:35 +0000 SteamyTea Posted By: DarylPfit & forgetThe only one I could find is the iButton with the holder. It really is not difficult to set up.

I did think of a slightly off the wall idea. I bought a cheap radio/clock/weather station from Lidl for about 7 quid. It has a temperature and RH sensor in it, and air pressure. You could bury that in the wall, make a window and take manual readings.
Treat it as a wall clock and weather station.]]> Hygrothermal Monitoring https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192482#Comment_192482 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192482#Comment_192482 Tue, 31 Dec 2013 19:42:47 +0000 bxman http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121081376627?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649 not sure what you do with them but they are cheap enough to fit and forget until you find out how your Rasberry Pi can read them]]> Hygrothermal Monitoring https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192483#Comment_192483 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192483#Comment_192483 Tue, 31 Dec 2013 19:48:15 +0000 SteamyTea
http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/forum114/comments.php?DiscussionID=8133]]> Hygrothermal Monitoring https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192499#Comment_192499 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192499#Comment_192499 Wed, 01 Jan 2014 11:36:17 +0000 Ed Davies
Bella, when you “tap” the sensors do you just want the current reading or do you envisage downloading the history since they were last read?]]> Hygrothermal Monitoring https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192502#Comment_192502 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192502#Comment_192502 Wed, 01 Jan 2014 11:51:39 +0000 borpin Hygrothermal Monitoring https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192503#Comment_192503 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192503#Comment_192503 Wed, 01 Jan 2014 12:01:08 +0000 SteamyTea Hygrothermal Monitoring https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192518#Comment_192518 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192518#Comment_192518 Wed, 01 Jan 2014 14:34:37 +0000 Ed Davies Posted By: borpinThe trouble with manual entry is that you cannot get the same resolution.What causes you to say that?

Reading some numbers and typing them into a spreadsheet or copy-and-paste of the output of a command line program would seem very low-hassle approaches to me.]]> Hygrothermal Monitoring https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192530#Comment_192530 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192530#Comment_192530 Wed, 01 Jan 2014 16:50:54 +0000 bella
I am looking for something cheapish and simple that will allow sampling of the environment behind the insulation, so must be able to seal several in. What I get out should represent the wall/insulation interface at that point (not half and half with room atmosphere). What would be ideal would be a sensor with a lead (that could be inserted through a small hole and taped up) and a connector on the end that I can plug into a device where I can read off the temperature/humidity/dew point.]]> Hygrothermal Monitoring https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192538#Comment_192538 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192538#Comment_192538 Wed, 01 Jan 2014 17:58:08 +0000 SteamyTea The RH one is harder.

If you don't go down the built in data logger route, how often are you going to sample the data? This is quite important as too little datapoints or if they are clumped together (say most mornings and evenings), then the data has a systematic error built in from the beginning and is probably meaningless.

The real problem is that there is little inbetween the DIY kit and the professional kit. If there had been I would be using it.]]> Hygrothermal Monitoring https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192572#Comment_192572 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192572#Comment_192572 Thu, 02 Jan 2014 12:03:52 +0000 bella Posted By: SteamyTeatoo little datapoints or if they are clumped together (say most mornings and evenings), then the data has a systematic error built in from the beginning and is probably meaningless.

My data design/collection/analysis skills are OK - but finding a device is proving v.awkward! Maybe one of the companies producing those nice hand held "thingies" should be persuaded to add a variant to their otherwise large array of stuff. Would sell like hot cakes.

Or is there a structural/technical/electronic problem taking the humidity signals down a wire rather than down short prongs? That I would have no idea about.]]> Hygrothermal Monitoring https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192574#Comment_192574 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192574#Comment_192574 Thu, 02 Jan 2014 12:27:20 +0000 Ed Davies Posted By: bellaOr is there a structural/technical/electronic problem taking the humidity signals down a wire rather than down short prongs? That I would have no idea about.That would be an alternative: rather than burying a formal humidity sensor as such you could bang a couple of (appropriate material) nails into some part of the wall (or a bit of wood buried in the wall) and bring out wires from them to use an ordinary wood moisture meter. I think people do this with straw bale walls. Calibration would be tricky, though, if you want anything resembling reasonable accuracy.]]> Hygrothermal Monitoring https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192576#Comment_192576 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192576#Comment_192576 Thu, 02 Jan 2014 12:49:11 +0000 SteamyTea Posted By: bellaWould sell like hot cakes.Well they may sell half a dozen on here :wink:

Posted By: Ed Daviesor a bit of wood buried in the wall
Have a vague memory that you can use a bit of pine and a multimeter. Think I found out about it on the internet. I decided to just spend the 40 quid on an iButton. They are just so easy to use.

May have been this one:

http://woodgears.ca/lumber/moisture_meter.html]]> Hygrothermal Monitoring https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192649#Comment_192649 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192649#Comment_192649 Sat, 04 Jan 2014 12:16:59 +0000 bella Hygrothermal Monitoring https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192650#Comment_192650 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192650#Comment_192650 Sat, 04 Jan 2014 12:54:17 +0000 Ed Davies Hygrothermal Monitoring https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192653#Comment_192653 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192653#Comment_192653 Sat, 04 Jan 2014 13:18:58 +0000 DarylP
It always beats me why so called 'damp professionals' use a ProTim meter designed for timber sections, and expect it to work when the probes are stuck into masonry, damp or otherwise....?:confused:]]> Hygrothermal Monitoring https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192655#Comment_192655 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192655#Comment_192655 Sat, 04 Jan 2014 13:36:32 +0000 Ed Davies Hygrothermal Monitoring https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192656#Comment_192656 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=10923&Focus=192656#Comment_192656 Sat, 04 Jan 2014 13:48:25 +0000 SteamyTea Posted By: DarylPIt always beats me why so called 'damp professionals' use a ProTim meter designed for timber sections, and expect it to work when the probes are stuck into masonry, damp or otherwise....?Probably because they think they know what they are talking about and most people believe them as they have the machine.]]>