There are several reasons to want measure the ambient temperature. One of the most common is simply to keep track of the temperature inside the houses or outside to control the air conditioning systems. But it can also be to control a microclimate for crops, maintain certain temperatures for the breeding and care of certain animals, storage of perishable products or sensitive to thermal changes, etc.
Another reason why you should control the temperature and relative humidity of the air (HR) is in the case of having computer or electronic equipment, since maintaining adequate levels can guarantee better conservation and that they work under adequate ranges, especially in areas with extreme temperatures or areas with high humidity.
Environmental thermometer
In order to measure the ambient temperature accurately, the device you need is an ambient thermometer. So much analog and digitalThe latter being the most accurate and have extra functions such as the possibility of measuring the relative humidity of the environment.
The environmental thermometer works in a similar way to how a laboratory thermometer would or to take body temperature, only that they are oriented to measure the environmental temperature of the area in which they are placed.
Types of environmental thermometer
Within the environmental thermometers there are various types:
- Analog vs digitalAnalogs use a bulb with a chemical element, such as galinstan, that rises through a hollow glass rod to mark the temperature on a graduated scale. Instead, digitals use electronic sensors to measure environmental conditions. The nice thing about analogs is that they don't rely on batteries or power supplies. On the other hand, digital ones can be more comfortable.
- Indoor vs outdoor: there is the environmental thermometer for inside homes or rooms, but also those for outside. The difference is simply based on the resistance of the materials, since outdoor materials withstand inclement weather such as rain, sun, dust, etc. Some models have two sensors, to be able to place one inside and one outside and thus obtain both temperatures to know the difference.
- With hygrometer: those that have a temperature sensor also usually include a hygrometer to be able to measure relative humidity or RH, that is, the% of humidity present in the air.
How to Measure Temperature Properly
To be able to measure the temperature properly and accurately you first need have a reliable and accurate room thermometer. It does not matter if it is analog or digital, but it must be well calibrated and accurate. In the case of analog, it will depend a lot on the calibration and the scale used, while in digital it will depend on the type of sensor they integrate.
Once you get the right thermometer, you must also respect a series of recommendations so that the measured temperature is as accurate as possible:
- Do not place it near doors or windows, as poor insulation can alter the readings.
- Remove the thermometer from appliances that produce heat or cold, such as ovens, air conditioners, stoves, etc. It is another reason why an environmental thermometer does not provide adequate measurements.
- Inside, look for a central area of the room to place it. Outside you should look for the area that interests you the most, for example, in the shade if you want to measure the temperature in the shade, or in the sun if you want to obtain the maximum ...
Finally, if the environmental thermometer you have purchased supports calibration, you should calibrate the device from time to time to ensure that it continues to display correct measurements.