[l008com]

I want a thermometer for my computer. Why? Because I had the good (or bad?) idea of tossing one of my older computers outside in my shed, and I wanna see just how cold it gets. I live in NE and I think it will be neat to have a computer running out side when its like -5 out. Not to mention when its 95 out. So what to do about a thermometer? I'm going to be using an ooold school mac because all my modern machines are very much in use. So, ideally I'd want something like a simple ADB or DIN-9 serial modem. And also, ideally, the control would be extra simple. I'd be running YDL, so a simple program call would return the current temp. And thats it. That would be the best way to do it. But I'm sure I'm not going to get it that simple. USB is definitely out of the question because the machine I'd be using is NUBUS. I'm thinking, back when Apple was king of the schools, and every Apple has ADB and DIN-9, there must have been something like a simple thermometer? If you have any ideas, even if its not perfect, I can change my plans. I've wanted to set up this project for a long time now and it would be cool to finally get it done.

[maxintosh]

I don't know of any thermometers, but you could always get a menu bar weather program and leave it to the professionals.

[Buck_Naked]

Just beware of condensation that will happen inside you computer.
It might not live very long in that kind of enviroment

[l008com]

Well my thoughts are that as long as it stays running 24/7, i would have its own much warmer climate inside the case, so i don't think condensation will be an issue. But its only a 6100 so who gives a shibby! If it dies, oh well thats that. Its really more to see if it really will keep running, and for how long, more than anything. It just seems kinda silly to set it out there if it can't see just how cold it really is.

[Ruahrc]

Don't know about a thermometer but if you really want to give it a go, you could always get some kind of program that can take input on the serial port and write a small program to record temperature.
e
Here's how it might work:
set up a thermocouple (small device whose electrical resistance changes as temp changes) wherever you want it. Record the voltage running across it and have that be piped over to the serial port

on the computer, the voltage values are then converted to current values to which a resistance of the thermistor can be calculated. Then compare the resistance values to the table of resistance/temperature given by the thermocouple (usually on the packaging).

I've used a program called Labview before which could do this, it was on PC but there might be a mac version. Also Matlab may be able to do this (if it can take data from a serial port- I know it can do the calculations) and there is a mac version for that. The problem is that these are professional grade software packages which probably cost $500 or $1000

But hey at least it's possible! If you can find some utility to record data from a serial port you could definitely hook something together without the use of those programs.

Ruahrc

[l008com]

hmmmmmmm