I had a 2 dollar conventional thermometer wire-tied to my driver's side
radio antenna for about 8 years ...
low tech, no wires ..
can't read it at night ...so ...sure ..go digital and electronic..

37 is a long way from 32 F.  I'm surprised the ice warning temp threshold is
that high.

----- Original Message -----
From: "OK David" <okdavid55@ATT.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, December 19, 2011 7:23 PM
Subject: Re: Outside Temperature

>I also like to be aware of the outside temp when I'm driving my Vanagon.
>
> Several years ago, I installed an LED thermometer in my '91 Carat similar
> to
> this one:
> http://www.digital-auto-gauges.com/products/Auto-Thermometer-Gauge-for-Truck
> s-and-Cars.html   In doing a quick Internet search, this is the only one I
> could find that looks similar to mine.
>
> Mine has red digits, a black bezel and the lens is smoke-colored with no
> printing on it, so when the thermometer is not displaying the temp (I have
> it wired into the ignition circuit so it only displays when the ignition
> is
> on), it's all black and blends in with the black dashboard and dash panel.
>
> I installed it immediately to the right of the cigarette lighter (just
> above
> the glovebox).  This location makes it easy to access the back for
> installation and wiring purposes. All it took was a 2-1/16" holesaw to
> quickly make the opening.  I placed the wiring to the temp probe behind
> the
> carpet on the passenger side.  I drilled a small hole under the carpet
> through the passenger side front wheel opening, where the probe and its
> wiring pass through.  I don't remember exactly, but as I recall, I let the
> probe itself hang about an inch or so into the wheel opening.  Of course,
> I
> sealed the small drill hole to both hold the wire in place and keep the
> outside air outside.
>
> The digits are large enough to be easy-to-read at a glance, under any
> lighting conditions, and has performed very well over the years.  I like
> to
> check it against the roadside sign temp displays you see here and there,
> and
> it either agrees with or is always within a degree or two of most of them
> (not that they are perfectly accurate -- and at least one of those
> roadside
> temp signs in my area (on I-235) always seems quite inaccurate!).
>
> The temp gauge I have flashes the word "ICE" for about 15 seconds when the
> outside air drops to 37 degrees, or if it is below 37 when I turn on the
> ignition to start and run the van's engine.  This flashing gets your
> attention, even though the gauge is not directly in the driver's line of
> sight.
>
> The gauge I included the link for above seems kinda pricey -- IIRC, I paid
> about $45 for the one I have.  There are a number of 12 volt LED
> thermometers currently on eBay for less than $50, but they seem to all
> have
> rectangular housings.  But if you're handy, you can probably make a
> rectangular hole to fit one of those.
>
> Finally, if you decide to wire your thermometer to the ignition, but you
> also want to be able to check the temp when the ignition is off, you could
> always additionally wire in a momentary-contact button or switch to power
> it
> up on demand as well.
>
> BTW, this same source also sells an outside/inside temp combo gauge, too:
> http://www.digital-auto-gauges.com/products/Inside-Outside-Auto-Thermometer-
> Gauge-for-Trucks-and-Cars-dual-display.html
>
> Hope this helps.  Good luck!
>
> David S. in OKC, OK
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Steven Shelton
> Sent: Sunday, December 18, 2011 11:00 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Outside Temperature
>
> When we're camping I'm always curious about the outside temperature.  Has
> anyone installed an outside/inside temperature gauge that they're happy
> with?  Please share what brand you used and how you installed it.