After fixing my over heating motor I wanted to be able to monitor the cooling system while we motored here and there to make sure it was all good. On Ebay and doing a search there were a few engine temperature monitors around but not very good. Only monitoring one temperature or expensive or poorly made.

BING! At Bunnings I found the Matador WI-FI Wireless Thermometer - 4 Probes - intended for BBQs and cooking meat. Amazing but perfect for engine temperature monitoring and only $107.

Monitors 4 temperatures from 0-380 Deg C, probes are S/S, wiring is stainless mesh coated Teflon, Bluetooth connection from engine room to on deck where you can watch on your phone.

I cabled tied three of the probes onto the engine places with temperatures I wanted to see and bingo can watch them while motoring. The fourth probe is for ambient, I put that in mid air in the engine room. Amazingly when enclosed the air temperature got up to 70 Deg. I had no idea. The black plastic around each probe is a reel to wind up the 1m S/S wire on when not in use. The probe itself is the stainless rod and the small coloured plastic handle.

Its here. www.bunnings.com.au/matador-wi-fi-wireless-thermometer-4-probes_p0281538

I could put three on the engine and one on the BBQ

How do you know what good and bad temps should be?

My knowledge of that is simplistic but I worked it out. With an old motor and no good manuals you have to.

Firstly the coolant should never reach 100Deg C or its no use at all.

Secondly in my case my faulty thermostat specification said 60 Deg C. I got that number from a website selling new ones. So that means the operating temperature of the engine should be close to that. So I put one sensor on the hot water coming out of the engine (where the thermostat previously was) into the heat exchanger and found it sits around 60 Deg anyway. It ranged from 50Deg to 75Deg as I motored.

Third, the specification of my motors over temperature sender (which I got from a Marine Parts web site) was 90 Deg C. so that's clear enough. hot water coming out of the engine should not be over 90 Deg C.

I put a sensor on the cooling water going into the heat exchanger (sea temperature 25degC) and on its outlet it was around 30DegC so although I have no idea what they should be it means the heat exchanger is working. If temperature out>temperature in its working. If temperature in=temperature out that's a problem.

An interesting use of cooking thermometer indeed. I went with the engine watch dog, I'm sure everyone has seen them advertised, the audio alarm is loud enough to get your attention & temp adjustable

Most of us use a temperature gun.
less than $150 from repco
From $95.00 apparently

Select to expand quote

Trek said..
After fixing my over heating motor I wanted to be able to monitor the cooling system while we motored here and there to make sure it was all good. On Ebay and doing a search there were a few engine temperature monitors around but not very good. Only monitoring one temperature or expensive or poorly made.

BING! At Bunnings I found the Matador WI-FI Wireless Thermometer - 4 Probes - intended for BBQs and cooking meat. Amazing but perfect for engine temperature monitoring and only $107.

Monitors 4 temperatures from 0-380 Deg C, probes are S/S, wiring is stainless mesh coated Teflon, Bluetooth connection from engine room to on deck where you can watch on your phone.

I cabled tied three of the probes onto the engine places with temperatures I wanted to see and bingo can watch them while motoring. The fourth probe is for ambient, I put that in mid air in the engine room. Amazingly when enclosed the air temperature got up to 70 Deg. I had no idea. The black plastic around each probe is a reel to wind up the 1m S/S wire on when not in use. The probe itself is the stainless rod and the small coloured plastic handle.

Its here. www.bunnings.com.au/matador-wi-fi-wireless-thermometer-4-probes_p0281538

At what temperature do cable ties melt?

Depends what they are made of but I think most are nylon so 160 c?

Select to expand quote

lydia said..
Most of us use a temperature gun.
less than $150 from repco
From $95.00 apparently

www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001763917170.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.1.58e112a4qOHFuH&algo_pvid=9ff70276-2436-4fd5-bdbb-fe29f1d3170e&aem_p4p_detail=202303031354295902722701358300013648326&algo_exp_id=9ff70276-2436-4fd5-bdbb-fe29f1d3170e-0&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22sku_id%22%3A%2212000030672507501%22%7D&pdp_npi=3%40dis%21AUD%2118.6%2115.44%21%21%21%21%21%40212240a316778804693246262d0711%2112000030672507501%21sea%21AU%21753417160&curPageLogUid=Wf95XjzIknHS&ad_pvid=202303031354295902722701358300013648326_1&ad_pvid=202303031354295902722701358300013648326_1

They are only slightly dearer on eBay.

Select to expand quote

lydia said..
Most of us use a temperature gun.
less than $150 from repco
From $95.00 apparently

Hi Lydia, good suggestion. Ive got one of those and use it often including in my medical work.

For me mine was no use because you need to keep engine room doors open so the engine cooling is far better than in reality, and and run downstairs all the time to use it, and you cant see all the temperatures at once.

The use of that being (and I'm sure many have been there!) if the engine has a fault and runs low on coolant the over temp sensor doesn't get 90DegC+ hot coolant on it so you get no over temperature alarm even though the engine might be roasting. My VP 2003 is like that. I wanted to know if that happened so one TC was on the block.

Select to expand quote

julesmoto said..

Trek said..
After fixing my over heating motor I wanted to be able to monitor the cooling system while we motored here and there to make sure it was all good. On Ebay and doing a search there were a few engine temperature monitors around but not very good. Only monitoring one temperature or expensive or poorly made.

BING! At Bunnings I found the Matador WI-FI Wireless Thermometer - 4 Probes - intended for BBQs and cooking meat. Amazing but perfect for engine temperature monitoring and only $107.

Monitors 4 temperatures from 0-380 Deg C, probes are S/S, wiring is stainless mesh coated Teflon, Bluetooth connection from engine room to on deck where you can watch on your phone.

I cabled tied three of the probes onto the engine places with temperatures I wanted to see and bingo can watch them while motoring. The fourth probe is for ambient, I put that in mid air in the engine room. Amazingly when enclosed the air temperature got up to 70 Deg. I had no idea. The black plastic around each probe is a reel to wind up the 1m S/S wire on when not in use. The probe itself is the stainless rod and the small coloured plastic handle.

Its here. www.bunnings.com.au/matador-wi-fi-wireless-thermometer-4-probes_p0281538

At what temperature do cable ties melt?

240 Deg C.
www.hellermanntyton.com/au/products/cable-ties-outside-serrated/pt2a/118-00032

I forgot - cheap ones who knows, probably less than 80Deg C

Select to expand quote

Trek said..
After fixing my over heating motor I wanted to be able to monitor the cooling system while we motored here and there to make sure it was all good. On Ebay and doing a search there were a few engine temperature monitors around but not very good. Only monitoring one temperature or expensive or poorly made.

BING! At Bunnings I found the Matador WI-FI Wireless Thermometer - 4 Probes - intended for BBQs and cooking meat. Amazing but perfect for engine temperature monitoring and only $107.

Monitors 4 temperatures from 0-380 Deg C, probes are S/S, wiring is stainless mesh coated Teflon, Bluetooth connection from engine room to on deck where you can watch on your phone.

I cabled tied three of the probes onto the engine places with temperatures I wanted to see and bingo can watch them while motoring. The fourth probe is for ambient, I put that in mid air in the engine room. Amazingly when enclosed the air temperature got up to 70 Deg. I had no idea. The black plastic around each probe is a reel to wind up the 1m S/S wire on when not in use. The probe itself is the stainless rod and the small coloured plastic handle.

Its here. www.bunnings.com.au/matador-wi-fi-wireless-thermometer-4-probes_p0281538

What is the Bluetooth range from the sensors to the display ie your estimate with the engine compartment closed, thanks?

Select to expand quote

warwickl said..

Trek said..
After fixing my over heating motor I wanted to be able to monitor the cooling system while we motored here and there to make sure it was all good. On Ebay and doing a search there were a few engine temperature monitors around but not very good. Only monitoring one temperature or expensive or poorly made.

BING! At Bunnings I found the Matador WI-FI Wireless Thermometer - 4 Probes - intended for BBQs and cooking meat. Amazing but perfect for engine temperature monitoring and only $107.

Monitors 4 temperatures from 0-380 Deg C, probes are S/S, wiring is stainless mesh coated Teflon, Bluetooth connection from engine room to on deck where you can watch on your phone.

I cabled tied three of the probes onto the engine places with temperatures I wanted to see and bingo can watch them while motoring. The fourth probe is for ambient, I put that in mid air in the engine room. Amazingly when enclosed the air temperature got up to 70 Deg. I had no idea. The black plastic around each probe is a reel to wind up the 1m S/S wire on when not in use. The probe itself is the stainless rod and the small coloured plastic handle.

Its here. www.bunnings.com.au/matador-wi-fi-wireless-thermometer-4-probes_p0281538

What is the Bluetooth range from the sensors to the display ie your estimate with the engine compartment closed, thanks?

Maybe 0 if your engine compartment is lined with that aluminium surfaced sound insulation

I installed a mechanical water temperature gauge on my Beta 20. Mounted the gauge on the bulkhead near the mast and I can see it from behind the wheel. It has the advantage of showing the temperature after shut down.

Like this but not that one.
www.ebay.com.au/itm/221561276196?hash=item339614c724:g:UGoAAOxycgVTi54w&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAsEufe6MLvXd2khIQK6kW2wXIHFuxMLTWoIu%2F72bpI6IrfCCSSoaWavk3ZdF9mgjewkeL2940UEBOGkFJV1p1EMmESzi8vU6IRQLVce6OLyEMerTo0e1Qvy4OmhbZDwzMgrEk7oaBcOL8IbCIn3tfZKQnBZ9P0921FLZEzDg7fGJo97rENwB%2F4bwvrwXrY3kEzxVXYbAo0uztvWp7E9KDbnvLRuE0sT899t08qtNmhDc%2F%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR7qB6tnWYQ

The problem with those type of senders is an old one, no coolant no temp read so you also need a low coolant alarm. Hence I went the the watchdog did I mention the alarm ?

Select to expand quote

woko said..
The problem with those type of senders is an old one, no coolant no temp read so you also need a low coolant alarm. Hence I went the the watchdog did I mention the alarm ?

I have the Watchdog, as well as another separate sender, and cannot fault it!!

Select to expand quote

julesmoto said..

warwickl said..

Trek said..
After fixing my over heating motor I wanted to be able to monitor the cooling system while we motored here and there to make sure it was all good. On Ebay and doing a search there were a few engine temperature monitors around but not very good. Only monitoring one temperature or expensive or poorly made.

BING! At Bunnings I found the Matador WI-FI Wireless Thermometer - 4 Probes - intended for BBQs and cooking meat. Amazing but perfect for engine temperature monitoring and only $107.

Monitors 4 temperatures from 0-380 Deg C, probes are S/S, wiring is stainless mesh coated Teflon, Bluetooth connection from engine room to on deck where you can watch on your phone.

I cabled tied three of the probes onto the engine places with temperatures I wanted to see and bingo can watch them while motoring. The fourth probe is for ambient, I put that in mid air in the engine room. Amazingly when enclosed the air temperature got up to 70 Deg. I had no idea. The black plastic around each probe is a reel to wind up the 1m S/S wire on when not in use. The probe itself is the stainless rod and the small coloured plastic handle.

Its here. www.bunnings.com.au/matador-wi-fi-wireless-thermometer-4-probes_p0281538

What is the Bluetooth range from the sensors to the display ie your estimate with the engine compartment closed, thanks?

Maybe 0 if your engine compartment is lined with that aluminium surfaced sound insulation

Oh, thanks for that, yes I have that lining.