PocketLab Temperature Probe Hack

by ThePocketLab in Circuits > Sensors

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PocketLab Temperature Probe Hack

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With this simple hack, you can turn your PocketLab temperature sensor into a more traditional temperature probe! This is great for getting quick temperature measurements of any surface. Using a metal screw, you will be making a connection directly from the front of the PocketLab case to the temperature sensor inside it. This will decrease the time that it takes for the PocketLab reach thermal equilibrium with whatever is in contact with the screw.

Materials Needed:

  • PocketLab
  • Screwdriver
  • A small screw
  • Power drill and drill bit

Remove the Circuit Board

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Carefully unscrew the back of your PocketLab so that the circuit board is exposed. Then unscrew the circuit board from the white case and carefully remove it and set it aside. The small silver rectangle near the bottom of the underside of the circuit board is the temperature sensor.

Drill the Hole

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Start with the white PocketLab case facing downwards. Measure 0.4 cm from the bottom of the case and 2.1 cm from the left wall of the case and mark this spot with a pencil. This is where you should drill to reach the temperature sensor. Drill a hole through the white case at this spot so that your screw can be screwed through it.

Insert the Probe

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We used a small screw (3/16) as our probe, but feel free to experiment! Let us know if you find a better material.

Screw the screw through the hole that you just drilled so that its head is in the inside of the case. Adjust the height of the screw so that its head can touch the temperature sensor while the circuit board is in the case and its tail is exposed through the front of the case. The screw will now be able to quickly conduct heat from outside the PocketLab case straight to the temperature sensor. After this is done, just screw the circuit board and lid back on, and your PocketLab is now ready to be used as a temperature probe!