Warm V Cool

[Sproket]

Well we all know how warm it's been again, not being one who loves to sit out in the sun when it is so hot,
at the back of our van we have a awning which winds out to try & keep the conservatory cool,
well it's not working too well today, the thermometer on the fence in the shade is showing 80f in the van the combined clock was showing 27c so i put it on the step just to see how hot it was getting in direct sunlight well within ten min's it had gone from 37.9c to 42.5c,
i just shut the van door and came back inside, it's a lot cooler in here

that's warm

 

[susanswift]

wow thats hot, i think the coolest place is under the caravan, but i cant get under there.....

 

[LMH]

That's seriously hot.  <img title="Cool"

We've just got back from a few days away. We had a megga heatwave, it's still quite hot at home, around 25C.  I was a bit worried how the dogs would cope in this heat but I have to say, our porch awning with curtains closed has not got unbearbly hot at all.   Both dogs were excercised about 5am and 8pm, but inbetween, I swam in the sea with the older dogs as the sea is literally just across the road, so I don't have to drag the poor dog a long way in the heat.</p><p> </p><p>I'm not really one for sitting out in the sun either but I love the beach and sea.  So, I would much prefer to have this very hot weather whilst I'm away, rather than cool.  We've been able to sit outside till late on in the evening, the dogs have just pootled around the van and don't roam off.    I have to say, this was probably the best short break we've had in years.  (Bar a man stepping out in front of my car when I was driving at 50mph, it's only the second time I've ever had to do a proper emergency stop).  Bloody fool.  Anyway, I've rambled on too much.</p><p> </p><p>Hope everyone else is enjoying this mini heat wave.</p><p> </p><p>Lisa x</p>

 

[LMH]

Sorry for all the silly technical/computer speak. I couldn't post properly.

Lisa

 

[RayS]

Yes, it's warm again but some of the reading may have been due to the siting of the thermometer. Met Office readings are taken from thermometers mounted in ventilated screens set about 5ft above the ground - you can often see these in parks and fancy gardens. To get a true reading it is essential the sensing element is in the shade and well ventilated, and not in contact or proximity to anything which may store and reflect heat.
The best you can usually do when touring is to put the sensor ( for the digital type instrument) under the van on the shady side and try to get it a few inches above the surface - e.g. on a peg, such that there will be some air circulation. Make sure the indicator is out of direct sunlight inside the van. Gravel will heat up and retain heat but it's about the best you can do.

Many of the modern digital thermometers are surprisingly accurate given thier modest price, but the spirit type are prone to have the column split up due to vibration when travelling and / or be loose on the frame which carries the graduations such that you can gain or loose several degrees by just pushing gently !
Having taken all these steps ( and pre-calibrated the instrument) we still saw 36.9 degrees Celcius in early april at a site near Sax, inland from Alicante - that's what I call warm (normal body temperature is around 36.4).
Apologies for the pedantry but I did once sell meteorological instruments.

 

[Sproket]

Last Monday when we were packing up & dismantling the windbreaks down, well that was warm, so warm i was dehydrating & had to go chill out in the van with a pint of milk for a while

The point I'm saying is that with no wind & being about 5'5" my in built thermal patch was telling me it's very warm again

All i did was try to replicate what this BBC TV presenter did .....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13931339

The one in the tube is fastened to the fence at about 4' 6" from the floor