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My favorite is when people use their cars thermometer to declare the temperature. Yes, of course your car that has been sitting in the sun with full-on greenhou

My favorite is when people use their cars thermometer to declare the temperature. Yes, of course your car that has been sitting in the sun with full-on greenhouse effect is going to read some insane record-breaking number, but no, that's not the real outside temperature.

fho 6y ago
No it is not ... but it is the temperature a lot of people are affected by, isn't it? Same with my south side office place directly behind a huge glass window, no AC [1]. Super nice too look out ... but 35+ °C on "normal" 25+ °C degree days. [1] Other parts of the building reflect sun light back on our window front ... I actually got pictures of objects on my desk casting two shadows.
- oblio 6y ago
  > No it is not ... but it is the temperature a lot of people are affected by, isn't it? It's not comparable, though.
mnw21cam 6y ago
I have actually been repeatedly surprised at how sane the temperature measurement on my car is. It'll be sitting baking in the sun, then I get in and swelter, but the measurement is actually really close to what was forecast. Sometimes, I then drive off, only for the measurement to actually increase by a degree or two as I head into a different microclimate. If it was significantly affected by the greenhouse heat of the car body, it would decrease as I drove away, due to increased airflow. I don't know where they put the sensor, but I think they got it right.
- seszett 6y ago
  > I don't know where they put the sensor, but I think they got it right. In all my recent cars, the sensor was on the underside of one of the side mirrors (and fairly precise as well).
  - newqer 6y ago
    In my BMW 3 Series (F30), it's placed under the car between the right front wheel and the bumper. It can be clearly seen when you look under the car. I do notice some temperature difference between being parked and driving.
lqet 6y ago
Is a car thermometer really placed inside the car? I would've expected it to be placed under the back of the car.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
- Ozzie_osman 6y ago
  No you're right, it's generally outside, but definitely impacted by radiant heat from either the car, pavement, etc. A car in the shade or a car being driven will usually have a lower temperature reading than one parked in the sun.
jiofih 6y ago
Car thermometers (at least in modern cars) are outside, not inside the car
- kube-system 6y ago
  Yes, they’re usually right behind the front bumper cover, which is better than many locations, but is still susceptible to radiant heat from the vehicle and/or the road surface.
  - sumtechguy 6y ago
    Mine can be off as much as 15 deg F. In the shade it is pretty good. Direct sunlight for a few hours? Oh I am sure my bumper is that temp...

fho 6y ago

No it is not ... but it is the temperature a lot of people are affected by, isn't it? Same with my south side office place directly behind a huge glass window, no AC [1]. Super nice too look out ... but 35+ °C on "normal" 25+ °C degree days. [1] Other parts of the building reflect sun light back on our window front ... I actually got pictures of objects on my desk casting two shadows.

oblio 6y ago
> No it is not ... but it is the temperature a lot of people are affected by, isn't it? It's not comparable, though.

mnw21cam 6y ago

I have actually been repeatedly surprised at how sane the temperature measurement on my car is. It'll be sitting baking in the sun, then I get in and swelter, but the measurement is actually really close to what was forecast. Sometimes, I then drive off, only for the measurement to actually increase by a degree or two as I head into a different microclimate. If it was significantly affected by the greenhouse heat of the car body, it would decrease as I drove away, due to increased airflow. I don't know where they put the sensor, but I think they got it right.

seszett 6y ago
> I don't know where they put the sensor, but I think they got it right. In all my recent cars, the sensor was on the underside of one of the side mirrors (and fairly precise as well).
- newqer 6y ago
  In my BMW 3 Series (F30), it's placed under the car between the right front wheel and the bumper. It can be clearly seen when you look under the car. I do notice some temperature difference between being parked and driving.

lqet 6y ago

Is a car thermometer really placed inside the car? I would've expected it to be placed under the back of the car.

deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
Ozzie_osman 6y ago
No you're right, it's generally outside, but definitely impacted by radiant heat from either the car, pavement, etc. A car in the shade or a car being driven will usually have a lower temperature reading than one parked in the sun.

jiofih 6y ago

Car thermometers (at least in modern cars) are outside, not inside the car

kube-system 6y ago
Yes, they’re usually right behind the front bumper cover, which is better than many locations, but is still susceptible to radiant heat from the vehicle and/or the road surface.
- sumtechguy 6y ago
  Mine can be off as much as 15 deg F. In the shade it is pretty good. Direct sunlight for a few hours? Oh I am sure my bumper is that temp...