Temperature Radiation Shield

A radiation shield will minimize the temperature error caused by the sun shining on the temperature sensor. Russ Chadwick gives a nice description.

Commercial radiation shields are available for around $60.

Flower pot Radiation Shield

I decided to make one from plastic flower pots that were available at Home Depot.

Six 10 inch plastic flower pots, $1.27 each
Three 12" threaded rod, $0.76 each
One roll of poly tubing, $1.70
One small bag of nuts, $0.89
Spare wire

I cut off the rim of the flower pots with a pair of sissors so that water would not collected. The pots already had three holes for hanging and holes for drainage. I removed the "snap on" water dish from five of the pots.

I cut some of the poly tube into 2" inch lengths to use as spacers,

I mounted a 1-wire temperature sensor with foam tape

I threaded the rods thru the poly tube spacers and flower pot holes and put nuts on both ends. I used some cable ties to strain relief the cabling.

I attached three pieces of wire to the threaded rods and hung the "Pagoda" from one of the corners of my unheated barn. The whole process took around fifteen minutes.