Temperature and humidity sensors around your smart home help trigger notifications and alerts. For example, you might want to turn on a fan when humidity or temperature reaches a certain level. I have a few temperature and humidity sensors around my house, but none are rated for outdoors. That’s where the SwitchBot Thermo-Hygrometer comes in. It can tell me the accurate temperature and humidity inside and outside my home. How well does it work? That’s the subject of this review.
Background and specs
Between my ecobee thermostats, z-wave multisensors, DIY air quality sensors, and even my other SwitchBot indoor sensors, I can easily measure the temperature in various rooms in my house. However, I don’t have any sensors rated for being outdoors. Since I have been happy with other SwitchBot products, like the Blind Tilt, I decided to try the inexpensive SwitchBot Indoor/Outdoor Hygrometer.
- IP65 Dustproof/Waterproof, Suitable for Indoors & Outdoors: Outdoor Thermometer is IP65 dustproof and waterproof and can work safely even on rainy days. They’re easy to use, lightweight, and portable. Perfect for kitchens, bathrooms, greenhouses, refrigerators, guitar cases, humidors, attics, basements, cigar humidor and crawlspaces.
- More Sensitive to Temperature & Humidity: With its built-in industrial Swiss Sensirion sensor you can expect more accuracy up to ± 1.8% RH, ± 0.36 ° F, with a faster and more accurate 4sec sampling interval to always monitor the temperature and humidity in your living environment.
Specs
| Readings: | Temperature, humidity, dewpoint, VPD (vapor pressure deficit) |
| Power | 2 AA batteries (included) |
| Battery Life | 2 Years |
| Communication Range | 394ft |
| Communication Protocol | Bluetooth |
| Communication Range | 394ft |
| Temperature and Humidity Accuracy | ± 1.8% RH, ± 0.36 ° F, samples every 4 seconds |
| Data storage | 68 days on the device, and 2 years using the cloud (SwitchBot Hub required) |
| Durability | Dustproof, waterproof (IP65) |
| Dimensions | 2.4 x 1.1 x 0.8 inches |
Some key things to know about the specs are that the thermo-hygrometer can withstand normal outdoor weather and samples temperature and humidity every 4 seconds, meaning it always has an accurate reading.
Also, it works with the SwitchBot hubs (either the hub mini or the SwitchBot Hub 2). This means if you pair with a SwitchBot hub you can check readings from anywhere, not just Bluetooth range.
Setting up the SwitchBot Thermo-Hygrometer
Setting up the Therm-Hygrometer is as easy as any other SwitchBot device. After taking out the battery protector, open the SwitchBot app and select the device (it will automatically detect it if you are in Bluetooth range). In the image below, it is the device at the top right (Outdoor Meter).
Then, you just follow the instructions. First, click “Add Outdoor Meter.”
Then, as the instructions read, hold the button underneath the batteries to start pairing mode.
After clicking next, your device should be available in the app. If you have a compatible SwitchBot hub, you can also enable cloud services as I have below. Again, this allows you to read the values from anywhere and set up all kinds of useful automations with other SwitchBot devices (more on that later).
Using the Thermo-Hygrometer
The SwitchBot Therm-Hygrometer captures and tracks the temperature, dewpoint humidity, and vapor pressure deficit in the app. You can see the current values as well as a chart of how the value has changed over time. Note, the chart doesn’t have a lot of data below because this screenshot was taken right after I set up the sensor.
The real power of this sensor comes when you connect it to a compatible SwitchBot hub. Then you can receive notifications when temperature and/or humidity hit a particular value.
You can also set up automations. For example, if you have the SwitchBot Blind Tilt as I do, you can set up an automation in the app that closes the blinds when the temperature gets too hot, and then open them when it cools down. You can also use humidity as a trigger, and trigger SwitchBot devices connected to the hub.
Final thoughts
I’ve reviewed other heat and temperature sensors, like the Meross MS100F. However, this is the only one I’ve reviewed rated for outdoor use. If you’re looking for an inexpensive and reliable smart indoor/outdoor thermometer and hygrometer, you really should consider buying the SwitchBot Thermo-Hygrometer. It’s incredibly accurate, tracks your data, and is durable. It’s another great offering from SwitchBot, to go along with their Outdoor Spotlight Camera and Blind Tilt products.
