WS-14 Wireless 8-Channel Floating Pool and Spa Thermometer

I'm very pleased with this system so far. You'll need a total of 7 AAA batteries to run this system. You'll also want some silicone O-ring lubricant and some 5 to 7 gram silica gel dessicant packets for the routine maintenance of it. You insert one dessicant packet in the thermometer when replacing batteries. The thermometer probe requires 4 AAA batteries to run the thermometer and the small display. Fortunately, the transmitter is run off solar power (there's a solar panel on the unit) so the batteries aren't drained overnight. A transmitter requires a bit of power and would devour batteries quickly. The batteries last awhile in this system because the hard work is done by solar power. Smart design!The base station receiver requires 3 AAA batteries to run the clock and display. The base will also display the inside temp of your home. It records and displays the water temp highs and lows for the day. It will also let you set high and low temp alarms if you need to perform certain maintenance tasks at certain temps (like protecting the system from freezing temperatures or whatever).You can calibrate the base station to your inside temp and calibrate it to the pool probe's temp allowing you to adjust it by 1/10ths of a degree.A couple nights ago, we had a very bad thunderstorm here with frequent lightening flashes. It lasted several hours (and dumped almost 10 inches if rain!). The next day, the system was off. The probe with the solar panel must have had an epileptic seizure. It was fading off and on and flashing and the base station was not displaying a temp. I brought the probe inside. Dried it off completely, removed the batteries and tested them (still reading like new), replaced them and the dessicant, applied a thin layer of silicone lube to the o-ring, and it was back online. No problem. I had just needed to remove and reinsert the batteries (basically reboot the thing).The probe floats but NO water can be allowed inside! Each time you change batteries, dry it, replace the dessicant, and reapply a thin layer of o-ring lube on the o-ring around the lid and you shouldn't have any problems with this system. It's the best pool thermometer I've found so far.UPDATE: After a little less than a year in my pool, the thermometer seems to be working as good as the day I bought it. I have added some photos to show some discoloration and blistering of the plastic cap. The top of the unit (where the sun directly hits) is not blistered so I don't think it's from heat. The side of the cap that bobs in the water is blistered so I'm guessing it's from chlorine or another chemical in the pool water. It has not effected the functionality or the water tight seal of the cap. After one year, I'm still very pleased with this thermometer!UPDATE: Hurricane Harvey finally killed it. It lasted 3 years without much of an issue but expecting it to sit outdoors through a hurricane and all the lightening that brings (for DAYS!) is a bit much. I’ve tried fresh batteries and resetting it. Unfortunately, it’s dead. Will I replace it? You bet! Immediately!

Great for remotely monitoring my pool temperature. Also works with Ambient's internet connected console so works outside the home. Since they are always in the pool, the sensors last about 3 years and then die, but are very easy to replace.

So far so good. It replaces an Acurite unit which failed transmit/receive in 60 days. It is not built as robustly as the Acurite but is built well enough. The inclusion of a desiccant bag for inside the pool unit did not inspire confidence but it has been submerged (pool vacuumer caught the tether string) and remained sealed and dry. The comment that the pool unit can be difficult to open is true. I use a strap wrech to make it easier. So, it is working well, it's accurate and seems a good value.

I got this product instead of the 7$ pool thermo that I expected to buy because I love toys and because of the very high Amazon ratings.The instructions were a tad confusing/incomplete though (the large red o-ring looking thing is there for the key that keeps it locked together not for sealing the pool thermo, BTW.)I had some issues getting the receiver going and had to whack it on the table a few times to get the monitor to wake up. Once it did, I have had no issues with it since.The floating meter sends a signal to the receiver every minute with the latest update and if the receiver can get the signal it updates the reading. If it can't, it leaves the old reading. At first this was an issue when the floater in the pool reached the deep end of my pool (furthest point from the receiver) and I thought I was going to have to tether the floater to the stair railing to keep it close. But before I did that I tried changing the channel from 1 (default) to 3 and have not had the issue since then. I live in a concrete home and have tons of electronics and radio devices in the house so I am impressed with the range. Max distance from the receiver to the far end of the pool is about 80 feet. Although water does bounce radio signals so that may be the reason for the good range...The unit has a solar panel on it to power the floater radio when the sun is around, otherwise the floater has 6 batteries in it that power the radio. I haven't had it long enough to know how long the floater batteries will last though. Obviously the further north you live, your local weather trends, and the amount of daylight (time of year) will make this number a moving target in any case... Note: The solar panel does not charge the batteries, it just augments the power from the batteries.Other than the crummy directions my only real gripe is that they didn't capture the ambient temp outside. Instead the receiver tells me the pool temp and the indoor temp (which I already have a thermostat for so...)It gets along fine with my pool cleaner but kids might be able to trash it. While it is designed to be in water it is not designed to go deep under water, so if you have kids you might want to make them remove it from the pool when they go in.Overall a good product and I am going to buy a second floater for the Hot Tub.

I initially really liked this product as it did what it advertised and worked well in our hot tub. After just under a year the sensor died and I had to replace it. This may have been due to our thermostat screwing up and the temp reaching 120F. The second one lasted also less than a year and I replaced it too. The third one lasted only 5 months. I wrote to the company but received no reply - I guess they really don't stand by their product. As others have noted, water can get in, although I carefully used sealant and tightened it quite tight. Also battery life is not great. Duracells only lasted me about 3-4 months usually. If battery life were better maybe it would rate 2 stars. Overall, I would have to recommend "do not buy". Now I have another brand and it's working perfectly but it's pretty new. I hate electronic products made with lots of plastic that die after only a few months. We're filling our landfills with this crap.

To power the transmitter you have to open the float, and of course its very important that it be reclosed very tightly to keep water out. Two specially formed wrenches are provided for this purpose for the benefit of thise of us whose hands are no longer as strong as they once were. A wonderful free bonus.

It's swirling in my above ground pool and I can see the temp from my kitchen.