Warchild, Any chance we could take a tally of those interested in the "real thing" in hopes Datel might consider making them available. I'd go $80.00 for what I see residing on your shelf!
Well, I can give it another shot and call them up on Monday, I suppose.
My speculation - and it is only that, speculation - is that, again, they may not feel it worthwhile financially, so it would have to take a amount of serious interest to convince them otherwise.
The particular Datel Thermometer I have was a very early prototype, and did not have its rear circuit board encased in epoxy. I had to performed this task using GE RTV Silicone. The production unit should have this done prior to shipping, but again, this will add to the overall cost of each.
The black ABS plastic Project Box (1"x2"x3") is from Radio Shack; cost: $2.60. (Truthfully, a 1"x2"x2" would have been better, but this size does the job nicely enough.) The project box in the photo below has already seen the taste of my Dremel: the large rectangular opening for the Datel to reside, and a 'U'-shaped notch in the back for the power line/sensor circuit to exit out the rear.
Prior to placing it in the box, I first completely engulfed the rear circuit board/sensor leads in RTV silicone. Then I inserted the Datel Thermometer into the Project Box and torqued down the four phillips-head screws on the lid:
Another aspect that may have made them hesitant to produce these is the blue LED readout. As you can see below, while it looks exceptional even in bright daylight, this bad boy is TOO BRIGHT at night. Even to this day, I have to stick a small piece of duct tape on the readout at night, else I am bathed in a bright blue light. Seriously. I look like one of the IBM "Blue Men" dudes in their commercials unless I cover it with duct tape.... and the blue LEDs are so intense, the readout still comes through the duct tape just fine at night.
All that having been said.... these Datel Themoneters are ultra-deadly accurate, usually to within +/- 0.1 degree F. I fine myself referencing it all the time on my long LD rides. It is somehow strangely comforting to know
exactly how bad you're freezing your ass off while cresting a 7,000' summit at 3AM, or to know
exactly how bad you're melting in your saddle while crossing the floor of Death Valley at 2pm in August..... :blink:
