A perfect sensor in the wrong location lies. Garage probes should sample the air volume where stored goods and people actually experience conditions, not the hottest sun patch on the floor or the coldest air seeping under a door.
Height and location
Mount at roughly four to five feet on an interior wall, away from the garage door plane and direct sunlight through windows. North and west walls often track outdoor swings more slowly, which can be useful for freeze-risk monitoring. See multi-zone layout when placing more than one probe.
Enclosures and airflow
- Use ventilated project boxes so the sensor breathes ambient air.
- Avoid sealing probes inside waterproof cases without vents: humidity lags reality.
- Route cables down from the box so condensation does not drip into electronics.
- Label each cable at both ends before climbing a ladder twice.
Common mistakes
Probes zip-tied to metal door tracks, sitting on freezers, or dangling in front of exhaust fans produce dramatic but misleading graphs. The interactive probe demo shows how door and sun inputs move zones differently, use it when validating placement. For seasonal context, read seasonal garage patterns.
FAQ
Where should I mount a waterproof DS18B20?
On pipe metal or in still air away from sunny doors. Leave the epoxy bead uncrushed. Guide: probeharbor.dev/about/probe-mounting-enclosures.
Can the ESP32 live in the crawlspace with the probe?
Prefer a dry enclosure for the MCU and only run the probe tip into damp areas. Moisture kills boards faster than sensors.
Is there a parts list for mounts?
Yes: zip-ties, clips, pads, and 4.7k notes on probeharbor.dev/probe-mount-kit, plus the ESP32 freeze kit BOM.