Just completed my first shield for my T/H sensor a few days ago.
I found some plastic bowls the right size on clearance at Target for 4 for $1.35. I got 3 sets.
I then purchased a three-foot long section of 1/4" all-thread, 36 nuts and 3 wing nuts. Also Krylon spray paint for plastics, flat black for the inside of the bowls and gloss white for the outside. I read another topic on here about using chrome spray paint to increase reflectivity, so I may try that later.
About the only tools I have are a pocket multi-tool (with wood saw), a cordless drill and a hacksaw.
I first took one bowl and drilled three holes for the all-thread for mounting, then used that bowl as a template to drill the rest of the bowls in groups of 4 at a time in order to keep all the holes aligned. I then used the hacksaw to cut the all-thread into three one-foot long pieces, and did a test assembly of the shield.
Once satisfied with the mounting holes, I took all the bowls outside for painting. It was at this point that I decided I should be taking pictures.
When the paint had dried, I brought the bowls inside for the hardest part of the project: cutting the bottoms out. I managed it, though not as cleanly as DanS did with
his inverted-bowl shield. The bowl on the far right was cut that way to hold the sensor and still let air rise past it. Four bowls were left uncut for the top and bottom.
Finally, I drilled two additional holes in the top bowl for a pair of eye bolts for hanging the shield. I have no pictures of final assembly, but here it is hanging and with the top holes gooped shut with silicone.
So far, I think it's working. It's out in the middle of my yard where the sun will hit it all day, but I'm not seeing much variation in temp readings from its old location under the eaves. As a test, I took a second wireless thermometer and set it next to the shield out in the sun.
The unshielded sensor soon reported over 80 degrees F, while the shielded sensor remained in the 50's.
It may not be very pretty, but it works, so I'm counting this project as a success. I'd like to thank everyone on this board who have shared their own diy-shield projects here for inspiring me and showing how it's done.
