DS18B20 Troubleshooting Guide: CRC Errors and Long Runs
Hardware used in this build
- DS18B20 (x8)
Waterproof DS18B20 probe with stainless steel sleeve, includes 4.7kΩ resistor. Buy the 2-pack. - 3M 3811/10 flat ribbon
- Raspberry Pi 4
Used in the running shed build; works reliably.
This guide is generated from data/guides.json and data/parts.json. Don’t edit by hand — edit the data.
Comparison
| Part | Role | Interface | Verdict | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DS18B20 (x8) | 1-Wire temp probes (house) | Pi 4 w1-gpio bus, mixed 9/12-bit | yes | — |
| Waterproof DS18B20 probe with stainless steel sleeve, includes 4.7kΩ resistor. Buy the 2-pack. | ||||
| 3M 3811/10 flat ribbon | DQ / power wiring to probes | 2-3 m runs, ~45 pF/m | — | — |
| Jacket print to confirm AWG (listed 26 by distributors, searay noted 28). | ||||
| Raspberry Pi 4 | 1-Wire master + villa collector | dtoverlay=w1-gpio; SQLite timeseries.db | yes | — |
| Used in the running shed build; works reliably. |
Verdict
Pick the part that matches your interface and accuracy needs. If you need humidity, prefer BME280 over BMP180. For long 1-Wire runs, DS18B20 is the most robust choice.
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Related reading
- How to Spot a Fake DS18B20 Temperature Sensor on a Raspberry Pi
Spot a fake DS18B20 on a Raspberry Pi: family-code check, sysfs CRC test, and ice/boil calibration against the datasheet. 3 of 7 probes in one batch were counterfeits, drifting 1.5–3.5 °C.
- SQLite Rollups and Retention: Stop Your Sensor DB From Eating the SD Card
How rollup tables and a retention policy keep a Raspberry Pi sensor SQLite database from growing unbounded — and why SD-card wear is rarely the real problem.
- CT Clamp Burden Resistor Calibration for ADS1115 on Raspberry Pi
CT clamp burden resistor calibration for ADS1115 on Raspberry Pi: pick the external burden, stabilise with a decoupling cap, and apply the DC-bias correction that separates a stable watt reading from drift — with the 51 Ω + 10 µF combination I actually measured.