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This wood-and-brass drink temperature monitor is a maker-built sculpture that uses an infrared sensor to indicate how hot a drink is without putting a probe in the liquid. Set a mug on its coaster and the mug’s weight activates a concealed switch; five hidden LEDs then show relative heat on a one-to-five scale. It is a stepped visual indicator, not a documented precision thermometer or a finished product for sale.
How the drink temperature monitor works
- Set down a mug. Its weight presses a switch concealed beneath the coaster.
- Measure from above. An infrared sensor suspended over the mug detects the beverage without touching it.
- Show a heat level. An Arduino Nano processes the sensor information and lights one or more of five LEDs to indicate relative heat.
The LEDs sit behind a thin wooden surface and are designed to be difficult to see while off. The arrangement keeps the electronics visually understated when the coaster is not in use. Hackaday’s June 16, 2021 feature describes the operation, while Arduino’s June 11, 2021 project account also describes the switch, LEDs, Nano, and brass structure.
What the five-LED display tells you
The display communicates a relative heat level rather than presenting a fully specified numeric temperature. Hackaday notes that the maker chose Kelvin in the code, which supports multiple temperature scales; that coding choice does not establish calibrated accuracy, a particular drinking-temperature threshold, or a direct temperature readout for the user.
MakeFunStuff described the sensor, as quoted by Hackaday, as “a single-pixel infrared camera that picks up everything in a 90° cone starting at the sensor.” That description makes the target area relevant: the sensor faces down toward the drink, but the sources do not report controlled testing of what happens with different mugs, fill levels, or surrounding surfaces.
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Why wood and brass are part of the design
The brass rods form the support that holds the sensor above the mug and contribute to the freeform sculpture’s appearance. Arduino’s account also says the rods transfer signals. The wooden base hides the Nano and LEDs; the maker’s carefully drilled openings allow the lights to show through while remaining unobtrusive when off. Hackaday notes that a drill press would have made the hole-making easier.
The project is as much an exercise in combining electronics with a finished-looking object as it is a temperature display. The structure, concealed switch, and hidden LEDs shape how it is used and how it looks on a table.
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Parts and details to check before building
The creator’s project page names these build choices; they are not a guarantee that substitutes will work with the same wiring or code:
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- Adafruit Melexis infrared sensor
- Battery
- Five LEDs
- Wood for the base (the project page identifies poplar)
- Brass rods
- A switch embedded beneath the coaster
The project page by goscott describes the original motivation as wanting “a device that would let me know when a hot drink had cooled off enough.” Its parts and construction notes are available on Electromaker’s project page, which also points readers toward the maker’s video for the build process and materials.
Rank #3
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Before choosing a replacement sensor or Nano variant, check the sensor interface, wiring, library support, field of view, and compatibility with the project code. The cited write-ups do not establish that other parts are interchangeable, nor do they provide a complete compatibility guide.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the project does not establish
The published descriptions explain the design and its five-step display, but do not report calibrated accuracy, measurement error, repeatability, response time, or comparisons with a contact thermometer. The display can therefore help indicate relative cooling, but the documented evidence does not support treating it as a precision instrument or relying on it to determine a specific safe or comfortable drinking temperature.
Rank #4
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The cited coverage describes a single maker-built project, not a standardized appliance or a product line. It does not establish that a finished unit is currently available to buy.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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