This guide covers the physical installation of your WTH (Wireless Temperature Hub): mounting the hub, connecting infrared sensor pods and contact temperature probes, wiring DC power, and powering on for the first time.
Before You Begin
You will need:
- The WTH hub with its mounting hardware and power wiring
- One or more temperature sensors: infrared sensor pods, contact temperature probes, or a mix of both
- A wired DC power source (for example, your vehicle's 12 V electrical system)
- Basic hand tools, and an inline fuse holder for the power lead
- A phone with the LF Audio AuralSync app for pairing after installation
Choosing a Mounting Location
When selecting where to install the WTH:
- Visibility: mount the hub where you can comfortably read the screen while the system is running.
- Reach for the sensors: the hub is the point everything connects to, so place it within cable reach of the components you want to monitor.
- Avoid direct heat: mount the hub itself away from amplifiers, exhaust components, and other heat sources, and avoid prolonged direct sun. The hub reports the temperature of your sensors, not of itself, so keeping the hub cool keeps the screen readable and the electronics happy.
- Airflow: a spot with some air movement is better than a sealed, trapped pocket.
Connecting the Sensors
The WTH reads two kinds of sensors, and you can connect any mix of them. The base hub supports up to four infrared sensor pods and up to four contact probes, for up to eight temperature points in total.
Infrared Sensor Pods
Infrared sensor pods read the surface temperature of whatever they are aimed at, without touching it. They are ideal for surfaces you cannot or should not touch, such as a moving part, a live terminal, or a hard-to-reach heatsink.
- Route each pod's cable from the hub to the point you want to monitor, keeping it clear of moving parts and hot surfaces
- Plug the pod into an infrared sensor port on the hub
- Aim the pod so its face points squarely at the surface you want to measure, from a short distance
- Secure the pod so it holds that aim (a bracket, clip, or adhesive mount works well)
An infrared pod reads whatever fills its view, so aim it at the specific surface you care about and keep other hot or cold objects out of the line of sight. A closer, square-on aim gives the most representative reading of that surface.
Contact Temperature Probes
Contact temperature probes attach directly to a surface for a pinpoint reading. They are ideal for a bolt-on heatsink, a battery terminal, or a wire lug.
- Route the probe cable from the hub to the component you want to monitor
- Plug the probe into a contact probe port on the hub
- Attach the probe's tip firmly to the surface you want to measure, with good, direct contact
- Secure the cable so the probe cannot work loose over time
A contact probe reads the temperature of whatever it touches, so the tighter and more direct the contact, the more accurate the reading. A probe that is loose or only touching paint or a coating will read low.
Wiring DC Power
The WTH is powered through a screw-terminal DC input. There is no internal battery, so the hub needs a wired power source to run.
| Terminal | Connect To | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Positive (+) | A DC power source (for example, switched or constant 12 V) | Supplies power to the hub |
| Ground (-) | A clean chassis ground | The negative reference for the hub |
- Strip and connect your positive power lead to the positive screw terminal, and tighten it securely
- Connect your ground lead to the ground screw terminal, and tighten it securely
- Double-check polarity before applying power: positive to positive, ground to ground
- Route and secure the wiring away from high-current or hot components
The hub is designed for a 12 V vehicle electrical system and accepts a wide DC input range, so the normal voltage swings of a running vehicle are not a problem.
Confirm the polarity of your power connections before applying power. Reversing positive and ground can prevent the hub from starting.
The hub's power input includes reverse-polarity protection, resettable over-current protection, and automotive transient (load-dump) protection, so it is built to tolerate the noisy electrical environment of a vehicle. These protections are a safety net, not a substitute for correct wiring.
Install an inline fuse on the positive lead, as close to the power source as practical. A small fuse is more than enough for the hub's draw, and it protects the wire run so a short cannot cause damage.
Mounting the Hub
Mount the hub in your chosen location using the included hardware, so the screen faces you and the unit cannot rattle loose. Keep the sensor cables and the power wiring routed and secured behind the panel. For exact physical dimensions and the current mounting hardware, see the WTH product page.
First Power-On
- Confirm your sensors and power wiring are connected and the polarity is correct
- Apply power to the hub
- The screen lights up and the WTH begins reading
- Within a few seconds, each channel that has a working sensor connected starts showing a temperature; channels with nothing connected stay blank
Do not worry if a channel is blank at first. The hub detects sensors automatically and a reading appears once the sensor on that channel is found. If a channel stays blank, check that its sensor is fully plugged in and correctly placed.
Verifying the Installation
After power-on, confirm the following:
- The screen is lit and readable
- Each connected sensor shows a temperature that looks reasonable for what it is measuring
- The colors respond as expected: cooler surfaces read blue, and a hot surface trends toward orange and red
- An unconnected channel stays blank rather than showing a false reading
Once the hub is running, continue to First Boot and Pairing to connect the LF Audio AuralSync app. For help reading the screen, see Display and Navigation.