Embedding electronics in concrete/cement

[QSmits]

A few months ago I had the idea of embedding a grid of temperature sensors  (like the DS18B20) in the floor of our new (still under construction) house. I don't know if it will actually be useful, but it'd be a fun project and these sensors aren't too expensive (if they still work after being embedded in the floor, that is..).

Would there be anything against embedding electronic components in concrete or cement?

[SeanB]

No problem, just encapsulate them in an electronics grade silicone, and then place inside a PVC conduit that will be buried in the concrete. As they are 1 wire devices just use a CAT5 cable and place each sensor in the one pair, so that you have a long string of them after encapsulation to put in the pipe.  Seal the far end and bring the tail end up through an elbow to a junction box in the wall, so that you can connect to it. When doing the concrete lay them down and tie to the reinforcing, and place the junction box in position, with 3m of cable free wrapped up in a bundle and cable tied to the junction box, the box being wrapped in heavy plastic for protection and to keep the builders from breaking it. After cure mark the conduit position and use the construction measurements to mark the sensor positions on the concrete with either some acrylic paint or stain.

[ftransform]

Go read about the American built soviet embassy (or vice versa?) which included all sorts of interesting concrete spy electronics, including batteries which ran on the concrete reaction lol

[Ratib]

That was the American Embassy in Moscow, sometimes known as the "roach motel" due to the amount of bugs built into it. i do not remember "concrete batteries" but bowtie antennas that were designed to power bugs when microwaves were directed at the building.