# Help! thermometer

**URL:** <https://community.inkbird.com/t/help-thermometer/144293>\
**Category:** Questions & Answers\
**Tags:** smart-controller\
**Created:** [March 25, 2024, 12:21pm UTC](https://community.inkbird.com/t/help-thermometer/144293 "2024-03-25T12:21:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![stevecocum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@stevecocum](https://community.inkbird.com/u/stevecocum)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2024, 12:21pm UTC](https://community.inkbird.com/t/help-thermometer/144293/1 "2024-03-25T12:21:14Z")

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Good afternoon

I’ve just purchased the below INKBIRD product for monitoring a hot tub temperature, when I bought it I though the monitor would be battery operated? But it only works using the usb cable? Am I doing something wrong or is this unit mains powered only???  
Many thanks

Steve

[INKBIRD IBS-P02R Floating Pool Thermometer with IBS-M2 WiFi Gateway

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**Author:** ![Tania](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.inkbird.com/tania/32/88_2.png) [@Tania](https://community.inkbird.com/u/Tania)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2024, 2:42am UTC](https://community.inkbird.com/t/help-thermometer/144293/2 "2024-04-01T02:42:50Z")

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Hello,  
Please understand that the IBS-M2 does not have a built-in battery and needs to be kept connected to a power source.