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Thermistor

What is Thermistor

 

 

A thermistor is a semiconductor type of resistor whose resistance is strongly dependent on temperature, more so than in standard resistors. The word thermistor is a portmanteau of thermal and resistor. Thermistors are categorized based on their conduction models.

 

Benefits of Thermistor

 

 

High Accuracy and Precision
Accurate temperature measurement is critical in numerous fields, including healthcare, industrial processes, and scientific research. Thermistors are renowned for their ability to provide high levels of accuracy and precision. Their unique construction and material properties enable them to precisely measure temperature variations, ensuring that the data they provide is reliable and consistent. Industries such as pharmaceuticals, electronics, and food processing benefit immensely from the pinpoint accuracy thermistors offer.
Wide Temperature Range
Temperature sensors that can operate across a wide temperature range are indispensable in applications where extreme conditions are a norm. Thermistors excel in this aspect, functioning reliably in both sub-zero environments and high-temperature settings. This versatility makes them ideal for applications in HVAC systems, automotive, and aerospace, where temperature differentials can be substantial.
Long-Term Stability
In the world of temperature sensing, stability over time is of paramount importance. Thermistors exhibit remarkable long-term stability, meaning they maintain their accuracy and calibration over extended periods. This trait is especially valuable in critical applications such as medical devices, where deviations in temperature readings can have significant consequences.

Fast Response Time
The speed at which a temperature sensor responds to changing conditions is a crucial factor in various industries. Thermistors are known for their rapid response times, making them indispensable in applications where real-time temperature monitoring is essential. Industries such as automotive engineering, meteorology, and semiconductor manufacturing benefit from the swift and precise temperature readings provided by thermistors.
Compact and Robust Design
In today's world, where space constraints and durability are often critical considerations, thermistors shine with their compact and robust design. These sensors are crafted to withstand physical stress and environmental factors, making them suitable for applications in tight spaces and harsh conditions. Industries like robotics, renewable energy, and telecommunications rely on thermistors for their resilience and space-saving qualities.

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Thin Film Thermistor

 

How Do You Determine Which Thermistor And Bias Current To Use

Thermistors are categorised by how much resistance is measured at ambient room temperature i.e. 25°C; the manufacturer determines certain technical specifications for optimum use.

Temperatures and range:
Thermistors work best when measuring a single temperature within the range between -55°C and +114°C i.e. when measuring within 50°C of ambient; extremely high or low temperatures don't get recorded correctly. Using a thermistor where the setpoint temperature is in the middle of the range is the best way to go.

Depending on the bias current from the controller, each thermistor has an ideal range i.e. the temperature range where small changes in temperature are accurately recorded. The sensitivity of the thermistor is dependent on the temperature. For example, some thermistors are more sensitive at cooler temperatures than at warmer temperatures.

 

 

How Does A Thermistor Operate In A Controlled System?

A temperature controller monitors the temperature of the thermistor which then instructs a heater or cooler when to turn on or off, in order to maintain the temperature of the sensor (thermistor), as well as the target device. They are used widely in applications such as air conditioning and display fridges/freezers – upon many more.
The sensor has a small amount of current running through it (bias current), which is sent by the temperature controller. The controller can't read resistance, so it must be converted into voltage changes, by using a current source to apply a bias current across the thermistor to produce a control voltage.

To guarantee the accuracy, the thermistor should be placed close to the device that requires temperature control, either embedded or attached. If the thermistor is located too far away from the device then thermal lag time will drastically reduce the accuracy of the temperature measurement, while placing the thermistor too far from the thermoelectric cooler (heats and cools the target device) reduces the stability. The closer the thermistor is to the device, the more quickly it will react to temperature changes, and the more accurate it will be, which is key when exact temperatures are required.

Once the placement of the thermistor has been determined, then the base thermistor resistance, the bias current, and the setpoint (desired) temperature of the load on the temperature controller need to be determined.

Thin Film Thermistor

 

Thermistors vs. RTDs: 4 Key Differences To Consider

 

 

Reaction Time
Thermistors and RTDs respond differently to temperature changes. Both are thermally sensitive resistors, but thermistors can typically respond faster due to their smaller size and smaller mass. Thermistors can be coated with a thin protective layer or dipped in a thermally conductive epoxy. RTDs are typically encased in a larger housing to protect the more sensitive RTD element. The smaller mass of the thermistor enables faster response to changes in temperature.

Measurement Range and Sensitivity
The measuring range is an important factor to consider when looking for temperature sensors because some thermal applications can operate across a wide range of temperatures. The RTD is generally the best sensor for measuring a very broad range (100°C or higher) due to its relatively low change in resistance over temperature. However, that broad range also makes the RTD less sensitive than a thermistor in most systems.
Another potential benefit of the RTD is its relative linearity change in resistance. By comparison, the thermistor is highly non-linear. Most digital temperature controllers eliminate this issue by handling the measurement conversion to temperature automatically.
Some temperature controllers offer multiple measurement ranges for thermistor sensors, broadening the operating range significantly and allowing a thermistor to be used in applications that would otherwise require an RTD while maintaining the higher sensitivity of a thermistor.

Cost and Accuracy
Other key differences between thermistors and RTDs are their cost and accuracy. Thermistors are typically the most accurate temperature sensor, with commercially available accuracies as low as ±0.05°C, whereas RTDs are generally ±0.1°C or higher. At comparable accuracies, thermistors are generally available for a significantly lower cost.

Electronics
Due to the low resistance of RTD sensors, to achieve the rated accuracy, a 4-wire (sometimes referred to as Kelvin) measurement must be used, a feature not available on all temperature controllers. Using a 4-wire measurement compensates for the small, but significant, resistance errors introduced by the cables and connectors between the measurement electronics and the RTD.
By comparison, thermistors have a much higher resistance. While the same cable and connector resistances are added to a thermistor measurement, they are typically one to two orders of magnitude less. This makes them much smaller relative impacts, eliminating the need for a 4-wire measurement.

 

Thermistor Temperature Sensor Characteristics

 

Nominal Resistance at 25°C
It presents the reference needed for the calculation of the resistance at any other condition and permits the selection of the perfect sensor for a particular application.

Temperature Coefficient of Resistance
It determines the sensitivity of the resistance based on temperature response and is introduced as %/°C.

Resistance Tolerance (5%, 3%, 2%, 1%)
It can be found by multiplying the specific temperatures.

Temperature Tolerance (1.0°C, 0.5°C, 0.2°C, 0.1°C)
It presents a deviation in temperature from the common R-T diagram of a thermistor. The tolerance of temperature is consistent across a particular temperature range. Resistance Tolerance is normally determined for these thermistors.

Thermal Time Constant (Secs)
It determines the necessary duration for the Thermistor to modify a particular difference between the initial temperature and the final one.

Temperature Accuracy (ºC)
It can be evaluated as resistance tolerance related to the temperature coefficient.

Maximum Power Rating (mW)
The Thermistor will operate for a particular period while providing the acceptable stability of its properties.

Dissipation Constant (mW/°C)
It determines the ratio of variation in the Thermistor's power to the modification in body temperature at a particular temperature.

Material Constant (°K)
It presents the diagram of the R-T and is a detector of resistance at a specific temperature compared to resistance at another one. It also needs two R-T data sets and is extremely accurate for most industrial applications. It is usually calculated between 25 to 85°C temperature range.

 

Thin Film Thermistor

 

Thermistor Structure & Composition

Thermistors have a lot of sizes and shapes, and they are manufactured from a variety of substances based on their considered application and the temperature range they require to work. According to their physical shape, they can be made as flat discs for applications where they require to be in touch with a flat plane. Nevertheless, they can also be constructed in the form of rods for utilization in temperature applications. Actually, the practical form of a thermistor is based on the needs of a specific application.

Metallic oxide thermistors are usually utilized for temperatures between 300 to 700 K. These thermistors are constructed from a tiny powder substance that is sintered and pressed at high temperatures. The most usual materials to be utilized for these thermistors are Nickel oxide, Cobalt oxide, Copper oxide, Manganese oxide, and ferric oxide.

Semiconductor thermistors are employed for extremely lower temperatures. Germanium thermistors are greater utilized than their silicon samples and are employed for temperatures below 100 K. Silicon thermistors can be utilized at temperatures up to 250 K. The Thermistor itself is constructed from an exclusive crystal that has been made in a specific level of chemical materials.

 

 

Using a Thermistor to Detect Temperature

So how can we employ a thermistor to detect the temperature? As discussed before, we understand that a thermistor is a resistive instrument, and therefore according to Ohms law, a voltage reduction will be generated across it by passing a current. A thermistor is a passive kind of a sensor, so it needs an excitation alarm for its function.

The easiest way of applying this is to employ the Thermistor as a section of a potential circuit. A constant voltage is applied through the resistor to supply this. For instance, we use a 5kΩ thermistor with another 5kΩ series resistor. Therefore, the external voltage at the 25oC will be half the supply voltage as 5Ω/(5Ω+5Ω) = 0.5.

The resistance of the Thermistor varies according to the changes in temperature, so the value of the supply voltage within the Thermistor will also be modified, generating an output voltage which is based on the total series resistance in the terminals. Therefore, the practical circuit operates as a simple resistance to voltage converter. The resistance of the Thermistor is detected by temperature. So, the hotter the transducer, the lower the voltage.

If the designers reverse the position of the series resistor, the output voltage will modify in the opposite direction. In this form, the hotter the Thermistor, the higher the voltage.

Polyimide Film NTC Thermistor

 

 

Our Factory

This is Hefei Jingpu Sensor Technology Co.,Ltd. Jingpu Sensor is a national high-tech enterprise integrating R&D, production and sales of thermistors and temperature sensors. The products include various epoxy-encapsulated and glass-encapsulated thermistors, as well as various temperature sensor assemblies, which are widely used in medical (Eg: Supporting monitors, medical equipment, bacterial incubators, medical refreigerators, etc.), smart wear, Automobile (Eg: Water temperature, oil temperature, air conditioner, filter, intake pressure temperature, steering wheel, rearview mirroe, tire, battery pack, etc.), domestic appliances (Eg: Air conditioner, refrigerator, electric water heater, induction cooker, boiling water boiler, electronic Calendar, etc.), mobile power, fire alarm, meteorology, ocean and other fields.

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ISO9001:2018 Quality Management System,ISO13485 Certificate, CE certificate, Biocompatibility Test Report

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Asked Questions
 

Q: What resistance should a thermistor read?

A: Usually expressed in percent (e.g. 1%, 10%, etc). For example, if the specified resistance at 25°C for a thermistor with 10% tolerance is 10,000 ohms then the measured resistance at that temperature can range from 9,000 ohms to 11000 ohms.

Q: What causes thermistor to fail?

A: What Causes Thermistor Failure? Usually, a faulty thermistor happens from mechanical separation between the resistor element and lead material. This can happen as a result of improper handling, thermal mismatch, or heat damage.

Q: What affects a thermistor?

A: Their resistance decreases as the temperature increases. At low temperatures, the resistance of a thermistor is high, and little current can flow through them. At high temperatures, the resistance of a thermistor is low, and more current can flow through them.

Q: Should a thermistor have continuity?

A: It is important to note that you can NOT do a continuity test on a thermistor. Thermistors have a high ohm value that won't register on a continuity test on most multimeters. If you have an auto ranging multimeter, then turn the meter to the ohm setting.

Q: Do thermistors need to be calibrated?

A: However, to guarantee accuracy, the instrument's resistance measurement must be accurately calibrated and a previously calibrated thermistor (with the Steinhart-Hart coefficients entered) must be used to measure the temperature.

Q: Do thermistors go bad over time?

A: The second most common failure mode is drift in resistance value as the thermistor ages, or parameter change. This results in inaccurate temperature measurements, thereby causing the thermistor circuit to provide incorrect thermal compensation as it ages.

Q: How do I know if a thermistor is bad?

A: More important is if the meter display indicates no ohms of resistance; if this is the case, you'll know right away that the thermistor is faulty and a new one will need to be installed.

Q: Should a thermistor have continuity?

A: Do thermistors have continuity? Unfortunately, the devices do not possess this. Thermistors are designed to show the resistance value based on temperature, and so the fluctuation in resistance directly affects temperature.

Q: Does a thermistor change voltage?

A: When the resistance of the thermistor changes due to changes in temperature, the fraction of the supply voltage across the thermistor will also change producing an output voltage which is proportional to the fraction of the total series resistance between the output terminals.

Q: How can you make a thermistor more accurate?

A: The resistance of the NTC thermistor temperature and variable resistor used in this project must have the same ohm value. Thus, if the NTC thermistor reads 2,252 ohms @ 25 ˚C, the variable resistor must read 2,252 ohms. Dial the variable resistor to exactly 2,252 ohm's for best accuracy.

Q: How to choose a thermistor?

A: The right thermistor for your application will depend on many parameters, such as:
Bill-of-materials (BOM) cost.
Resistance tolerance.
Calibration points.
Sensitivity (change in resistance per degree Celsius).
Self-heating and sensor drift.

Q: Are thermistors passive or active?

A: A thermistor is a semiconductor device that is a type of passive transducer in which variation in temperature causes a corresponding change in resistance. The thermistor is a passive transducer. It needs an external power supply for its operation.

Q: How reliable is a thermistor?

A: Thermistors are highly accurate (ranging from ± 0.05°C to ± 1.5°C), but only over a limited temperature range that is within about 50°C of a base temperature. The working temperature range for most thermistors is between 0°C and 100°C.

Q: Does a thermistor change voltage?

A: When the resistance of the thermistor changes due to changes in temperature, the fraction of the supply voltage across the thermistor will also change producing an output voltage which is proportional to the fraction of the total series resistance between the output terminals.

Q: Can you put thermistors in parallel?

A: This means that the one with the lowest resistance at a given temperature controls the current path, while the others exert less influence. As a result, uneven current distribution can occur, potentially leading to excessive inrush currents and system damage.

Q: How do you test thermistor accuracy?

A: Once you have your materials, you can begin evaluating your thermistor in a few quick steps.
Step 1: Make note of the current reading on your thermistor.
Step 2: Change the resistance value to its rated resistance value. ...
Step 3: Apply heat to the thermistor and watch for changes.

Q: Can thermistors get wet?

A: For water-based applications, thermistors also offer long-term durability, allowing them tostay underwater for long periods of time without degrading in accuracy.

Q: What is the shelf life of thermistors?

A: Shelf life: Properly packaged and stored PTC*L thermistors have a minimum shelf life of 24 months after their manufacturing date (DC). Thermo-electrical functionality will not be influenced after longer storage time under the conditions described above.

Q: Can you reset a thermistor?

A: Reset After rectification of a fault, the device has to be reset. This reset can be made manually by the Test / Reset button, automatically by jumpering S1-T2 or externally by a remote reset between S1-T2.

Q: What are the limitations in using thermistors for temperature sensors?

A: However, thermistors have limitations, such as non-linear response, self-heating, and a limited temperature range. Compared to other temperature sensors, such as RTDs or thermocouples, thermistors are less accurate but more cost-effective for many applications.

Hefei Jingpu Sensor Technology Co., Ltd. is one of the most professional thermistor manufacturers and suppliers in China, specialized in providing high quality customized products. We warmly welcome you to wholesale cheap thermistor in stock here and get free sample from our factory. For price consultation, contact us.

Thread Type Temperature Probe, reusable medical temperature sensor, thermal sensor analog
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