Thermistor

Thermistor (Semiconductor Resistance sensors)
A Thermistor (thermal resistor) is a type of resistor whose electrical resistance varies with change in
temperature. Thermistor acts as a passive component in a circuit. They are an accurate, cheap, and
robust way to measure temperature. While they do not work well in extremely hot or cold
temperatures, they are the sensor of choice for many different applications. They are ideal when a
precise temperature reading is required.
Principle:
Thermistors are temperature sensitive semiconductors that exhibit a large change in resistance
over a relatively small range of temperature. There are two main types of thermistors, positive
temperature coefficient (PTC) and negative temperature coefficient (NTC). NTC thermistors
exhibit the characteristic of resistance falling with increasing temperature. These are most
commonly used for temperature measurement. Thermistor is similar to an RTD, but a
semiconductor material is used instead of a metal. Thermistor is a solid state device and has
larger sensitivity than does an RTD. Unlike RTD’s, the temperature-resistance characteristic of a
Thermistor is non-linear, and cannot be characterized by a single coefficient. Unlike RTDs, the
resistance of a Thermistor decreases with increasing temperature.
Construction:
The device is manufactured from materials like sintered mixtures of oxides of metals such as
manganese, nickel, cobalt, and iron. Their resistances range from 0.4 ohms to 75 mega-ohms
and they may be fabricated in wide variety of shapes and sizes. Smaller thermistors are in the
form of beads of diameter from 0.15 millimeters to 1.5 millimeters. Such a bead may be sealed in
the tip of solid glass rod to form probe which is easier to mount than bead. Alternatively
thermistor may be in the form of disks and washers made by pressing thermistor material under
high pressure into flat cylindrical shapes with diameter from 3 millimeters to 25 millimeters.
Washers may be stacked and placed in series or parallel to increase power disciplining
capability.
Working:
Thermistor Types
There are two types of thermistors:
Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) Thermistor

Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) Thermistor
NTC Thermistor
In an NTC thermistor, when the temperature increases, resistance decreases. And when
temperature decreases, resistance increases. Hence in an NTC thermistor temperature and
resistance are inversely proportional. These are the most common type of themistor.
PTC Thermistor
A PTC thermistor has the direct relationship between temperature and resistance. When
temperature increases, the resistance increases. And when temperature decreases, resistance
decreases. Hence in a PTC thermistor temperature and resistance are directly proportional.
Although PTC thermistors are not as common as NTC thermistors, they are frequently used as a
form of circuit protection. Similar to the function of fuses, PTC thermistors can act as current-
limiting device.
Advantages
1. The thermistor has fast response over narrow temperature range.

2. It is small in size.
3. Contact and lead resistance problem not occurred due to large resistance.
4. It has good sensitivity in NTC region.
5. Cost is low.
Disadvantages
1. The thermistor need of shielding power lines.
2. The excitation current should be low to avoid self heating.
3. It is not suitable for large temperature range.
4. The resistance temperature characteristics are non linear.
Applications of Thermistor
1. These are compact. It can be used as a temperature sensor in Digital Thermometers.
2. In the automotive industry to measure the temperature of the coolant and the oil in the trucks
as well as in cars these are preferred.
3. Household appliances make use of thermistor to increase or decrease the amount of heat
required.
4. To protect the circuits from the overloading effect that is by increasing the resistance value.
Hence the thermistors are considered as the circuit protection elements.
5. In the circuits of Wheat stone Bridge, Rechargeable batteries, Electronic device circuits
thermistors are utilized

Thermistor

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Thermistor (Semiconductor Resistance sensors)

There are two types of thermistors:

Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) Thermistor

1. The thermistor has fast response over narrow temperature range.

4. It has good sensitivity in NTC region.

1. The thermistor need of shielding power lines.

2. The excitation current should be low to avoid self heating.

3. It is not suitable for large temperature range.

4. The resistance temperature characteristics are non linear.

1. These are compact. It can be used as a temperature sensor in Digital Thermometers.

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