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The Thermistor
What is a thermistor? A thermistor is a temperature-sensing element composed of sintered
semiconductor material which exhibits a large change in resistance
proportional to a small change in temperature. Thermistors usually
have negative temperature coefficients which means the resistance of the thermistor decreases as the
temperature increases.
| Using a Thermistor - Benefits
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A Word About Accuracy
Thermistors are one of the most accurate types of temperature sensors. OMEGA thermistors have an accuracy of ±0.1°C or ±0.2°C depending on the
particular thermistor model. However thermistors are fairly limited in their temperature range, working only over a nominal range of 0°C to 100°C .
Stability
Finished thermistors are chemically stable
and not significantly affected by aging.
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Thermistor Elements
The thermistor element is the simplest form of thermistor.
Because of their compact size, thermistor elements are commonly used when space is very limited. OMEGA offers
a wide variety of thermistor elements which vary not only in form factor but also in their resistance versus temperature characteristics. Since
thermistors are non-linear, the instrument used to read the temperature must linearize the reading.
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Linear Response Thermistor Elements
For applications requiring thermistors with linear response to temperature change, OMEGA offers linear components. These unique devices consist of a thermistor
composite for temperature sensing and an external resistor composite for linearizing.
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Thermistor Probes
The standalone thermistor element is relatively fragile and can not be placed in a rugged environment. OMEGA offers thermistor probes
which are thermistor elements embedded in metal tubes. Thermistor probes are much more suitable for industrial environments than thermistor elements.
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