Resistance Temperature Detector (Pt100)

What is a Pt100 ?
A platinum resistance temperature detector (RTD) Pt100 is a device with a typical resistance
of 100 at 0C (it is called Pt100). It changes resistance value as its temperature changes
following a positive slope (resistance increases when temperature is increasing).
They have been used for many years to measure temperature in laboratory and industrial
processes, and have developed a reputation for accuracy,repeatability, and stability. A RTD can
typically measure temperatures up to 850 C. The relationship between resistance and
temperature is relatively linear as shown below for a sample 100 .



This relationship appears relatively linear, but curve fitting is often the most accurate way to
make an accurate RTD measurement.
Why use a Pt100 instead of a thermocouple?
Each type of temperature sensor has a particular set of conditions for which it is best
suited. RTDs, in particular Pt100, offer several advantages:
A wide temperature range (approximately -200 to +850C) with only one sensor
Good accuracy (better than thermocouples)
Good interchangeability
Long-term stability
With a temperature range up to +850C, RTDs can be used in all but the highest-temperature
industrial processes. When made using metals such as platinum, they are very stable and are
not affected by corrosion or oxidation. Other materials such as nickel, copper, and nickel-iron
alloy have also been used for RTDs. However, these materials are not commonly used since
they have lower temperature capabilities and are not as stable or repeatable as platinum.
What is a thermocouple sensor ?
One of the most frequently used temperature sensors is the thermocouple. Thermocouples are
rugged, inexpensive devices that operate over a wide temperature range. They are created
whenever two dissimilar metals touch and the contact point produces a small open-circuit
voltage as a function of temperature. This thermoelectric voltage is known as the Seebeck
voltage, named after Thomas Seebeck, who discovered it in 1821. The voltage is nonlinear with
respect to temperature (click here to look at tables of conversions from C to mV).
Several types of thermocouples are available, and different types are designated by capital
letters that indicate their compositions according to American National Standards Institute
(ANSI) conventions. For example, a J-type thermocouple has one iron conductor and one
constantan (a copper-nickel alloy) conductor.