Thermistor | Thermistor Types & Applications | Radio-Electronics.

Com 06/02/2018, 01)40

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Thermistor Tutorial
- overview or tutorial about what is a thermistor & the basics its operation as well as the
thermistor types and applications.

THERMISTOR TUTORIAL INCLUDES

Thermistor (/info/data/resistor/thermistor/thermistor.php)
NTC thermistor (/info/data/resistor/thermistor/ntc-negative-temperature-coefficient.php)
PTC thermistor (/info/data/resistor/thermistor/ptc-positive-temperature-coefficient.php)
Thermistor specifications (/info/data/resistor/thermistor/thermistor-specifications.php)

See also
Resistor types (/info/data/resistor/resistor-types.php)
Variable resistor (/info/data/resistor/variable-adjustable-trimmer-resistor-potentiometer.php)
Light dependent resistor (/info/data/resistor/ldr/light_dependent_resistor.php)
Resistor colour code (/info/data/resistor/resistors-colours-code-coding-chart.php)
Standard resistor values (/info/data/resistor/resistor_standard_values.php)
E series resistor values (/info/data/resistor/e-series-e3-e6-e12-e24-e48-e96.php)
Latest news

The name thermistor is a shortening of the words thermally sensitive resistor. This describes the action of the Premier Farnell and IDT announce new
thermistor particularly well. global franchise (/news/distribution-
supply/premier-farnell-and-idt-announce-
Today, thermistors are used in a wide variety of devices from temperature sensors through to providing new-9132)
temperature compensation in electronic circuits.
First profile 35b bonding CPE released
As such thermistors are widely used in electronic, although they are obviously not as commonly used as ordinary (/news/telecoms-networks/first-profile-
resistors, capacitors and transistors. 35b-bonding-cpe-released-9131)
26 GHz 5G mmW reconfigurable 256-
Thermistor circuit symbol element active antenna array
(/news/antennas-propagation/26-ghz-5g-
The thermistor is recognised within circuits by its own circuit symbol. The thermistor circuit symbol uses the mmw-reconfigurable-256-element-9130)
standard resistor rectangle as its basis and then has a diagonal line through it which has a small vertical section.
Nokia, Deutsche Telekom & Hamburg Port
Authority collaborate in 5G research
(/news/cellular-telecoms/nokia-deutsche-
telekom-hamburg-port-9129)
Compact step-down µModule meets PCB
area constraints (/news/power-
Thermistor circuit symbol
management/compact-step-down-
This thermistor circuit symbol is widely used within circuit diagrams. module-meets-pcb-area-9128)

. . . . More News (http://www.radio-

Thermistor types electronics.com/news.php)
There are a number of ways in which thermistors can be categorised into the different thermistor types. The first is
dependent upon the way they react to heat. Some increase their resistance with increasing temperature, while FOCUS ON WIRELESS (/TECH-
others exhibit a fall in resistance. ZONE/DIGIKEY/)
It is possible to use a very simplified equation for the curve of a thermistor to expand this idea:
Select and Apply the Right Low-Power
ΔR = k x &DeltaT Microcontroller for the IoT
(https://ad.doubleclick.net/ddm/clk/413031238;21397211

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Thermistor | Thermistor Types & Applications | Radio-Electronics.Com 06/02/2018, 01)40

Where https://www.digikey.com/en/articles/techzone/2017/dec/
ΔR = change in resistance. and-apply-the-right-low-power-
ΔT = change in temperature. microcontroller-for-the-iot)
k = first-order temperature coefficient of resistance. Develop Real-Time Microcontroller-Based
Applications Quickly Using MicroPython
In most cases the relationship between temperature and resistance is non-linear, but over small changes a linear
(https://ad.doubleclick.net/ddm/clk/411419961;21221031
relationship can be assumed.
https://www.digikey.com/en/articles/techzone/2017/sep/
For some thermistors the value of k is positive, whereas for others it is negative. real-time-mcu-based-applications-
micropython)
Negative temperature coefficient (NTC thermistor) This type of thermistor has the property where the
Wireless Modules Operating in the Sub-
resistance decreases with increasing temperature, i.e. k is negative. Read more about the NTC thermistor
GHz Bands Offer a Simpler Route to
(http://www.radio-electronics.com/info/data/resistor/thermistor/ntc-negative-temperature-
Market for Sensor Networks
coefficient.php)
(https://ad.doubleclick.net/ddm/clk/411477151;21221031
Positive temperature coefficient (PTC thermistor) This type has the property where the resistance https://www.digikey.com/en/articles/techzone/2017/nov/
increases with increasing temperature, i.e. the value of k is positive. Read more about the PTC thermistor modules-operating-in-the-sub-ghz-bands)
(http://www.radio-electronics.com/info/data/resistor/thermistor/ptc-positive-temperature- Selecting the Right FCC/CE Compliant
coefficient.php) Wireless Module
(https://ad.doubleclick.net/ddm/clk/411424308;21221031
In addition to the nature of the resistance change, thermistors can also be categorised according to the type of
https://www.digikey.com/en/articles/techzone/2017/nov/
material used. Typically they use one of two materials:
the-right-fcc-ce-compliant-wireless-
Metallic compounds including oxides etc. module)

Single-crystal semiconductors More Focus on Wireless (/tech-

zone/digikey/)
History & development of the thermistor
As early as the nineteenth century people have been able to demonstrate the variation of a resistor with FOCUS ON TEST (/TECH-
temperature. These have been used in a variety of ways, but many suffer from a comparatively small variation over ZONE/FOCUS_ON_TEST/)
even a large temperature range. Thermistors generally imply the use of semiconductors, and these provide a much
Pre-5G-NR Signal Generation and Analysis
larger resistance variation for a given temperature change.
(https://www.rohde-
Of the two types of material used for thermistors, the metallic compounds were the first to be discovered. The schwarz.com/applications/pre-5g-nr-
negative temperature co-efficient was observed by Faraday in 1833 when he measured the resistance variation with signal-generation-and-analysis-
temperature of silver sulphide. However it took until the 1940s before metallic oxides became available application-note_56280-493057.html?
commercially. WT.mc_id=site_com_mc_141_re_17-
18__1ma308_ros_text-link___)
With the work that was undertaken into semiconductor materials after the Second World War, crystal germanium
Characterization of SIGFOX Devices
thermistors were studied, and later silicon thermistors were investigated.
(https://www.rohde-
Although there are two types of thermistor, the metallic oxides and the semiconductor varieties, they cover schwarz.com/applications/characterization-
different temperature ranges and in this way they do not compete. of-sigfox-devices-from-lab-to-production-
line-application-note_56280-
502083.html?
Thermistor structure & composition WT.mc_id=site_com_mc_143_re_17-
Thermistors come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and they are made from a variety of materials dependent upon 18__1ma294_ros_text-link___)
their intended application and the temperature range over which they need to operate. In terms of their physical Increase the IP connection security of
shape they can come as flat discs for applications where they need to be in contact with a flat surface. However your IoT device (https://www.rohde-
they can also be made in the form of beads or even rods for use in temperature probes. In fact the actual shape of schwarz.com/applications/increase-the-
a thermistor is very dependent upon the requirements for the application. ip-connection-security-of-your-iot-device-
application-card_56279-391458.html?
Metallic oxide thermistors are generally used for temperatures in the range 200 - 700 K. These thermistors are WT.mc_id=site_com_mc_143_re_17-18__ip-
made from a fine powder version of the material that is compressed and sintered at high temperature. The most connection-security-appcard_ros_text-
common materials to be used for these thermistors are Manganese oxide, nickel oxide, cobalt oxide, copper oxide link___)
and ferric oxide.
Characterization of LoRa Devices
Semiconductor thermistors are used for much lower temperatures. Germanium thermistors are more widely used (https://www.rohde-
than their silicon counterparts and are used for temperatures below 100 K, i.e. within 100 degrees of absolute zero. schwarz.com/applications/characterization-
Silicon thermistors can be used at temperatures up to 250 K. Above this temperature a positive temperature of-lora-devices-application-note_56280-
coefficient sets in. The thermistor itself is made from a single crystal which has been doped to a level of 10^16 - 507458.html?
10^17 per cubic centimetre. WT.mc_id=site_com_mc_143_re_17-
18__1ma295_ros_text-link___)

Thermistor applications More Focus on Test (/tech-

zone/focus_on_test/)
There are many different thermistor applications - they are found in many applications. They provide very cheap,
yet effective elements in circuits and as such they are very attractive to use. The actual applications depend upon
whether the thermistor is a positive or negative temperature co-efficient. INDUSTRY CURRENTS BLOG (/INDUSTRY-
CURRENTS/)
1. Applications for negative temperature coefficient thermistors:

Very low temperature thermometers: They are used as resistance thermometers in very low-
temperature measurements.

Digital thermostats: These thermistors are also commonly used in modern digital thermostats.

Battery pack monitors: NTC thermistors are also used to monitor the temperature of battery packs
while charging. As modern batteries such as Li-ion batteries are very sensitive to overcharging, the
temperature provides a very good indication of the charging state, and when to terminate the charge
cycle. |

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Thermistor | Thermistor Types & Applications | Radio-Electronics.Com 06/02/2018, 01)40

In-rush protection devices: NTC thermistors can be used as in-rush-current limiting devices in power The fundamental things Or, a cos is still
supply circuits. They present a higher resistance initially which prevents large currents from flowing at a cos (/industry-
turn-on, and then heat up and become much lower resistance to allow higher current flow during currents/posts/fundamental-things-or-a-
normal operation. These thermistors are usually much larger than measuring type thermistors, and are cos-still-a-cos)
purpose designed for this application. to be added

Read more about the NTC thermistor (http://www.radio-

electronics.com/info/data/resistor/thermistor/ntc-negative-temperature-coefficient.php) TRAINING COURSES (/LEARNING-TRAINING-
COURSES/)
2. Applications for positive temperature coefficient thermistors:
Online - Fundamentals
Current limiting devices: PTC thermistors can be used as current limiting devices in electronic circuits, of Modern RF and
where they can be used as an alternative to a fuse. Current flowing through the device under normal Wireless
conditions causes a small amount of heating which does not give rise to any undue effects. However if Communications
the current is large, then it gives rise to more heat which the device may not be able to lose to the Engineering
surroundings and the resistance goes up. In turn this gives rise to more heat generation in a positive (/learning-training-
feedback effect. As the resistance increases, so the current falls, thereby protecting the device. courses/courses_item.php?
id=radio-
Read more about the PTC thermistor (http://www.radio-
engineering/online---
electronics.com/info/data/resistor/thermistor/ptc-positive-temperature-coefficient.php)
fundamentals-of-
Thermistors can be used in a wide variety of applications. They provide a simple, reliable and inexpensive method modern-rf-86)
of sensing temperatures. As such they may be found in a wide variety of devices from fire alarms to thermostats. This on-line course enables
you to quickly get up-to-
Although they may be used on their own, they may also be used as part of a Wheatstone bridge to provide higher
speed & understand key
degrees of accuracy.
concepts of modern radio
Another thermistor application is as temperature compensation devices. Most resistors have a positive temperature frequency, RF & wireless
communications systems
co-efficient, their resistance increasing with increasing temperature. In applications where stability is required, a
thermistor with a negative temperature co-efficient can be incorporated into the circuit to counteract the effect of More training courses
(/learning-training-
the components with a positive temperature co-efficient.
courses/)
By Ian Poole (https://plus.google.com/104687638164370436625?rel=author)

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