1.

Introduction
Thermistors, derived from Thermally sensitive resistors, are solid state devices that exhibit a high coefficient of resistivity. They are used to measure temperature typically in the range 50 to 200C, as well as being incorporated into electrical circuits as protection and compensation devices. There are two types of Thermistor; an NTC (negative temperature coefficient), whose resistance changes inversely with temperature (Which discussed here), and a PTC (positive temperature coefficient) whose resistance changes proportionally to temperature. There are no industry standard Thermistors consequently each manufacturer produces devices with unique characteristics in various formats such as bead, disc, washer or chip. The working principle of Negative Temperature Resistance (NTC) Thermistor in a similar way to the resistance thermometer that it uses an electrical resistor made of a semiconductor material instead of a metal. It has a negative temperature resistance giving it the name NTC Thermistor. Its resistance decreases as temperature increases. Because of the limited temperature range of Thermistor devices, the temperature probes are predominantly used in applications such as HVAC and refrigeration where they are connected directly to the measurement or control instruments or panel meters. Thermistor Advantages: Cost effective in volume. Stable. Better accuracy than thermocouples.

Thermistor Disadvantages: Linear only over a limited temperature range. No industry standard. Not always interchangeable.

2. Objectives:
To show how the NTC Thermistor works. To show the non-linearity of the NTC Thermistor.

3. Equipment:
a. TD400_0908 Temperature Measurement and Calibration, see Fig.1.
Self-contained bench-mounting unit for experiments with eight different popular temperature measuring devices, and a thermowell to show temperature lag Uses a platinum resistance thermometer as a reference to accurately calibrate the other devices Shows how electrical resistance devices and thermocouples work, their characteristics and how to connect them correctly to reduce measurement errors Includes liquid-in-glass thermometers with safe non-toxic liquid - no mercury Built-in water heater tank with protective guard and drain tap for safe experiments Works with TecQuipments Versatile Data Acquisition System (VDAS) for simple and reliable recording and processing of results Built-in pressure sensor (barometer) with display of local water boiling temperature

b. Negative temperature coefficient (NTC) Thermistor.

Fig.1: Temperature Measurement and Calibration Apparatus

2

4. Procedure:
1. Create a blank results table as shown in table 1

NTC Thermistor Calibration Reference Measured Calculated Standard Temperature Voltage Resistance Resistance from (oC) (mV) () Specification ()

Deviation ()

Error (%)

Table 1: Blank results table

2. Connect reference sensor to its socket and connect the NTC Thermistor to the millivoltmeter and the constant current source. 3. Set up the heater and ice box as follows: a) Disconnect the electrical supply b) Shut down the drain valve at the back of the heater tank c) Unscrew the lid of the heater tank and fill it with approximately 1.5 liters of clean water so that it is half full. d) Refit the lid of heater tank e) Add ice to the ice box and put its lid on. f) Make sure the heater switch is off and reconnect the electrical supply. g) Fit and adjust the black O rings to each device you are to use. Adjust the O rings so that each device is immersed in the heater tank water by between 70 mm and 80 mm. If necessary add more water to the heater tank. 4. Put the reference sensor and the NTC Thermistor into the icebox (through the holes in its lid). Wait a few minutes for the reading to stabilize and record them (the reference temperature should be between 0 oC and 1 o C). 5. Now put both devices into the heater tank (through the holes in its lid). Switch on the heater and note the reference temperature. 6. At interval of 5 oC (shown by the reference temperature), record the input 1 readings of the millivoltmeter. 7. Stop the experiment and switch off the heater when the reference temperature reaches 100 oC.

5. Results and Discussion:

NTC Thermistor Calibration Reference Temperature (oC) 0 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 Measured Voltage (mV) 247.7 96.8 83.1 68.1 55.7 49.2 42 36 32.1 26.8 23.5 19.1 16.3 14.8 12.4 11.3 10.2 Standard Calculated Resistance from Resistance Specification () 247.7 96.8 83.1 68.1 55.7 49.2 42 36 32.1 26.8 23.5 19.1 16.3 14.8 12.4 11.3 10.2 () 261 100 84.18 71.08 60.32 51.42 44.04 37.82 32.64 28.33 24.7 21.57 18.91 16.65 14.71 13.02 11.56 Deviation () 13.3 3.2 1.08 2.98 4.62 2.22 2.04 1.82 0.54 1.53 1.2 2.47 2.61 1.85 2.31 1.72 1.36

Error (%) 5.09578544 3.2 1.28296507 4.1924592 7.65915119 4.31738623 4.63215259 4.81226864 1.65441176 5.40063537 4.8582996 11.4510895 13.802221 11.1111111 15.703603 13.2104455 11.7647059

Given that the constant current is 1 mA use Ohms Law to calculate the resistance of PRT for each raw in your table. You should see that the calculated resistance is directly proportional to the measured voltage. Plot chart of resistance (vertical axis) against temperature (horizontal axis). Start the vertical Axis at 100 Ohm. Add to your results table and chart the standard resistances given by table 2 that matches the reference temperatures. In your chart draw a straight line through the standard values. Note any difference between the standard and your measured resistances. On your results table, find the difference between the standard and your results (the deviation) and calculate the percentage error

Percentage error = (deviation / standard) x 100 Ohms Law In 1827, a physicist George Ohm published his discovery that all electrical circuits obey a simple relationship: The current passing through a conductor is directly proportional to the voltage drop and inversely proportional to the resistance of the conductor. I= V/R where, I= current V=voltage R=Resistance

NTC
300 250

Resistance

200 150 100 50 0 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 Calculated Resistance Standard Resistance from Specification

Temperature oC

Fig.2: NTC

6. Conclusion:
We see that the errors deviate between (15.7 - 1.27) %, and we see that relation is not completely linear as we discussed before.

7. References:
TecQuibment user Manuel.

Table 2: PT100 (PRT) Resistance Temperature Detector Standards

261.0 212.6 174.4 144.2 119.9 100.0 84.18 71.08 60.32 51.42 44.04

37.82 32.64 28.33 24.70 21.57 18.91 16.65 14.71 13.02 11.56

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100