China Custom NTC Sensor Probe and Cable

Sensor probe and cable is the packaging form of the sensor, which is the most basic unit of the sensor. The sensor is packaged through a reasonable electronic circuit and external packaging structure. It has some independent functional components we need. Like the sensor, it is usually divided into: NTC thermistor probe, PT100 probe, PT1000 probe, Ds18b20 probe, water temperature probe, automotive sensor probe, RTDs probe, temperature control probe, temperature adjustment probe, home appliance sensor probe, etc.

Ds18b20 sensor probe with cable

Temperature control probe with cable

PT100 temperature sensor probe with cable

A NTC probe structure based on temperature prediction and its temperature measurement method, the probe includes: multiple NTC probes; copper shell; metal support structure, wire and heat conductor.
Step 1, among m NTC probes, obtain the temperatures T0, T1, …, Tn measured at equal time intervals through each NTC probe, where n represents the serial number of the collected temperature;
Step 2, calculate the temperature difference vn=TnTn1 collected at adjacent temperature measurement times;
Step 3, calculate the parameter α=vn/vn1;
Step 4, calculate the predicted temperature Tp=Tn1+vn/(1α) of a single probe;
Step 5, calculate the measured temperature Tb. The present invention can further reduce the error and has good general applicability.

Full analysis of thermistors!

🤔 Do you know what a thermistor is? It is a little expert in electronic circuits!

👍 Thermistors, in simple terms, are a type of sensitive element that can adjust its resistance value according to temperature changes.

🔥 Positive temperature coefficient thermistor (PTC), when the temperature rises, its resistance value will increase significantly. This feature makes it shine in automatic control circuits!

Water temperature sensor probe with cable

BBQ probe oven NTC sensor with cable

NTC Sensor Probe and Cable

❄️ The negative temperature coefficient thermistor (NTC) is the opposite, with the resistance decreasing when the temperature rises. In household appliances, it is often used for soft start, automatic detection and control circuits.

💡 Now you have a deeper understanding of thermistors! In the electronic world, it is an indispensable role!

1. Introduction to NTC
NTC thermistor is a thermistor named after the acronym of Negative Temperature Coefficient. Usually, the term “termistor” refers to NTC thermistors. It was discovered by Michael Faraday, who was studying silver sulfide semiconductors at the time, in 1833, and commercialized by Samuel Reuben in the 1930s. NTC thermistor is an oxide semiconductor ceramic composed of manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni) and cobalt (Co).
It can be seen everywhere in our lives. Due to the characteristic that the resistance decreases with the increase of temperature, it is not only used as a temperature sensing device in thermometers and air conditioners, or a temperature control device in smartphones, kettles and irons, but also used for current control in power supply equipment. Recently, as the degree of vehicle electrification increases, thermistors are increasingly being used in automotive products.

2. Working Principle
Generally, the resistance of metals increases as the temperature increases. This is because heat intensifies the lattice vibration, and the average moving speed of free electrons decreases accordingly.

In contrast, the proportion of free electrons and holes in semiconductors increases due to heat conduction, and this part is greater than the proportion of the part where the speed decreases, so the resistance value decreases.

In addition, due to the existence of the band gap in semiconductors, when externally heated, electrons in the valence band move to the conduction band and conduct electricity. In other words, the resistance value decreases as the temperature increases.

3. Basic characteristics
3.1 Resistance-temperature characteristics (R-T characteristics)
The resistance value of an NTC thermistor is measured at a current with sufficiently low self-heating (heat generated due to the applied current). As a standard, it is recommended to use the maximum operating current. And, the resistance value needs to be expressed in pairs with the temperature.
The characteristic curve is described by the following formula:

R0, R1: resistance value at temperature T0, T1

T0, T1: absolute temperature

B: B constant

R-T Characteristics of NTC Thermistors

Figure 1: R-T characteristic of NTC thermistor

3.2 B constant
The B constant is a single value that characterizes the NTC thermistor. Adjustment of the B constant always requires two points. The B constant describes the slope of the two points.
If the two points are different, the B constant will also be different, so please pay attention when comparing. (See Figure 2)

The horizontal axis is the temperature characteristic of 1-T

Figure 2: Different B constants selected at 2 points

From this, it can be seen that B is the slope of the lnR vs. 1/T curve:

Murata uses 25°C and 50°C to define the B constant, written as B (25/50).

As shown in Figure 3, 1/T (T is absolute temperature) is in logarithmic proportion to the resistance value. It can be seen that the relationship is close to a straight line.

V-I Characteristics of NTC Thermistors

Figure 3: Temperature characteristics with 1/T as the horizontal axis

3.3 Volt-ampere characteristics (V-I characteristics)
The V-I characteristics of NTC thermistors are shown in Figure 4.

Thermal dissipation constant per unit element

Figure 4: V-I characteristics of NTC thermistors

In the area with low current, the voltage of the ohmic contact gradually increases as the current gradually increases. The self-heating caused by the flow of current does not cause the temperature of the resistor to rise by dissipating heat from the surface of the thermistor and other parts.
However, when the heat generation is large, the temperature of the thermistor itself rises and the resistance value decreases. In such an area, the proportional relationship between current and voltage no longer holds.

Generally, thermistors are used in an area where the self-heating is as low as possible. As a standard, it is recommended that the operating current be kept below the maximum operating current.

If used in an area exceeding the voltage peak, thermal runaway reactions such as repeated heating and reduced resistance may occur, causing the thermistor to turn red or break. Please avoid using it in this range.

3.4 Temperature coefficient of resistance (α)
The rate of change of the NTC thermistor per unit temperature is the temperature coefficient, which is calculated by the following formula.

Exemplu: When the temperature is close to 50°C and the B constant is 3380K
α = −3380/(273.15 + 50)² × 100 [%/°C] = −3.2 [%/°C]
Therefore, the temperature coefficient of resistance is as follows.

Thermal Time Constant of NTC Thermistor

α = − B/T² × 100 [%/°C]

3.5 Thermal dissipation constant (δ)
When the ambient temperature is T1, when the thermistor consumes power P (mw) and its temperature changes to T2, the following formula holds.

P = δ (T2 − T1)

δ is the thermal dissipation constant (mW/°C). The above formula is transformed as follows.

NCU15 maximum voltage derating

δ = P/ (T2 − T1)

The thermal dissipation constant δ refers to the power required to increase the temperature by 1°C under self-heating conditions.

The thermal dissipation constant δ is determined by the balance between “self-heating due to power consumption” și “heat dissipation”, and therefore varies significantly depending on the thermistor’s operating environment.

Maximum operating current (Iop), maximum operating voltage (Vop)

Murata defined the concept of “thermal dissipation constant per unit element”.

3.6 Thermal time constant (τ)

When a thermistor maintained at temperature T0 is suddenly changed to ambient temperature T1, the time it takes to change to the target temperature T1 is called the thermal time constant (τ). Usually, this value refers to the time required to reach 63.2% of the temperature difference between T0 and T1.

Murata’s resistance value measurement method

When a thermistor maintained at one temperature (T0) is exposed to another temperature (T1), the temperature changes exponentially, and the temperature (T) after the elapse of time (t) is expressed as follows.

T = (T1 − T0) (1 − exp (−t/τ) ) + T0

Take t = τ,

T = (T1 − T0) (1−1/e) + T0

(T − T0)/(T1 − T0) ＝ 1 − 1/e ＝ 0.632

That is why τ is specified as the time to reach 63.2% of the temperature difference.
Figure 6: Thermal time constant of NTC thermistor

3.7 Maximum voltage (Vmax)

The maximum voltage that can be directly applied to the thermistor. When the applied voltage exceeds the maximum voltage, the product performance will deteriorate or even be destroyed.

In addition, the temperature of the component rises due to self-heating. It is necessary to pay attention that the temperature of the component does not exceed the operating temperature range.

Output characteristics of resistor-grounded and thermistor-grounded circuits

Figure 7: Maximum voltage derating for NCU15 type

3.8 Maximum operating current (Iop), maximum operating voltage (Vop)
Murata defines the maximum operating current and maximum operating voltage as the current and voltage at which self-heating is 0.1℃ when applied. With reference to this value, thermistors can achieve more accurate temperature measurement.

Therefore, applying current/voltage exceeding the maximum operating current/voltage does not cause thermistor performance degradation. However, please note that self-heating of the component will cause detection errors.

How Murata calculates the maximum operating current

When calculating the maximum operating current, the thermal dissipation constant (1mW/°C) defined by the unit component is required. The thermal dissipation constant indicates the degree of heat dissipation, but the heat dissipation state varies greatly depending on the working environment.
The working environment includes the material, thickness, structure, soldering area size, hot plate contact, resin packaging, etc. of the substrate. The use of the unit component definition eliminates environmental interference factors.
According to experience, the thermal dissipation constant in actual use is about 3 la 4 times that of the unit component. Assuming that the actual thermal dissipation constant is 3.5 times, the maximum operating current is shown in the blue curve in the figure. Compared with the case of 1mW/°C, it is now 1.9 times (√3.5 times).

3.9 Zero load resistance value
The resistance value measured at a current (voltage) where self-heating is negligible. As a standard, it is recommended to use the maximum operating current.

Adjustment of R value and change of output characteristics

Figure 9: Murata’s resistance value measurement method

4. How to use
4.1 Circuit diagram
The output voltage may vary depending on the NTC thermistor wiring diagram. You can simulate it at the following URL on the Murata official website.

SimSurfing: NTC Thermistor Simulator (murata.co.jp)
Figure 10 Output characteristics of resistor grounding and thermistor grounding circuits
4.2 Adjustment of R1 (voltage divider resistor), R2 (parallel resistor), R3 (series resistor)

The output voltage may vary according to the circuit diagram.
Figure 11 Adjustment of R value and change of output characteristics

4.3 Calculation of detection error using Murata’s official tool

Select the relevant parameters of the NTC thermistor and the relevant parameters of the voltage divider circuit (reference voltage and voltage divider resistor, resistance accuracy), and then the error curve of temperature detection can be generated normally, as shown in the figure below:
Figure 12 Generating temperature detection error curve using official tools