Notice # 004

Version 2.0
May 23, 2012

Using Non-standard
Controllers

10K

Thermistors

on

MACH-System

INTRODUCTION
In retrofit applications, it is quite common to consider re-using thermistors that are present
on the job site. Thermistors come in a variety of values and curves. Reliable Controls
employs a standard 10K thermistor. The Reliable Controls standard thermistor curve
range is preprogrammed into the controllers. This document will explain how other nonstandard thermistors can be used in conjunction with the Reliable Controls MACHSystem.

Application Notice

TO USE NON-STANDARD THERMISTORS

1

Obtain the thermistor resistance vs. temperature curve.

Create a Voltage and Resistance Mapped to Temperature table by using the

appropriate equation along with Table 1 as a framework.

Populate the Tables worksheet in RC-Studio with the table values acquired in
step 2.

In the Inputs worksheet, set the inputs Range field to the table defined in step
3.

1) OBTAINING

THE

THERMISTOR CURVE

To use thermistors other than the standard 10K Reliable Controls curve, a table must be
created that maps a voltage to a temperature. A thermistor curve is required in order to
create the Table. The thermistor curve will provide the thermistor resistance value for a
given temperature. Table 1 shows a sample thermistor resistance table that correlates a
voltage (Vin) and resistance (Rt) to a temperature.
TABLE 1: VOLTAGE (VIN) AND RESISTANCE (RT) MAPPED TO TEMPERATURE - EXAMPLE ONLY

Temperature C

Resistance of Thermistor (Rt)

Voltage at Input (Vin)

15

3300

1.24

20

1750

0.75

25

1000

0.454

30

750

0.349

2012 Reliable Controls Corporation . 120 Hallowell Road . Victoria, BC . V9A 7K2 . 250.475.2036 . 877.475.9301 . Fax: 250.475.2096
Page 1 of 7

APPLICATION NOTICE: Non-Standard 10k Thermistors & MACH-System Controllers

2) CALCULATING

THE

VOLTAGE

AT A

GIVEN TEMPERATURE

The voltage divider formula is used to calculate the voltage value (Vin) for a temperature's
resistance. In this section there are three formulas, as the on-board pull-up voltage and
resistance is different on Reliable Controls products. Pick the appropriate equation for your
controller and calculate the values of Vin across the range of expected temperatures within the
desired application. Table 1 uses the temperatures of 15, 20, 25, and 30 C as an example.

MACH SERIES
Use Equation 1 for MACH series; MACH1, MACH2, MACH-Zone, MACH-Air, MACH-Stat, or
MACH-Global.

Equation 1

FIGURE 1: VOLTAGE DIVIDER CIRCUIT AND EQUATION FOR THE MACH SERIES OF CONTROLLERS.

EXAMPLE
Calculate the Vin by using the voltage divider circuit and equation for the MACH series of
controllers as shown in Figure 2. Assume a temperature of 20 C and an Rt of 1750 .

FIGURE 2: VOLTAGE DIVIDER CIRCUIT AND EQUATION FOR THE MACH SERIES CONTROLLERS

2012 Reliable Controls Corporation . 120 Hallowell Road . Victoria, BC . V9A 7K2 . 250.475.2036 . 877.475.9301 . Fax: 250.475.2096
Page 2 of 7

APPLICATION NOTICE: Non-Standard 10k Thermistors & MACH-System Controllers

MACH-PRO SERIES AND SMART-SPACE CONTROLLERS

Use Equation 2 for MACH-Pro series; MACH-ProPoint, MACH-ProSys, MACH-ProWebSys,
SMART-Space Controller, and MACH-ProZone.

Equation 2

FIGURE 3: VOLTAGE DIVIDER CIRCUIT AND EQUATION FOR THE MACH-PRO SERIES AND THE SSC

SMART-SENSOR LCDIO
Use Equation 3 for the SMART-Sensor LCD-IO.

Equation 3

FIGURE 4: VOLTAGE DIVIDER CIRCUIT AND EQUATION FOR THE SMART-SENSOR LCD-IO.

3) POPULATING

THE

TABLES WORKSHEET

Populate the Tables worksheet with the previously calculated values such as in Table 1. Figure 5
shows the voltage values (Vin) entered into Column 1, while the corresponding temperatures (in
C) in Column 2. To set the range of the table, double-click the tables column header to open
the Range and Unit dialog box.

FIGURE 5: TABLE1 IN THE TABLES WORKSHEET - POPULATED WITH CALCULATED VALUES

2012 Reliable Controls Corporation . 120 Hallowell Road . Victoria, BC . V9A 7K2 . 250.475.2036 . 877.475.9301 . Fax: 250.475.2096
Page 3 of 7

APPLICATION NOTICE: Non-Standard 10k Thermistors & MACH-System Controllers

4) SELECTING

THE INPUTS RANGE

To set the inputs range to use the defined table (as shown in Figure 5), open the Inputs
worksheet, double-click the Range column, and select the appropriate table from the Range
and Unit dialog box.

FIGURE 6: INPUTS WORKSHEET IN RC-STUDIO

2012 Reliable Controls Corporation . 120 Hallowell Road . Victoria, BC . V9A 7K2 . 250.475.2036 . 877.475.9301 . Fax: 250.475.2096
Page 4 of 7

APPLICATION NOTICE: Non-Standard 10k Thermistors & MACH-System Controllers

APPLICATION INFORMATION

For better accuracy of temperature, calculate and enter as many values as possible. The
maximum number of points for a table is 15.

NOTES

For better accuracy, determine the desired temperature range, and enter more values
for this range. For example, if the desired temperature range is 1030 C (5086 F)
enter 13 points of the 15 points available as table values between this range, then add a
maximum and minimum range value to complete the 15 points.

The maximum and minimum temperature values should be the first and last values in
the table. For example, in Table 1, the values of 15 and 30 are the min and max
temperatures.

The SENSOR-ON( ) command will not work if 0 V is the first entry in the table.

The MACH series controllers input circuits have a 10-bit resolution and can only
resolve a difference of 0.0048V.
The MACH-Pro series and the SMART-Space Controller input circuits have a 12-bit
resolution and can resolve a difference of 0.0024V.
The SMART-Sensor LCD-IO Auxiliary Inputs have a range of 040 C (32104 F) and a
resolution of 0.1 C (0.18 F).

Resistance Temperature Detectors (also referred to as Resistive Thermal Devices) will

not work with thermistor inputs on MACH-System controllers.

2012 Reliable Controls Corporation . 120 Hallowell Road . Victoria, BC . V9A 7K2 . 250.475.2036 . 877.475.9301 . Fax: 250.475.2096
Page 5 of 7

APPLICATION NOTICE: Non-Standard 10k Thermistors & MACH-System Controllers

THERMISTOR CURVES
The Reliable Controls conventional 10K thermistor is widely available from several thermistor
manufactures.
Thermistors with the Reliable Controls curve can be obtained from the following vendors:

Vishay Curve #9,

Alpha Curve C, and

Prelon Type III.

For reference, Table 2 details the Reliable Controls 10K thermistor resistance vs. temperature
correlation.

TABLE 2: RCC 10K THERMISTOR RESISTANCE VS. TEMPERATURE

Temp oC

Resistance

Temp oC

Resistance

Temp oC

Resistance

29490

16

14500

31

7880

28150

17

13900

32

7579

26890

18

13330

33

7291

25690

19

12790

34

7016

24550

20

12260

35

6752

23460

21

11770

36

6500

22430

22

11290

37

6258

21450

23

10840

38

6026

20520

24

10410

39

5805

19630

25

10000

40

5592

10

18790

26

9605

11

17980

27

9227

12

17220

28

8867

13

16490

29

8523

14

15790

30

8194

15

15130

2012 Reliable Controls Corporation . 120 Hallowell Road . Victoria, BC . V9A 7K2 . 250.475.2036 . 877.475.9301 . Fax: 250.475.2096
Page 6 of 7

APPLICATION NOTICE: Non-Standard 10k Thermistors & MACH-System Controllers

Figure 7 shows the RCC 10K thermistor Resistance vs. Temperature curve.

Resistance vs. Temperature for RCC 10K Thermistor

30K
25K

Ohms

20K
15K
10K
5K
0

10

15

20

Degrees Celsius

25

30

35

40

FIGURE 7: RESISTANCE VS. TEMPERATURE FOR THE RCC 10K THERMISTOR

2012 Reliable Controls Corporation . 120 Hallowell Road . Victoria, BC . V9A 7K2 . 250.475.2036 . 877.475.9301 . Fax: 250.475.2096
Page 7 of 7