The Thermistor

GROUP NO: F
Dania Khaled Alamen
Amani Najeeb Ben Yousaif

Data Acquisition & Control I Lab

EC441L

Dr. Nabil Drawil

December 15, 2019

1
 EXERCISE 1 (Thermistor Characteristics)

OBJECTIVE:
Describe what a Thermistor is, and understand the characteristics of how to
convert the Thermistor resistance reading to temperature.

Introduction:
Thermistors are the temperature sensitive resistors that exhibit a negative
temperature coefficient of resistance. In other words electrical resistance of a
thermometer will be reduced when it is placed in an environment of higher temperature
likewise its temperature decreases. Thus the characteristics of thermistor provides an
information about how its resistance changes with the changes in temperature.

Procedures:
1. We record the thermistor's room-temperature resistance value (𝑅𝑅𝑇 ); (no
two-post connector in the OVEN ENABLE position in the IC
TRANSDUCER circuit block).
𝑅𝑅𝑇 = 10.71 kΩ
The measurement is in the range 6.351 kΩ to 15.71kΩ (𝑅25 =10 kΩ).
The relative error is:
10.71 − 10
= 0.071 = 7.1%
10

2. Calculated thermistor's resistance at 35⁰C:

𝑅35⁰C = 10 ∗ 0.6531 = 6.531 kΩ

Measured thermistor's resistance at 35⁰C:

𝑅35⁰C = 6.41 kΩ

3. Calculate the thermistor's resistance at 40⁰C:

𝑅40⁰C = 10 ∗ 0.5327 = 5.327 kΩ

2
 Measure the thermistor's resistance at 40⁰C:
𝑅40⁰C = 5.19 kΩ

4. Calculate the thermistor's resistance at 45⁰C:

𝑅45⁰C = 10 ∗ 0.4369 = 4.369 kΩ

Measure the thermistor's resistance at 45⁰C:

𝑅45⁰C = 4.31 kΩ

5. Calculate the thermistor's resistance at 50⁰C:

𝑅50⁰C = 10 ∗ 0.3603 = 3.603 kΩ

Measure the thermistor's resistance at 50⁰C:

𝑅50⁰C = 3.49 kΩ

6. Turn off the oven by removing the two-post connector from the IC
TRANSDUCER circuit block.

The resistance values for the four set points was calculated and measured & the
resistance change (∆R) between the 5⁰C intervals:

Table 1

TEMP. R(calculated) R(measured) ∆R

35⁰C 6.531 kΩ 6.41 kΩ 0.121 kΩ
40⁰C 5.327 kΩ 5.19 kΩ 0.137 kΩ
45⁰C 4.369kΩ 4.31 kΩ 0.059 kΩ
50⁰C 3.603 kΩ 3.49kΩ 0.113 kΩ

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 Figure 1

R(measured) vs. TEMP

7

TEMP. (⁰C)
4

3 R(measured)
Power (R(measured))
2
1.687x-2605.9y =
1

0
60 50 40 30 20 10 0
R (kΩ)

We conclude that the thermistor has a negative temperature coefficient & is non-
linear.

7. Calculate the maximum resistance at 35⁰C:

𝑅35 ⁰C𝑀𝐴𝑋 = 10.107 ∗ 0.6531 = 6.601kΩ

8. Calculate the minimum resistance at 35⁰C:

𝑅35 ⁰C𝑀𝐼𝑁 = 9.3 ∗ 0.6531 = 6.074kΩ

The maximum and minimum calculated and measured values of thermistor.

Table 2

TEMP. THERMISTOR RESISTANCE (kΩ)

(⁰C) MINIMUM MEASURED MAXIMUM
35 6.074 6.41 6.601
40 4.741 5.19 5.913
45 3.875 4.31 4.863
50 3.189 3.49 4.017

4
 Figure 2

9. The thermistor current after a one minute interval:

𝑉 5.24𝑉
𝐼𝑇𝐻 = = = 4.367 𝑚𝐴
𝑅 1.2𝑘Ω

Figure 3

10. The supply voltage was measured after remove the two-post
connector and connect the + meter lead as shown:
+𝑉 = 14.49 𝑉𝑑𝑐

5
 11. The solve for the thermistor resistance, we apply the Ohm's law
equation:
𝐸
𝑅=
𝐼
𝑉
𝑅𝑇𝐻 + 1.2 𝑘Ω =
𝐼𝑇𝐻
𝑉
𝑅𝑇𝐻 = ( ) − 1.2 𝑘Ω = 2.226 𝑘Ω
𝐼𝑇𝐻

We initially measured a thermistor resistance of 1.2 kΩ at room temperature.

After current flowed through the thermistor for one minute, the resistance was
calculated is 2.226𝑘Ω, the resistance is greater after one minute because of self-
heating.

Evaluation:
1. The resistance of the thermistor on your circuit board decreases as
temperature increase because of its
c. negative temperature coefficient.

2. At a specific temperature what parameter can you not look up in a

thermistor's RT table?
d. thermistor coefficient.

3. A thermistor's tendency to heat up beyond its ambient temperature is due to

b. self-heating.

4. What is the thermistor's resistance at 0⁰C?

d. 32.65 𝑘Ω

5. The thermistor's nominal resistance is 19.898 𝑘Ω at 10⁰C. What is the overall

tolerance?
a. ±10%

Conclusion:
Input and output relationship is non-linear for thermistor (i.e. characteristics of
thermistor are non-linear). And has a negative temperature coefficient (resistance
decreases as temperature increases).

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 EXERCISE-2 (Temperature Measurement)

OBJECTIVE:
Demonstrate the use of a thermistor in a temperature measurement circuit.

Introduction:
A thermistor works on the principle that electrical resistance of the sensor
changes as temperature changes. In practice, the resistance of the thermistor is
measured and then related to temperature through a calibration curve. Thermistors
are usually produced from a silicon material whose electrical resistance changes with
temperature. Thermistors are easier to use than resistance temperature detector
(RTD) probes because of their large resistance change for a small temperature
change (higher sensitivity). They are also inexpensive  only a few dollars each.

Procedures:

Figure 4

1. Using the table to determine thermister resistance at 30⁰C:

𝑅𝑋 = 10 ∗ 0.8057 = 8.057 kΩ

2. From the equation of temperature to output voltage after calibrated circuit:

𝑉𝑂𝑈𝑇
𝑇=( ) + 30
0.5
The desired output voltage at 40⁰C is:
𝑉𝑂𝑈𝑇
= T − 30
0.5
𝑉𝑂𝑈𝑇 = (40 − 30) ∗ 0.5 = 5 𝑉

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 3. The measure desired output voltage at 40⁰C is::
𝑉𝑂𝑈𝑇 = 5.30 𝑉

The relative error:

5.30 − 5
E= = 0.06
5

4. We adjust the Calibration potentiometer (CAL) for a reading of 5V at the

amplifier output.

Figure 5

The measure voltage across 𝑅2 :

𝑉𝑅2 = 199 mV
The voltage across R1:
𝑉𝑅1 = 0.5 V − 𝑉𝑅2 = 0.5 − 0.199
𝑉𝑅1 = 0.301V

The current through R2:

𝑉𝑅2 199mV
𝐼𝑅2 = = = 39.8µ𝐴
R2 5𝑘Ω

Since R2 is in series with R1, 𝐼𝑅2 = 𝐼𝑅1 .

The resistance of R1 is:
𝑉𝑅1 301mV
𝑅1 = = µ𝐴 = 7.56𝑘Ω
𝐼𝑅1 39.8

The thermistor resistance value R = 8.057 𝑘Ω.

The relative error:
7.56 − 8.057
𝐸= = −0.061
8.057

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 5. The amplifier output was calculated at 35⁰C:
𝑉𝑂𝑈𝑇 (calculated) = (35 − 30) ∗ 0.5 = 2.5V

The amplifier output voltage was measured:

𝑉𝑂𝑈𝑇 (measured) = 2.19V

The relative error:

2.19 − 2.5
𝐸= = −0.124
2.5

6. The amplifier output was calculated at 45⁰C:

𝑉𝑂𝑈𝑇 (calculated) = (45 − 30) ∗ 0.5 = 7.5V

The amplifier output voltage was measured:

𝑉𝑂𝑈𝑇 (measured) = 7.75V

The relative error:

7.75 − 7.5
𝐸= = 0.33
7.5

7. The amplifier output was calculated at 50⁰C:

𝑉𝑂𝑈𝑇 (calculated) = (50 − 30) ∗ 0.5 = 10V

The amplifier output voltage was measured:

𝑉𝑂𝑈𝑇 (measured) = 10.17V

The relative error:

10.17 − 10
𝐸= = 0.017
10

Table 3

TEMP. OUTPUT VOLTAGE

(⁰C) CALCULATED MEASURED ERROR
35 2.5V 2.19 V −0.124
40 5V 5.30 V 0.06
45 7.5𝑉 7.75V 0.33
50 10𝑉 10.17𝑉 0.017

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From the table we see that the bridge is configured in such a way that the output
voltage increases as temperature increases.

TEMP. vs voltage measured

60

50

40

30

y = 5x + 30 20

10

0
4.5 4 3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0

Figure 6

The table also shows a linear relationship between output voltage and temperature.
This is primarily because the sampling range is small enough to approximate a linear
response.

The Instrumentation amplifier amplifies the difference between the two bridge
output voltages.

Figure 7

We measured 199mV at –OUT.

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6. The +OUT voltage at 50⁰C from the bridge:
+𝑂𝑈𝑇 = 301 mV

The difference between the bridge outputs is:

∆V = +OUT − (−OUT) = 301 − 199 = 102mV

With a gain 0f 100, the amplifier output was calculated:

𝐼𝐴 𝑂𝑈𝑇 = 100 ∗ ∆V = 10.2𝑉

The relative error:

10.2 − 10.17
𝐸= = 0.002
10.17

7. When we activate to decrease the value of one of the fixed resistors in the
bridge, we measured:
+𝑂𝑈𝑇 = 299 mV
−𝑂𝑈𝑇 = 208 mV

(Figure 4): The resistor that decreased in value is:

a. R1

Evaluation:
1. What characteristic of a thermistor allows it to be used in a resistance bridge
circuit?
b. Resistance that is a function of temperature.

Figure 8

2. This thermistor bridge has a sensitive of 5 mV/⁰C. What amplifier gain is

required for an amplifier sensitivity of 1 V/⁰C?
a. 20

11
 Figure 9

3. To null this bridge circuit for a 0V output at 25⁰C, you would have to adjust
R1 so that its resistance equals
c. 10 𝑘Ω
Table 4

Figure 10

4. In a balanced thermistor bridge, the following relationship exists:

𝑅𝑋 /𝑅𝑆 = 𝑅𝐴 /𝑅𝐵
What happens if 𝑅𝑋 increases?
𝑐. 𝑅𝐵 Decreases.

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 5. The circuit in figure 5, the thermistor has a negative temperature coefficient,
but the amplifier's output voltage increases as temperature increases. How
can you change the circuit so that output voltage decreases as temperature
increases?
a. Reverse the + and – op amp inputs.

Conclusion:
The output of a thermistor bridge can be used to derive an amplifier whose output
voltage is a function of the thermistor's temperature.
A thermistor bridge circuit can be configured to output a voltage that increases as
temperature increases as temperature increases, even if the thermistor has a negative
temperature coefficient.

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