Calibration and Applications for Temperature Sensors Using

LabView
Philip Kwok
Stony Brook University- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Abstract- Various types of sensor are used

in temperature sensing throughout the
industry. The most popular types of
temperature sensors are Thermistors, RTD
and Thermocouple sensors. This report will
discuss the accuracy, sensitivity and the
applications of these sensors using NI
LabVeiw.

1. Introduction
When designing applications for industrial
temperature sensing, one must choose
the proper sensor for the specified
requirements. Due to the fact that various
types of temperature sensor have a very
different operating range, accuracy,
sensitivity and calibrating methods;
engineers must understand how the
sensors are designed. Usually different
circuits must be designed to convert or
amplify the output signal from the sensor
before it is processed by another system.

The following types of temperature sensor

are going to be discussed in this
document:

Thermistor
Thermocouple sensors
RTD ( Resistive Thermal Device)

These characteristics for the sensors listed

above will also be discussed:

Theory of operation
Output signal characteristic
Operating range
Accuracy

Sensitivity
Calibration method for each sensor
LabView Applications (only for
Thermistors and Thermocouple
sensors)

2. Thermistor
Theory of operation
The resistance of a thermistor changes
according to the temperature. The degree
of changes in resistance is large
comparing to resistors. Thermistor belongs
to the class of absolute-temperature
sensors. Absolute-temperature sensors
can measure temperature that is
referenced to an absolute-temperature
scale *1. Thermistors can be divided into 2
groups: the NTC (Negative Temperature
Coefficient) thermistors where their
resistances decrease with the increases in
temperature. The PTC (Positive
Temperature Coefficient) thermistors
where their resistance increase with the
increases in temperature. NTC thermistors
are said to be more precise than PTC
thermistors, thus it is the most common
type of thermistor used in industrial
applications.
*1

as measured on a scale in which the hypothetical

lowest limit of physical temperatures is assigned
the value zero (absolute zero), as the Kelvin
scale.

The output signal characteristic for

sensors discussed in this document:

Super positioning the output curves of the

3 types of sensors:

Figure. 1
The Thermistor and RTD provide an output
characteristic that resistance changes
according the temperature. The R vs. T
shown above is for the NTC Thermistor.
NTC Thermistors, the resistance decrease
with increasing temperature. The
Thermocouple sensors produce a changing
output voltage according to changing
temperature.
In order to choose the correct type of
temperature sensor to meet specified
requirements (cost, accuracy, senstitive
etc.) Engineers must consider the
advantages and disadvantages listed for
each type of the sensors below:
Table. 1
Thermocou
ple
Non-Linear
Inexpensive
Wide
temperature
(operating)
range
Least
accurate
Fast
Non-stable
Self-powered

Least
sensitive
Low
repeatability

RTD

Thermistor

Quite Linear
Expensive

Non-Linear
Inexpensive
Small
temperature
(operating)
range
Good
accurate
Fastest
Stable
Current
source
required
Most
sensitive
Standard
repeatability

Most
accurate
Slow
Most Stable
Current
source
required
Good
sensitivity
High
repeatability

Figure. 2
In the Table 1, it is said that Thermocouple
sensors are self-powered sensors while the
RTDs and thermistors require current
sources to operate. This introduces a selfheating problem for the RTDs and
thermistors as the current from the power
supply flow through the sensors.
Comparing with the RTD, the thermistor
exhibits a more self-heating problem. RTD
also has a larger temperature range and
stability comparing to thermistors, but
RTD are also slower and less sensitive to
small temperature change. It is shown
below:

NTC thermistors that are made of metal

oxide that have a large range of resistance
choices from 2.5 Ohm to 10k Ohm. The
low resistance NTC thermistors (typically
2.5 Ohm to 5 Ohm) are usually used for
circuit protection or heat elements. NTC
thermistors for small electronics are
typically in the range of 1k to 10k, and are
used for commercial temperature sensing
applications.
The excitation source (usually a current
source) has to be constantly applied to the
thermistors. The output signal is then read
across the output terminals.

Figure. 3

The samples available are Ice water and

boiled water only, thus, the temperature
range available to be tested is between
0oC to lower than 200oC. We can predict
that the RTD sensor will gives a very small
output singal voltage variation according
to the graph shown above.

NTC thermistors are made of metal oxide,

nickel, cobalt, iron, copper and other
metals. By varying the types of oxides,
the sintering time and temperature as well
as the atmosphere, a wide variety of
curves and resistance values can be
manufactured. The most common type of
NTC thermistor is the metal-oxide
thermistor. For example, a common
thermistor value is 5000 at 25C. With a
typical TC of 4%/C, a measurement lead
resistance of 10 produces only .05C
error. This error is a factor of 500 times
less than the equivalent RTD error. [1]

Figure. 4a Current source is applied and

signal is read

Figure. 4b Using a Voltage source as a

Current source

Before we go through the equations,

remember that,

RT = Resistance at a specific
temperature
RO = nominal Resistance
R25 = Resistance at room
temperature 25 C
T = Temperature in C
A, B, C = constants related to the
sensors materials, and usually
provided by the manufacture.

There are typically 3 wiring configurations

when the output signal of a thermistor is
being measured:
Notice: RL = the Lead wire resistance
2-wires configuration

The most simple and common way is to

perform the 2-wire configuration. The
Lead wire resistance (RL) does not affect
the accuracy is the thermistor being
measured has a high nominal resistance.

In the experiment using LabView for NTC

thermistor, we are going to find out:
1. Resistance vs. Temperature
characteristic (plot graph)
2. Self-Heating Effect of NTC
thermoistor
3. Accuracy
4. Sensitivity
5.

Experimenting with a NTC

thermistor

Figure. 5a
3-wires configuration

First, we should perform calibration. Mark

down the voltage measured at the
surrounding, then compare the result with
a thermometer. Put the both of the NTC
thermistor and the thermometer into the
test subject and then measure the
temperature.
With a know value of the input current
source, we can simply apply Ohms Law to
calculate the RT after we have the output
voltage.

Figure. 5b
4-wires configuration

The calibrated resistance RO (nominal

resistance) and its associated calibrated
temperature TO will be used in calculation.
3 models of calculations can be used for
thermistors; they are the Simple model,
the Fraden Model and the Steinhart-Hart
model.
All the 3 models mentioned above are
base on the transfer function of the
Thermistor which is temperature
dependence of temperature.

Figure. 5c
equ.1
R and T Computation using Simple
Model (NTC)

Several equations are used to describe the

R-T characteristic of thermistors.
Engineers have to choose which equation
to use according to the required accuracy,
temperature range and the number of
calibration points. For thermistor, the
resistance RT and its corresponding
temperature T is given by:

equ. 5

Sensitivity of a NTC Thermistor

The sensitivity of NTC thermistors is
described by a negative temperature
coefficient alpha ( ).

equ. 2- Simple
Model

= material characteristic

temperature.
Beta () is usually given by the
manufacture

This equation is a Simple Model for solving

the Resistance and accuracy (maximum
error) is about 0.7 C from 0C to 70C for
metal oxide NTC thermistor.
This equation requires 2 calibration points,
work within small range(which is good
enough for most thermoistor application).
This range means the range between TO to
T. The spans commonly used are OC to
50C, 25C to 85C, 25C to 125C.

equ. 6

According to equ. 6, the sensitivity is high

when the NTC thermistor is measuring a
very low temperature. The sensitivity
drops when the temperature increases.
Notices that the constant should be
provided by the manufacturer and it is in
term of the unit Kevin OK. A 10k NTC
thermistor (10k at 25C) typically has a
range of from 3000 to 4000.

Even through the Beta () is usually given

by the manufacture, one can solve for it
using one of the following equations:

equ. 3
OR

equ. 4
We can solve for RT with a know T using
equ. 1.

The following equation shows that when

we know the RT , how we can solve for T.

Figure. 6
If the Resistance tolerance is known, we
can calculate the Temperature Coefficient

of resistance (a) and then solve for the

accuracy:
equ. 7 Resistance
Tolerance

equ.8 Temperature

a small range of 25 to 85 C only. In other

word, if we measure beyond 85C, or lets
say 140C for example, the can be more
than 4000K. If we use this to solve for T
and R, those value will be less accurate.
As a result for measuring the temperature
in a range beyond 25 to 100 C, we must
concern a non-constant :

Coefficient
of resistance
equ. 9
Becomes
equ. 10

equ.11
Where is the slope of the two
temperature T and Tb. We can define a
fixed point at T and then find the slope
until temperature Tb. The R and T
characteristic described by the above
equation is:

There are 2 more models of equations can

be used for solving Resistance and
Temperature of NTC thermistors.
For more information about the Fraden
Model and the Steinhart and Hart Mode
please refer to Hand Book Of Modern
Sensors- Physics, Designs and Applications
3rd ED. P.470-472.
NTC thermistors produces output signal
curve in several fashions: J, G, and R
curves. J curves are the most common
type of curve. The reason for the
popularity of J curve NTC is that engineers
can easily predict and calibrate the
desired output using the equations.

equ. 12
Or

equ. 13
To use the Fraden Model, if we want to
measure the temperature Ta to Tc, we
have to set a middle point temperature Tb
between Ta and Tc, then we can solve for
the 2 different values (x and y).
Eventually, we can solve for from x and
y.

The resistance of a NTC thermistor will

also be specified by the manufacture
usually under the condition of 25C.

R and T Computation using Fraden

Model (NTC)
Fraden Model is more accurate than the
simple model. The beta is not a constant
value, it should be different at different
range. When looking at the datasheet of a
NTC Thermistor BC2298-ND (from
VISHAY), for a 10k ohm NTC thermistor,
the is 3977K and it can be 0.75% off.
Moreover, this value is measured between

equ. 14

equ. 15
Notice: Sa, Sb, Sc in equ. 14 and equ. 15
are simply equal to Ra, Rb, Rc .

Example of solving Beta value ()

As mentioned above if we are calculating
temperature in a range of 25 to 85C
using the BC2298-ND (Part # 2831 640
5*153) the 25/85 = 3799K.
For the given RT is 10k at 25C, RT is
1.07k at 85C and RT is 0.3387K at
125C. The value can be solved by:
First convert C to K:
Ta = 25C + 273.15C = 298.15K
Tb = 85C + 273.15C = 358.15K
Tc = 125C + 273.15C = 398.15K
Ra= 10k
Rb= 1.07k
Rc = 0.3387k
Equation equ. 14 gives a/b = 3977.51K
and
b/c = 4100.74K. a/c = m = 4018.55K.
Now, we have both a/b and b/c , we are
able to use equation equ. 15 to solve for
= 0.00031.

Figure 7.

Accuracy of RTD
Platinum RTDs typically are provided in
two classes, class A and Class B. Class A is
considered high accuracy and has an ice
point tolerance of +/- 0.06 ohms. Class B
is standard accuracy and has an ice point
tolerance of +/-0.12 ohms. Class B is
widely used by most industries. The
accuracy will decrease with temperature.

RTD sensors
RTD sensors are similar to thermistors
that their resistances change along with
the temperature. The most common type
of RTD is made of platinum and the
common resistance is 100 at 0C (The
nominal resistance). This type of RTD is
called the Pt100. The RTD has a more
linear relationship of temperature vs.
resistance comparing with the thermistors.
The linear relationship can be described
by the following equations:

For <0 C and >200 C

RT = R0 [ 1 + aT + bT2 +cT3 (T - 100) ]
For >0 C to 630 C
RT = R0 [ 1 + aT + bT2 ]

equ. 16

The a,b and c are constants and they can

be solved or referred to the data sheet
provided by the manufacturer.

Figure. 8

The approximate relationship of % of

temperature change versus time is as
follows:

Figure. 11- 2-wire bridge configuration for

RTD

Figure. 9

The most common wiring configuration

used in industrial application is the 3-wire
configuration. This configuration
eliminates the series resistance. T his
permits an accurate measurement of the
sensing element. The resistance in L1 and
L3 should be matched as close as
possible, this will cause the lead
resistance to cancel themselves.

The wire configuration for RTD is similar to

the configuration for thermistors. The
most common configuration is the 2-wire
configuration.

Figure. 12

References
Figure. 10
The longer the wire, the more effect on
the result resistance on the RTD. The
actual configuration setting utilizes a 2
wire bridge setting looks like the following.

[1] Agilent Technology, Practical

Temperature Measurement ApplicationNote 290, 2009, pp3-26.
[2] BOWTHORPE THERMOMETRICS, NTC
Thermistor, 2008, UK
[3] Jacob Fraden, CA, Handbook of Modern
Sensor-Physics, Designs and Applications,
pp467-472, Springer, 2003.
[4] Advance Thermal Products. INC, PA,
NTC Thermistor Engineering Notes, St.
Marys.