also known as Temperature Dependent Resistors

Thermistor resistance increases when the temperature decreases

• Thermistors are used to measure temperature.
• They are fairly slow to react.
• Measurement circuits must be designed with care because the current flowing in the TDR must not significantly heat it up.

Negative Temperature Coefficient thermistors reduce their resistance in response to increasing temperatures.

Devices like incandescent bulbs increase their resistance as the temperature rises. (Positive temperature coefficient).

The resistance changes over such a large range that normal graphs are not useful. Log graphs solve the problem. Here is an example.

• At 5⁰ the resistance is 40kΩ
• At 25⁰ the resistance is 200Ω
• When the resistance is 3kΩ the temperature is just under 15⁰
• When the resistance is 50Ω the temperature is 30⁰

Calculating a suitable series resistor.

If possible, three design aims need to be met.

1. The current through the thermistor must be small so it does not heat up and alter the temperature you are trying to measure. (Alternatively, the circuit could be turned on for a short time so the thermistor does not have time to heat up.)
2. When the thermistor gets hot, its resistance drops close to zero. Under these conditions, the current must not exceed the maximum safe value for the thremistor.
3. The series resistor value should be similar to the thermistor resistance at the temperature we are trying to detect.

For example in a refrigerator, the cooling pump might come on if the temperature rises above 5 Celsius. From the graph above, the thermistor resistance is about 40kΩ. A 40kΩ series resistor could be used. In a 12 volt circuit, at 5⁰, the current flowing would be ...

I = V / R

I = 12 / 80x10³

I = 0.15 mA

This tiny current would not have much of a heating effect.
The series resistor is similar in value to the thermistor at 5⁰

At much higher temperatures the current would still be less that 0.3mA.

Expert Student Task: If the thermistor has a maximum heat dissipation of 0.5 Watts and the power supply voltage is 12V, at what temperature is it impossible to meet all three design requirements? You can assume that the circuit is turned for a short time so the heating effect of the current flowing can be ignored.