Especially the machine-building industry often asks me which is the proper measuring element for them. This is why why I want to explain on this page the differences between your most commonly used sensors Pt100, Pt1000 and NTC. I will go into greater detail about the lesser-used measuring elements Ni1000 and KTY sensors in the comparison at the end of this article.
Application regions of Pt100, Pt1000 and NTC
Resistance thermometers on the basis of Pt100, Pt1000 (positive temperature coefficient PTC) and NTC (negative temperature coefficient) are employed all around the industrial temperature measurement where low to medium temperatures are measured. Along the way industry, Pt100 and Pt1000 sensors are employed almost exclusively. In machine building, however, often an NTC is used ? not least for cost reasons. Since meanwhile the Pt100 and Pt1000 sensors are manufactured in thin-film technology, the platinum content could possibly be reduced to the very least. As a result, the price difference compared to the NTC could be reduced to such an extent a changeover from NTC to Pt100 or Pt1000 becomes interesting for medium quantities. Particularly since platinum measuring resistors offer significant advantages over negative temperature coefficients.
Benefits and drawbacks of the various sensors
The platinum elements Pt100 and Pt1000 offer the benefit of meeting international standards (IEC 751 / DIN EN 60 751). Because of material- and production-specific criteria, a standardisation of semiconductor elements such as for example NTC is not possible. For this reason their interchange ability is limited. Further advantages of platinum elements are: better long-term stability and better behaviour over temperature cycles, a wider temperature range as well as a high measurement accuracy and linearity. High measurement accuracy and linearity may also be possible having an NTC, but only in an exceedingly limited temperature range. While Pt100 and Pt1000 sensors in thin-film technology are ideal for temperatures around 500�C, the typical NTC may be used for temperatures around approx. 150�C.
Influence of the supply line on the measured value
The lead resistance affects the measurement value of 2-wire temperature sensors and must be taken into account. For copper cable with a cross-section of 0.22 mm2, the next guide value applies: 0.162 ?/m ? 0.42 �C/m for Pt100. Alternatively, a version with Pt1000 sensor could be chosen, with that your influence of the supply line (at 0.04 �C/m) is smaller by a factor of 10. The influence of the lead resistance compared to the base resistance R25 for an NTC measuring element is much less noticeable. Due to the sloping characteristic curve of the NTC, the influence at higher temperatures increases disproportionately in the event of higher temperatures.
Conclusion
In the event of high quantities, the use of NTC sensors continues to be justified due to cost reasons. For small to medim-sized lots, I recommend the use of a platinum measuring resistor. The usage of a Pt1000 manufactured in thin-film technology is a perfect compromise between your costs on the one hand and the measurement accuracy on the other. In the following table, I’ve compiled the strengths and weaknesses of the various measuring elements in an overview for you:
Strengths and weaknesses of different sensors
NTC
Pt100
PT1000
Ni1000
KTY
Temperature range
?
++
++
+
?
Accuracy
?
++
++
+
?
Linearity
?
++
++
+
++
Long-term stability
+
++
++
++
+
International standards
?
++
++
+
?
Temperature sensitivity (dR/dT)
++
?
+
+
+
pressure gauge 10 bar of the supply line
++
?
+
+
+
Characteristic curves of Pt100, Pt1000, NTC, KTY and Ni1000
The characteristic curves of the various measuring elements is seen in the next overview:
Characteristic curves of the different sensors
Note
Our temperature sensors for the machine-building industry can be found with all common measuring elements. Further information can be found on the WIKA website.
Discover more about the functionality of resistance thermometers with Pt100 and Pt1000 sensors in the following video: