Especially the machine-building industry often asks me which is the proper measuring element for them. This is the reason why I want to explain on this page the differences between your most commonly used sensors Pt100, Pt1000 and NTC. I’ll go into more detail about the lesser-used measuring elements Ni1000 and KTY sensors in the comparison by the end of this article.
Application regions of Pt100, Pt1000 and NTC
Resistance thermometers based on 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. In the process industry, Pt100 and Pt1000 sensors are used 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 be reduced to a minimum. As a result, the price difference when compared to NTC could be reduced to such an extent that 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 provide 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 NTC isn’t possible. That is why 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 are also possible with an NTC, but only in an exceedingly limited temperature range. While Pt100 and Pt1000 sensors in thin-film technology are ideal for temperatures up to 500�C, the typical NTC can be utilized for temperatures up to 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 considered. 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 far less noticeable. As a result of sloping characteristic curve of the NTC, the influence at higher temperatures increases disproportionately in the event of higher temperatures.
Conclusion
In case 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 usage of a platinum measuring resistor. Foolish of a Pt1000 stated in thin-film technology is really a perfect compromise between the costs on the one hand and the measurement accuracy on the other. In the next table, I’ve compiled the strengths and weaknesses of the various measuring elements within an overview for you personally:
Strengths and weaknesses of different sensors
NTC
Pt100
PT1000
Ni1000
KTY
Temperature range
?
++
++
+
?
Accuracy
?
++
++
+
?
Linearity
?
++
++
+
++
Long-term stability
+
++
++
++
+
International standards
?
++
++
+
?
Temperature sensitivity (dR/dT)
++
?
+
+
+
Influence of the supply line
++
?
+
+
+
Characteristic curves of Pt100, Pt1000, NTC, KTY and Ni1000
The characteristic curves of the different measuring elements is seen in the next overview:
Characteristic curves of the different sensors
Note
Our temperature sensors for the machine-building industry are available with all common measuring elements. Further information can be found on the WIKA website.
Find out more about the functionality of resistance thermometers with Pt100 and Pt1000 sensors in the following video: