Measuring environmental temperature is essential, not only for building a weather station but also for enhancing the safety and performance of various devices. Temperature monitoring can help ensure safe battery charging or trigger notifications when a power supply reaches dangerously high temperatures.
There are several types of temperature sensors, each utilizing different physical properties to convert temperature into a measurable reading, with variations in temperature range, latency, and control interfaces.
Picking the right sensor type for a given use case is essential.
Overview
Temperature sensors measure temperature in a number of different ways:
-
Thermistors (NTC/PTC):
Resistance decreases as temperature rises (NTC) or vice versa (PTC). Their nonlinear behavior requires calibration. -
Thermocouples:
Made of two different metals joined at one end, thermocouples generate a tiny voltage based on the temperature difference. This voltage needs to be amplified using specialized circuitry, and cold-junction compensation is required. They can measure very high temperatures. -
RTDs (Resistance Temperature Detectors):
RTDs are highly accurate and stable over a wide temperature range. They use platinum inside, which makes them expensive. -
Semiconductor Temperature Sensors:
Semiconductor material causes a change in voltage or current based on temperature. They are more linear than thermistors and are often used in ICs and with digital interfaces. One example is the popular Dallas DS18B20 sensor.
| Sensor Type | Temperature Range | Latency | Interface | Voltage Range | Power Consumption (when active) | Cost | Other Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thermistors (NTC/PTC) | -50°C to 150°C (typical) | few milliseconds | Analog | Varies (3-5V) | 1-10mA | Low | Nonlinear response, requires calibration |
| Thermocouples | -200°C to 2000°C | tens of milliseconds to seconds | Analog (Voltage output) | Varies (depends on type) | 5-50mA | Medium | High temperature range, needs compensation circuits |
| RTDs (Resistance Temperature Detectors) | -200°C to 850°C | few milliseconds | Analog (Resistance measurement) | 3.3V-5V | 1-5mA | High | Highly accurate, stable over time, linear response |
| Semiconductor Sensors (i.e. Dallas) | -55°C to 150°C | few milliseconds | Digital (I2C/SPI/One-Wire/Analog) | 3V to 5V | 1-3mA | Medium | Linear response, easy integration |
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(content created Mar 04, 2025)