Navjeevan Education Society’s

Polytechnic

TITLE: Thermistor

PROGRAM COURSE: - SECOND YEAR

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

ACADIMIC YEAR: 2021-22

HELPED AND GUIDED BY: Yogini Patil Mam

GROUP MEMBERS ROLL.NO. ENROLLMENT NO.

Dhanesh Vikas Chaudhari 604 2001440125
Sagar Pandharinath Ingale 606 2001440127
Mohammed Zaid Irfan Shaikh 628 2001440149
 PART A
1.0 BRIEF INTRODUTION

A thermistor is a temperature-sensitive resistor, literally. The word

“thermistor” is an amalgamation of two words: thermal and resistor.
Thermal is derived from the Greek word for heat, and a resistor is a
passive device used to restrict electrical current.
2.0 AIM OF MICRO-PROJECT
1. To study the thermistor.

3.0 ACTION PLAN

Sr. Details of activity Planned start Planned Name of

No date finish date responsible
term member
1 The topic after
discussing
2 Discussion on
project topic
3 Collection of
information
4 Collect of
information on
electrical installation

5 Information of
different types of
electrical installation
6 Discussion on
important points

7 Prepare part A
format
 8 Prepare part B
format

9 Final submission

4.0 RESOURCES USED

Sr. no Name of resources Specification Quantity Remark

1 Website www.electrical4u.com - -

2 Reference book of Electrical and electronic - -

Thermistor measurements
By A.K.Sawhney
3 Reference book Mechanical measurements - -
and instrumentation

ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION
(PART B)

1.0 BRIEF DESCRIPTION

A thermistor is a type of resistor whose resistance is strongly dependent

on temperature, more so than in standard resistors. The word thermistor is
a portmanteau of thermal and resistor.
Thermistors are divided based on their conduction model. Negative
Temperature Coefficient (NTC) thermistors have less resistance
at higher temperatures, while Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC)
thermistors have more resistance at higher temperatures. Hence, a PTC
thermistor's resistance is directly proportional to temperature.
NTC thermistor are widely used as inrush current limiters, temperature
sensors, while PTC thermistors are used as self-resetting overcurrent
protectors, and self-regulating heating elements. An operational
temperature range of a thermistor is dependent on the probe type and is
typically between −100 ⁰C and 300 ⁰C (−148 °F and 572 °F).

Thermistor

Negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor, bead type, insulated wires

Type = Passive

Working principle = Electric resistance

Electronic symbol

Thermistor or varistor symbol

 TYPES

Depending on materials used, thermistors are classified into two types:

1. With NTC thermistors, resistance decreases as temperature rises;

usually due to an increase in conduction electrons bumped up by
 thermal agitation from the valence band. An NTC is commonly used as
a temperature sensor, or in series with a circuit as an inrush current
limiter.
2. With PTC thermistors, resistance increases as temperature rises;
usually due to increased thermal lattice agitations particularly those of
impurities and imperfections. PTC thermistors are commonly installed
in series with a circuit, and used to protect
against overcurrent conditions, as resettable fuses.
Thermistors are generally produced using powdered metal oxides. With
vastly improved formulas and techniques over the past 20 years, NTC
thermistors can now achieve accuracies over wide temperature ranges
such as ±0.1 °C or ±0.2 °C from 0 °C to 70 °C with excellent long-term
stability. NTC thermistor elements come in many styles such as axial-
leaded glass-encapsulated (DO-35, DO-34 and DO-41 diodes), glass-
coated chips, epoxy-coated with bare or insulated lead wire and surface-
mount, as well as rods and discs. The typical operating temperature range
of a thermistor is −55 °C to +150 °C, though some glass-body thermistors
have a maximal operating temperature of +300 °C.
Thermistors differ from resistance temperature detectors (RTDs) in that
the material used in a thermistor is generally a ceramic or polymer, while
RTDs use pure metals. The temperature response is also different; RTDs
are useful over larger temperature ranges, while thermistors typically
achieve a greater precision within a limited temperature range, typically
−90 °C to 130 °C.

 BASIC OPERATION
Assuming, as a first-order approximation, that the relationship between
resistance and temperature is linear, then

🔺R=k🔺T,
Where,
🔺R, change in resistance,
🔺T, change in temperature,
k, first order temperature coefficient of resistance.
Depending on type of the thermistor in question the k may be either
positive or negative.
If k is positive, the resistance increases with increasing temperature,
and the device is called a [temperature coefficient #positive temperature
 coefficient of resistance positive temperature coefficient] (PTC)
thermistor,
Or posistor. If k is negative, the resistance decreases with increasing
temperature, and device is called a negative temperature coefficient
(NTC) thermistor. Resistors that are not thermistors are designed to
have a k as close to 0 as possible, so that their resistance remains
nearly constant over a wide temperature range.
Instead of the temperature coefficient k, sometimes the temperature
coefficient of resistance αT (“alpha sub T”) is used. It is defined as

This αT coefficient should not be confused with the “a” parameter below.

Applications
1. PTC

 As current-limiting devices for circuit protection, as replacements for

fuses. Current through the device causes a small amount of resistive
heating. If the current is large enough to generate more heat than the
device can lose to its surroundings, the device heats up, causing its
resistance to increase. This creates a self-reinforcing effect that drives
the resistance upwards, therefore limiting the current.
 As timers in the degaussing coil circuit of most CRT displays. When the
display unit is initially switched on, current flows through the thermistor
and degaussing coil. The coil and thermistor are intentionally sized so
that the current flow will heat the thermistor to the point that the
degaussing coil shuts off in under a second. For effective degaussing, it
is necessary that the magnitude of the alternating magnetic field
produced by the degaussing coil decreases smoothly and continuously,
rather than sharply switching off or decreasing in steps; the PTC
thermistor accomplishes this naturally as it heats up. A degaussing
circuit using a PTC thermistor is simple, reliable (for its simplicity), and
inexpensive.
 As heater in automotive industry to provide additional heat inside cabin
with diesel engine or to heat diesel in cold climatic conditions before
engine injection.
  In temperature compensated synthesizer voltage controlled oscillators.
 In lithium battery protection circuits.
 In an electrically actuated wax motor to provide the heat necessary to
expand the wax.
 Many electric motors and dry type power transformers incorporate PTC
thermistors in their windings. When used in conjunction with a
monitoring relay they provide over temperature protection to prevent
insulation damage. The equipment manufacturer selects a thermistor
with a highly non-linear response curve where resistance increases
dramatically at the maximum allowable winding temperature, causing
the relay to operate.
 To prevent thermal runaway in electronic circuits. Many electronic
devices, for example bipolar transistors, draw more power as they get
hotter. Commonly, such circuits contain ordinary resistors to limit the
current available and prevent the device from overheating. However, in
some applications, PTC thermistors allow better performance than
resistors.
 To prevent current hogging in electronic circuits. Current hogging can
occur when electronic devices are connected in parallel. In severe
cases, current hogging can cause cascading failure of all the devices. A
PTC thermistor attached in series with each device can assure the
current is divided reasonably evenly between the devices.
 In crystal oscillators for temperature compensation, medical equipment
temperature control, and industrial automation, Silicon PTC thermistors
display a nearly linear positive temperature coefficient (0.7%/°C). A
linearization resistor can be added if further linearization is needed. 

2. NTC

 As a thermometer for low-temperature measurements of the order of

10 K.
 As an inrush current limiter device in power supply circuits, they
present a higher resistance initially, which prevents large currents from
flowing at turn-on, and then heat up and become much lower
resistance to allow higher current flow during normal operation. These
thermistors are usually much larger than measuring type thermistors,
and are purposely designed for this application.
 As sensors in automotive applications to monitor fluid temperatures like
the engine coolant, cabin air, external air or engine oil temperature, and
feed the relative readings to control units like the ECU and to the
dashboard.
 To monitor the temperature of an incubator.
 Thermistors are also commonly used in modern digital thermostats and
to monitor the temperature of battery packs while charging.
 Thermistors are often used in the hot ends of 3D printers; they monitor
the heat produced and allow the printer's control circuitry to keep a
constant temperature for melting the plastic filament.
 In the food handling and processing industry, especially for food
storage systems and food preparation. Maintaining the correct
temperature is critical to prevent foodborne illness.
 Throughout the consumer appliance industry for measuring
temperature. Toasters, coffee makers, refrigerators, freezers, hair
dryers, etc. all rely on thermistors for proper temperature control.
 NTC thermistors come in bare and lugged forms, the former is for point
sensing to achieve high accuracy for specific points, such as laser
diode die, etc.
 For measurement of temperature profile inside the sealed cavity of a
convective (thermal) inertial sensor.
 Thermistor Probe Assemblies offer protection of the sensor in harsh
environments.  The thermistor sensing element can be packaged into a
variety of enclosures for use in industries such as HVAC/R, Building
Automation, Pool/Spa, Energy and Industrial Electronics. Enclosures
can be made out of stainless steel, aluminium, copper brass or plastic
and configurations include threaded (NPT, etc.), flanged (with mounting
holes for ease of installation) and straight (flat tip, pointed tip, radius tip,
etc.). Thermistor probe assemblies are very rugged and are highly
customizable to fit the application needs. Probe assemblies have
gained in popularity over the years as improvements in research,
engineering and manufacturing techniques have been made.
 UL Recognized NTC thermistors in the XGPU2 category helps save
equipment manufacturers time and money when applying for safety
approvals for their end product. DO-35 hermetically sealed glass
encapsulated thermistors can operate up to 250°C which gives them an
advantage in many applications when UL is requested for a sensing
element.

2.0 AIM OF MICRO-PROJECT

1. To study thermistor and their applications.
 3.0 RESOURCES USED

Sr. no Name of resources Specification Quantity Remark

1 Website www.electrical4u.com - -

2 Reference book of Electrical and electronic - -

Thermistor measurements
By A.K.Sawhney
3 Reference book Mechanical measurements - -
and instrumentation

4.0 COURSE OUTCOME

5.0 SKIL DELELOPED/LEARNING OUT OF THE MICROPROJECT

 We able to know about Thermistor.

 We understood the Thermistor and its Applications thereby making us full
filed with the adequate to be used in further professional career.