Instructions, Cernox™ Resistance Temperature Sensor

Installation, Model CX-10XX-CU and CX-10XX-CU-HT Packages

CAUTION: This temperature sensor is sensitive to electrostatic discharge (ESD). Use ESD
precautionary procedures when handling, or making mechanical or electrical connections to this
device in order to avoid performance degradation or loss of functionality.

There are three aspects of using a cryogenic temperature sensor which are critical to its optimum performance. The first
involves the proper mounting of the sensor package, the second relates the proper joining of sensor lead wires and connecting
wires. The final concern is the thermal anchoring of the lead wires. Although the sequence in which these areas should be
addressed is not set in stone, all elements covered under each aspect should be adhered to for maximum operating
capabilities of the sensor.

SENSOR MOUNTING
The CX-10XX-CU package combines a standard SD sensor with
a gold-plated copper mounting bobbin to form the CU package.
The mounting bobbin of this package contains a 3.1 mm
(0.122 in) diameter hole (0.03 in off center) designed for mounting
with a #4-40 or M3 screw. The CX-10XX-CU-HT version has
similar packaging, but contains a specially conditioned SD sensor
to allow an extended range of operation up to 420 K.

1. A threaded hole in your mounting surface is necessary for

mounting the sensor package. The hole in the sensor
package will accommodate a #4-40 or M3 screw. A brass screw is recommended due to the thermal
contractions/expansions of the final assembly.

2. The threaded hole and surrounding surface should be cleaned with a solvent such as acetone followed by an isopropyl
alcohol rinse. Allow time for the solvents to evaporate before sensor mounting.

3. Apply a small amount of Apiezon® N grease to the threads of the screw. To ensure good thermal contact between the
sensor and mounting surface, use an indium washer/preform or a thin layer of Apiezon® N grease between the mounting
surface and the sensor package.
NOTE: An overabundance of grease will increase the thermal barrier. Keep the thickness to 0.05 mm or less.

4. Insert screw through sensor mounting bobbin and tighten screw firmly enough to hold sensor in place. Avoid over
tightening (torque of 30 to 50 in-oz [0.21 to 0.35 Nm] should be sufficient).

NOTE: The standard CX-10XX-CU package with Polymide insulated wire is designed for use up to 325 K (52° C). The
CX-10XX-CU-HT package with Polyimide insulated wire is designed for use up to 420 K (147 °C).

LEAD ATTACHMENT
The SD sensor has been attached to the mounting bobbin and encapsulated in Stycast® epoxy.
The 0.91 m (36 in) Polymide (ML) insulated sensor leads are 36 AWG, phosphor bronze wire
which are thermally anchored to the bobbin. Teflon® tubing is used as a strain relief to reinforce
the leads at the bobbin assembly. Standard lead configuration for the CU is a four lead device
[Red (I-), Green (V-), Black or Dark Blue (V+), Clear (I+)].

CU Package — Four-lead measurement scheme

The current is confined to one pair of current leads with the sensor voltage measured across the voltage leads (see figure).
36 in of lead wire is attached during the production process. If additional connection wire is required, use the following
instructions.
1. Prepare the sensor leads with a RMA (rosin mildly active) soldering flux, tin them with a minimal amount of 60% Pb 40%
Sn solder. Use a low wattage soldering iron that will not exceed 200 °C. Clean off residual flux with rosin residue remover.
2. Strip the insulation from the connecting wires by delicately scraping with a razor blade, fine sand paper, or steel wool.
(Phosphor-bronze or Manganin wire, in sizes 32 or 36 AWG, is commonly used as the connecting lead wire. These wires
have low thermal conductivity which help minimize the heat flow through the leads. Typical wire insulation is Formvar™
or Polyimide (ML). Formvar™ insulation has better mechanical properties such as abrasion resistance and flexibility.
Polyimide insulation has better resistance to chemical solvents and burnout.) Follow the same procedure in step 1 for
preparing connecting wires.
3. CU package — Identify lead polarities and apply the soldering iron above the joint area until the solders melt, then remove
the iron immediately. Leave enough slack to allow for the thermal contractions that occur during cooling which could
fracture a solder joint or lead. Insulating the soldering joint is recommended to prevent shorts. Use heat shrink tubing.

Lake Shore Cryotronics, 575 McCorkle Blvd. Westerville, OH 43082-8888 www.lakeshore.com

Phone (614) 891-2243 – Fax (614) 891-1362 – sales@lakeshore.com, service@lakeshore.com
 NOTE: The standard CX-10XX-CU package with Formvar™ insulated wire is designed for use up to 325 K (52 °C).
The CX-10XX-CU-HT package with Polyimide insulated wire is designed for use up to 420 K (147 °C).

SEPARATION OF QUAD-LEAD™ WIRES

The Quad-Lead™ wire is formed into a ‘ribbon cable’ using Bond Coat 999 bonding film. This bonding agent will soften above
160-180°C and the ribbon wire is designed to be separated into individual wires using heat.

CAUTION: Do not separate the wires using any kind of sharp blade, as damage will result.
CAUTION: Do not heat wire above 220 °C.

Separation using heat

A hot plate or soldering iron is the best tool for heating the wire. Hot-air guns are not recommended.

Set a hot plate or soldering iron to between 160-200°C. DO NOT heat the wire above 220°C.

If using a hot plate:

1. Take the section of the ribbon wire to be separated and place it on the hot surface.
2. Using a pair of fine tweezers, gently push the individual wires apart. They should come apart very easily; however, it
may be necessary to bend them or fan them out slightly to prevent them from touching or re-bonding when removed
from the heat.

If using a soldering iron:

1. Using a fine tip, run the tip in-between the sections of wire to be separated.
2. Use the tip at the same time to push and separate the wire(s) from the ribbon.
• Any wire touching a hot surface may separate; be careful when handling the wire during this process
• If the wires are not fully separated from each other while hot, they may re-bond when heat is removed.
Take care with wires that did not fully separate, as pulling them apart may tear the insulation.

Mechanical separation
While heat is strongly recommended as the method to use, it is possible to separate wires by first removing the insulation from
the end, then slowly and gently pulling the individual wires apart to the length desired. Removing the insulation from the end
requires a rotary-abrasion mechanical stripper. It is also possible to separate a small section using heat, then continue the
separation by gently pulling the individual wires apart.

CAUTION: There is a chance for damage to the ribbon wire in the form of the (colored) insulation being
torn and/or coming completely off when the wires are mechanically pulled apart. This is due to the design
of the bonding agent and wire. The more force used to pull the wires apart, the greater the chance for damage.
Application of heat is recommended.

CAUTION: DO NOT attempt to separate the wires using any kind of blade or other similar tool, sharp or dull, or
damage will result.

CAUTION: DO NOT attempt to remove the bonding agent or insulation with any kind of blade or other similar
tool, sharp or dull, prior to separation. This will increase the chance of the insulation tearing, and/or coming
completely off. Use only a rotary-abrasion mechanical stripper to remove insulation prior to separation.

HEAT SINKING/THERMAL ANCHORING

Depending on the application, sufficient heat sinking of the leads may already exist in the bobbin. Use the following procedure
if additional heat sinking is recommended.

For additional heat sinking/thermal anchoring:

1. Connecting wires should be thermally anchored at several temperatures between room temperature and cryogenic
temperatures to guarantee that heat is not being conducted through the leads to the sensing element.
2. A simple thermal anchor can be made by winding the wires around a copper post, bobbin, or other thermal mass.
A minimum of five wraps around the thermal mass should provide sufficient thermal anchoring. However, if space
permits, additional wraps are recommended for good measure. To maintain good electrical isolation over many
thermal cycles, it is good practice to first varnish a single layer of cigarette paper to the anchored area then wrap the
wire around the paper and bond in place with a thin layer of IMI 7031 varnish. Formvar™ wiring insulation has a
tendency to craze with the application of IMI varnish. If used, the wires cannot be disturbed until the varnish is cured
and all solvents have evaporated (typically 12 to 24 hours).

HEAT SINKING/THERMAL ANCHORING

Form Number F015-00-00_M ©2021 11 November 2021

Depending on the application, sufficient heat sinking of the leads may already exist in the bobbin. Use the following procedure
if additional heat sinking is recommended.

For additional heat sinking/thermal anchoring:

1. Connecting wires should be thermally anchored at several temperatures between room temperature and cryogenic
temperatures to guarantee that heat is not being conducted through the leads to the sensing element.

2. A simple thermal anchor can be made by winding the wires around a copper post, bobbin, or other thermal mass.
A minimum of five wraps around the thermal mass should provide sufficient thermal anchoring. However, if space permits,
additional wraps are recommended for good measure. To maintain good electrical isolation over many thermal cycles, it is
good practice to first varnish a single layer of cigarette paper to the anchored area then wrap the wire around the paper
and bond in place with a thin layer of IMI 7031 varnish. Formvar™ wiring insulation has a tendency to craze with the
application of IMI varnish. If used, the wires cannot be disturbed until the varnish is cured and all solvents have
evaporated (typically 12 – 24 hours).

CRYOGENIC ACCESSORIES – Recommended for proper installation and use of CX-10XX-CU sensors:
Apiezon® Type N and H Grease. P/N GAN-25 and GAH-25 – 25 g tube. Low viscosity, easy to use, solidifies at cryogenic
temperatures, excellent lubricant. Difference is melting point: Type N is 316 K, Type H is 523 K.
Heat Sink Bobbins. P/N HSB-40 Large, HSB-8 Small. Gold-plated copper bobbins. Large bobbin holds up to 40 wires, small
bobbin holds up to 8 wires, depending on wire gauge and number of turns.
High-Temperature Solder. P/N SLT-10 – 3 m (10 ft). Greater lead content (90% Pb 10% Sn) for soldering in applications up
to 500 K.
Indium Foil/Solder. P/N IF-5 for 5 foil sheets (2 in square × 0.005 in thick), ID-10-31/ID-10-56 for 10 disks, 0.31 in or 0.56 in
diameter × 0.005 in thick respectively. Indium is 99.99% pure, exceptional pressure seal, extremely malleable.
Ostalloy® 158 Solder. P/N SOSY-16 – 16 oz. Reusable eutectic alloy with sharply defined melting point of 343.16 K (70 °C).
Stycast® Epoxy 2850FT, Catalyst 9. P/N ES-2-20 – 20 packets, 2 g each. Permanent attachment, excellent low temperature
properties, poor electrical conductor, low cure shrinkage. [Requires Hazardous shipping.]
VGE-7031 Varnish. P/N VGE-7031 – 0.5 L (1 pt) can. Nonpermanent attachment, excellent thermal conductor, easy to apply
and remove. [Requires Hazardous shipping.]
Instruments: Lake Shore sells a complete line of instrumentation used with your sensor, such as: Current Sources,
Temperature Controllers, Monitors and Thermometers, Temperature Scanners and Transmitters.
Wire. Lake Shore offers numerous types of wires for various applications, including phosphor-bronze wires: Single Strand,
Duo-Twist™, Quad-Twist™, and Quad-Lead™, Nichrome heater wire, non-magnetic Manganin wire, and more.
Cable. Lake Shore offers ultra-miniature coaxial cable (Type C, SC, and SS), semi-rigid coaxial cable (Type SR), and a robust
4-wire CryoCable™ (Type CYRC).

For complete product description and detailed specifications on the above accessories and instruments, consult the
Lake Shore Temperature Measurement and Control Catalog, call at (614) 891-2243, E-mail at sales@lakeshore.com,
or visit our website at www.lakeshore.com.

Form Number F015-00-00_M ©2021 11 November 2021