What is NTC thermistor sensor?
NTC stands for “Negative Temperature Coefficient”. NTC thermistors are resistors with a negative temperature coefficient, which means that the resistance decreases with increasing temperature. They are primarily used as resistive temperature sensors and current-limiting devices.
Are thermistors NTC or PTC?
Simply put, thermistors are resistors whose resistance varies with temperature. Those that decrease are known as negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistors, while those that increase are positive temperature coefficient (PTC) thermistors.
How does NTC sensor work?
With an NTC thermistor, when the temperature increases, resistance decreases. Conversely, when temperature decreases, resistance increases. When temperature increases, the resistance increases, and when temperature decreases, resistance decreases. This type of thermistor is generally used as a fuse.
What causes a thermistor to fail?
The most common failure mode of a thermistor is an open circuit, as shown in Table 1. The cause of such failures are usually due to mechanical separation between the resistor element and the lead material, caused by handling damage, excessive heat, thermal mismatch, etc.
Why is PTC better than NTC?
The NTC thermistor provides variable resistance based on temperature. As temperature increases, the resistance drops from high to low and allows current to pass through. For an NTC thermistor, as temperature increases, resistance decreases. For a PTC thermistor as temperature increases, resistance increases.
What causes NTC thermistor failure?
Usually, thermistor failure is caused by an open circuit due to mechanical separation between the resistor element and lead material. This can happen as a result of improper handling, thermal mismatch, or heat damage. Another common reason thermistors fail is simply aging.