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Electronics => Electronics => Topic started by: clone on September 05, 2009, 05:09:00 PM

Title: Which thermistor to use??
Post by: clone on September 05, 2009, 05:09:00 PM
I am making a digital thermometer using an arduino.  I was gonna base my code off of this to make it http://www.arduino.cc/playground/ComponentLib/Thermistor2 (http://www.arduino.cc/playground/ComponentLib/Thermistor2)

it says to use a 10k thermistor and a 10k resistor.  the electronics shop i went to didnt have 10k thermistors, so i got a 4k7, 30k, and 50k.

I want the thermometer to measure between 0-250 degrees F.  Which one should i use, or does it even matter?

thnx.
Title: Re: Which thermistor to use??
Post by: Joker94 on September 05, 2009, 06:35:21 PM
Well if it says 10k and has been proven by others go with 10k.

If you want thermisters have a look here

http://www.futurlec.com.au/test13.jsp?category=THERMISTORS&category_title=Thermistors&main_menu=OTHERS&sub_menu=THERMISTORS (http://www.futurlec.com.au/test13.jsp?category=THERMISTORS&category_title=Thermistors&main_menu=OTHERS&sub_menu=THERMISTORS)
Title: Re: Which thermistor to use??
Post by: clone on September 05, 2009, 09:33:17 PM
well i already have 3, so im gonna end up using one of them.  plus i dont wanna purchase online because of the wait and shipping costs.

I guess i need to clarify what I want to know about thermistors.   what determines a thermistors temperature range?  what is the difference between a 1k thermistor and a 10k thermistor?  Does the 10k have more precision or something?  whats the difference between the various types of thermistors?  I have one thats labeled 'bead' another thats labeled 'disk' and another that isnt labeled but looks weird.. i also saw some that look like a disc capacitor.  attached are some pictures of the ones i have.

Title: Re: Which thermistor to use??
Post by: Soeren on September 06, 2009, 11:46:27 AM
Hi,

what is the difference between a 1k thermistor and a 10k thermistor?
The resistance obviously ;D


Does the 10k have more precision or something?
Nope.


whats the difference between the various types of thermistors?  I have one thats labeled 'bead' another thats labeled 'disk' and another that isnt labeled but looks weird.. i also saw some that look like a disc capacitor. 
Bead thermistors are shaped like, well, small beads and disks are... You guessed it - Disc shaped.
The smaller the physical size (mass), the faster it reacts and v.v.
Some are like the head of a pin for fast reaction (used on eg. the early variety of "instant" body thermometers). Some are integrated into various shapes of bolts and tubes etc. it's a matter of adapting shape to purpose.

attached are some pictures of the ones i have.
Ahemmm?


You can use either of the ones you have for the schematic you linked to, just use a resistor of the same value in the voltage divider.
The nominal value of a thermistor is the resistance at 25°C.

NTCs are non-linear devices.
You can either use a table to correct for this response, or, if less sensitivity is OK, it can be linearized to a reasonable degree by adding a parallel resistor (which must be matched to the specific NTC and the main temperature region it's supposed to act in).

It's a bad idea to go 0°F to 250°F, as the non-linearity will be vast over such a range.
In a body thermometer for instance, you only need a range of 35°C to 42°C, making the linearity error very small.
Title: Re: Which thermistor to use??
Post by: clone on September 06, 2009, 05:20:05 PM
i was planning on using the Steinhart-Hart Thermistor Equation to correct for non-linearity.

I actually only need a temperature range in the range of boiling water and alcohol for use in an automated still.
Title: Re: Which thermistor to use??
Post by: clone on September 09, 2009, 09:14:41 PM
Well, I decided to use the 30k ohm bead thermistor, because i found a data sheet pdf of a similar one on the internet.  the data sheet showed the resistance for every 5 degrees celcius... so i ended up just using a lookup table type thing in my code instead of using the steinhart equation.  Here is a video of the finished project!

Digital thermometer arduino project (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=et_Wlga_eiM#)
Title: Re: Which thermistor to use??
Post by: Joker94 on September 09, 2009, 09:35:37 PM
nice job clone, any chance of a shematic
Title: Re: Which thermistor to use??
Post by: clone on September 09, 2009, 09:55:01 PM
just drew this up super quick.  i hooked up both 7 seg displays together.. pin for pin.. and the code in the arduino triggers the transistors to switch between the displays.. it does it super quick so u dont even notice that its only lighting up 1 display at a time.  enjoy!
Title: Re: Which thermistor to use??
Post by: Razor Concepts on September 09, 2009, 10:29:01 PM
LEDs did not burn out without resistors??
Title: Re: Which thermistor to use??
Post by: clone on September 10, 2009, 03:17:09 PM
nope.. didnt need any resistors.  the leds aren't that bright as it is!
Title: Re: Which thermistor to use??
Post by: Soeren on September 10, 2009, 03:58:08 PM
Hi,

PIC outputs are internally limited to... around 25mA max. IIRC.