What is an NTC temperature sensor? After reading it, you will understand

In daily life, temperature changes are everywhere. How does your rice cooker know that the rice is cooked? How does the refrigerator keep a constant temperature? How does the car monitor the engine temperature? These are inseparable from the NTC temperature sensor.

What is an NTC temperature sensor

Simply put, it is a small electronic component that can sense temperature. NTC is short for "Negative Temperature Coefficient" (Negative Temperature Coefficient), which means that its resistance will become smaller as the temperature increases. This is similar to the thermal expansion and contraction we played when we were young, but it does not become larger and smaller, but the resistance becomes larger and smaller.
This feature is very useful: as long as it is connected to the circuit, we can know the temperature around it by measuring its resistance value-this is how the NTC temperature sensor works.


 

What does it look like

NTC temperature sensors generally consist of the following parts:
NTC thermistor: the core component, which determines the sensitivity and accuracy of temperature measurement;
Probe shell: Usually a metal shell or plastic shell, which is responsible for protecting the internal resistance components, and sometimes plays a role in heat conduction;
Extension cord: In order to facilitate installation in different positions, a section of wire is usually connected;
Connector or terminal: Used to connect the circuit system, easy to plug or fix.
 

Working Principle of NTC Temperature Sensor

The principle of the NTC sensor is not complicated. Under a certain voltage, the resistance value of its NTC thermistor will change with the temperature. Specifically, as the temperature rises, its resistance becomes smaller; The temperature decreases and the resistance increases. For example: at 20 °C, the resistance may be 10kΩ, while at 60 °C, only 2kΩ is left. As soon as the circuit is measured, the temperature change will be known immediately.
 

Where are NTC temperature sensors used

You may not have seen it, but you must have used it. NTC temperature sensors appear in almost all devices that need to control temperature, such as:
Rice cooker, electric kettle, coffee maker
Air conditioners, refrigerators, water heaters;
Automotive engine system, battery management system
Medical equipment, such as temperature detectors;
Industrial equipment, monitor the temperature rise of motors and circuits...
If you want to remember the NTC temperature sensor, you can remember these three points:
Its resistance decreases with increasing temperature (negative temperature coefficient);
It has a simple structure but a wide range of uses, and is a right-hand man for temperature sensing;

From home appliances to automobiles, from daily life to industrial applications, there are NTC temperature sensors.