.. _component_thermistor:

Thermistor
===============

.. image:: img/thermistor.png
    :width: 150
    :align: center

A Thermistor is a temperature sensitive resistor. When it senses a change in temperature, the resistance of the Thermistor will change. We can take advantage of this characteristic by using a Thermistor to detect temperature intensity. A Thermistor and its electronic symbol are shown below.

* `Thermistor Wiki <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermistor>`_

Here is the electronic symbol of thermistor.

.. image:: img/thermistor_symbol.png
    :width: 300
    :align: center

Thermistors are of two opposite fundamental types:

* With NTC thermistors, resistance decreases as temperature rises usually due to an increase in conduction electrons bumped up by thermal agitation from valency band. An NTC is commonly used as a temperature sensor, or in series with a circuit as an inrush current limiter.
* 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.

In this kit we use an NTC one. Each thermistor has a normal resistance. Here it is 10k ohm, which is measured under 25 degree Celsius.

Here is the relation between the resistance and temperature:

    RT = RN * expB(1/TK – 1/TN)   

* **RT** is the resistance of the NTC thermistor when the temperature is TK. 
* **RN** is the resistance of the NTC thermistor under the rated temperature TN. Here, the numerical value of RN is 10k.
* **TK** is a Kelvin temperature and the unit is K. Here, the numerical value of TK is 273.15 + degree Celsius.
* **TN** is a rated Kelvin temperature; the unit is K too. Here, the numerical value of TN is 273.15+25.
* And **B(beta)**, the material constant of NTC thermistor, is also called heat sensitivity index with a numerical value 3950.      
* **exp** is the abbreviation of exponential, and the base number e is a natural number and equals 2.7 approximately.  

Convert this formula TK=1/(ln(RT/RN)/B+1/TN) to get Kelvin temperature that minus 273.15 equals degree Celsius.

This relation is an empirical formula. It is accurate only when the temperature and resistance are within the effective range.

**Example**

* :ref:`Basic_Thermistor` (Basic Project)