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How does PTC thermistor work?
PTC thermistors are temperature-dependent resistors based on special semiconductor ceramics with a high positive temperature coefficient (PTC). They exhibit relatively low resistance values at room temperature. When a current flows through a PTC the heat generated raises the temperature of the PTC.
What are PTC thermistors used for?
PTC thermistors for overcurrent protection Ceramic PTC thermistors are used instead of conventional fuses to protect loads such as motors, transformers, etc. or electronic circuits against overcurrent. They not only respond to inadmissibly high currents but also if a preset temperature limit is exceeded.
What is a PTC component?
PTC Thermistors are an electronic component where the resistance remains almost constant near room temperatures. However, when the temperature exceeds a constant temperature, the resistance suddenly increases.
How many types of PTC are there?
PTC thermistors specifically increase resistance with a rise in temperature. There are two kinds of PTC thermistors: silistors and switching-type. Silistors, which use silicon as their conductive material, are known for their linear characteristics and are typically used as temperature sensors.
What does PTC stand for?
PTC
| Acronym | Definition |
|---|---|
| PTC | Parent Teacher Club |
| PTC | Permit to Carry (various locations) |
| PTC | Public Transportation Commission (various locations) |
| PTC | Pre-Trial Conference (various locations) |
Are there different types of PTC thermistors?
There are several different types of PTC thermistor, as we can see in the family tree from TI above. While PTC thermistors are not typically the first choice for sensing temperature due to their need for calibration and low resistance, they can be used in certain circuits.
When do you use a positive temperature thermistor?
Positive temperature coefficient, PTC thermistors are used in many electronic circuits and for a variety of functions. It is essential to check that the correct type is selected for any given circuit to ensure that its characteristic meets the requirements.
What’s the difference between NTC and PTC in temperature sensors?
The most common NTC thermistors are 10k and 100k ohms, where PTC are 470 ohms and 1k ohms. Tolerances for PTC thermistors can commonly be 50%, which will not provide an accurate temperature reading without accurate calibration.
What does the positive temperature coefficient ( PTC ) do?
As the name suggests, positive temperature coefficient thermistors, or PTC for short, have resistance that will increase as their temperature goes up – the exact opposite of the NTC thermistors from the previous article in this series.