Thermistor

A thermistor is a semiconductor type of resistor in which the resistance is strongly dependent on temperature. The word thermistor is a portmanteau of thermal and resistor. The varying resistance with temperature allows these devices to be used as temperature sensors, or to control current as a function of temperature. Some thermistors have decreasing resistance with temperature, while other types have increasing resistance with temperature. This allows them to be used for limiting current to cold circuits, e.g. for inrush current protection, or for limiting current to hot circuits, e.g. to prevent thermal runaway.

Thermistors are categorized based on their conduction models. Negative-temperature-coefficient (NTC) thermistors have less resistance at higher temperatures, while positive-temperature-coefficient (PTC) thermistors have more resistance at higher temperatures.[1]

NTC thermistors are widely used as inrush-current limiters and temperature sensors, while PTC thermistors are used as self-resetting overcurrent protectors and self-regulating heating elements. An operational temperature range of a thermistor is dependent on the probe type and is typically between −100 and 300 °C (−148 and 572 °F).

Thermistor
Negative-temperature-coefficient (NTC) thermistor, bead type, insulated wires
TypePassive
Working principleElectric resistance
Electronic symbol

Thermistor or varistor symbol[2]
  1. ^ "PTC thermistor vs. NTC thermistor for measuring the temperature of a liquid". Electrical Engineering Stack Exchange. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  2. ^ "Standards for Resistor Symbols". EePower. EETech Media. Retrieved September 13, 2021.

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