Thermistor

Thermistor

A Thermistor is a type of resistor whose resistance is dependent on temperature, more so than in standard resistors. The word is a portmanteau of thermal and resistor. Thermistors are widely used as inrush current limiters, temperature sensors (negative temperature coefficient or NTC type typically), self-resetting overcurrent protectors, and self-regulating heating elements (positive temperature coefficient or PTC type typically).

Types of Thermistors[edit | edit source]

Thermistors can be classified into two types, depending on the sign of k. If k is positive, the resistance increases with increasing temperature, and the device is called a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) thermistor, or posistor. If k is negative, the resistance decreases with increasing temperature, and the device is called a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor.

Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) Thermistors[edit | edit source]

Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) Thermistors are thermistors whose resistance increases when the temperature increases. PTC thermistors are commonly installed in series with a circuit, and used to protect against overcurrent conditions, as resettable fuses.

Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) Thermistors[edit | edit source]

Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) Thermistors are thermistors whose resistance decreases when the temperature increases. NTC thermistors are commonly used in a range of applications such as temperature sensing and inrush current limiting.

Applications[edit | edit source]

Thermistors, both PTC and NTC, are used in a variety of applications. These include temperature sensors, inrush current limiters, self-resetting overcurrent protectors, and self-regulating heating elements.

References[edit | edit source]

Thermistor Resources
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