Calibrating NTC Thermistors to improve accuracy

A recent enquiry from a customer posed this interesting question.

From the datasheets it sounds like NTC thermistors can be calibrated to improve accuracy for a given temperature range. Is that correct?

To recap – NTC thermistors can be point-calibrated to improve accuracy at a specific temperature. Accuracy decreases as temperature moves away (above or below) from this calibration point, so when optimising for a temperature range rather than a single value, calibrating at the midpoint typically yields the best overall accuracy.

NTC thermistors are usually referenced at 25°C (R25). However, some of our thermistors are already point-calibrated at alternative reference temperatures for specific applications, such as:

Semitec F-Micro –        37°C     (medical/body-temperature applications)

Semitec FT/FL –           180°C   (high-temperature environments)

ATC Semitec BTS3 –     85°C     (hot water outlet pipes)

Custom calibrations can be provided directly from the factory, though they generally require high-volume orders.

For smaller quantities, calibration can be handled by third-party sensor manufacturers, testing labs, or the end customer. Our technical sales team can recommend some trusted suppliers.

If you require an off-the-shelf solution, then call ATC Semitec’s technical sales team on 01606 871680, where they can recommend the best temperature sensor to match your target temperature range and calibration requirements.

Outcome: After a discussion about the customer’s requirements, our sales team were able to support them with a precision NTC which would meet their requirements.

To purchase small quantities of these products please visit our Sample Shop