Pt100 - resistance thermometers

General information about Pt100 temperature sensors

Temperature measurement plays a crucial role in almost all areas, from industrial processes to scientific applications. Accurate temperature measurement is crucial to ensure optimal operating conditions and guarantee quality and safety.
The measurement was often based on the expansion of liquids, gases or metals when the temperature increased (see: https://www.pt100.de/EN-pt100-principle.html).
With the increasing automation of industrial processes, remote transmission of the measured values became more and more important. Electrical temperature measurement methods were therefore increasingly used.
The use of Pt100 sensors is a widely used and precise method of temperature measurement, accounting for over 90% of applications.

A Pt100 resistance thermometer is an electrical temperature sensor based on the change in electrical resistance of the Pt100 platinum resistor. It consists of a platinum resistive element with a nominal resistance of 100 ohms at 0°C, housed in a protective case.
When the Pt100 resistance thermometer is subjected to a temperature change, the electrical resistance of the platinum resistance element changes according to the temperature change. The Pt100 resistor is supplied with a constant current and the voltage drop produced by the change in resistance is measured and converted to a temperature.
Pt100 resistance thermometers are very accurate and can be used in a wide temperature range. They are often used in industrial and laboratory equipment to measure temperature in processes and experiments. There are also special Pt100 resistance thermometers designed for use in aerospace or medical applications. The advantage of using a resistance thermometer is that there are no moving parts, making it very reliable. However, it is important to calibrate the resistance thermometer regularly to ensure the accuracy of the measurement.

The resistance of the Pt 100 at different temperatures can be calculated with the following calculator.

Please enter a temperature value in °C and press the "calculate" button.
The right window then displays the resistance in ohms calculated for the Pt100 resistance sensor.

Advantages of a Pt100-sensor:

• Linear resistance values and thus simple evaluation
• High accuracy and repeatability
• Long-term stability
• Interchangeability due to standardized resistance characteristic curve

Download tables of the Pt100 resistance at different temperatures

History of the Pt100

In the 1920s, industry began using Pt100 sensors. Swiss physicist Willy Jentzsch developed the first Pt100 sensor in 1927, which consisted of a platinum resistive element with a Nominal resistance of 100 ohms at 0°C. This sensor was very accurate and could be used in a wide temperature range. temperature range.
In the years that followed, scientists and engineers continued to improve Pt100 sensors to increase their accuracy and reliability. In the 1950s, Pt100 sensors became widely used, especially in the chemical industry and laboratory.
In the 1960s, Pt100 sensors were also used in aerospace applications. Today, Pt100 sensors are widely used in many different industries and applications. They are used in industry to monitor and control temperature in processes, and in medicine to measure body temperature. Pt100 sensors can also be found in the automotive industry, food industry and many other fields. The continuous development of Pt100 sensors leads to more and more accurate and reliable measurements.