RTDs (Resistance Temperature Detectors)
Precision temperature sensors known as Resistance Temperature Detectors (RTDs) derive their accuracy from the correlation of material resistance—most commonly platinum—with temperature. The resistance of an RTD increases as it is heated, following a well-defined curve that makes the sensor very predictable. At the level of construction, an RTD is made with a sensing element that can be either wire-wound or thin-film. Each style has its unique advantages and can be used in different situations. Wire-wound RTDs are very stable and give a very accurate temperature reading over a wide temperature range. Thin-film RTDs are made in a way that allows them to be more compact, and they can be used in situations where space is at a premium.
Resistance temperature detectors (RTDs) are temperature sensors that measure the change in resistance of their sensing element. This element changes resistance in direct proportion to a change in temperature, obeying the fundamental relation of the materials used to constitute the element. If one were to use a standard two-wire configuration to connect an RTD to a measurement device, without compensating for the resistance of the lead wires, the reading from the measuring device would not accurately reflect the resistance of the RTD at the temperature of interest. To avoid this pitfall, manufacturers of RTDs have developed configurations that enable the use of ohmically equivalent lead wires while still providing a precise measurement of temperature.
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