RTD

Introduction to Resistance Temperature Detectors

RTDs - or Resistance Temperature Detectors - are temperature sensors that contain a
resistor that changes resistance value as its temperature changes. They have been used for
many years to measure temperature in laboratory and industrial processes, and have
developed a reputation for accuracy, repeatability, and stability.
Most RTD elements consist of a length of fine coiled wire wrapped around a ceramic or glass
core. The element is usually quite fragile, so it is often placed inside a sheathed probe to
protect it. The RTD element is made from a pure material whose resistance at various
temperatures has been documented. The material has a predictable change in resistance as
the temperature changes; it is this predictable change that is used to determine
temperature.
This page will help you better understand RTDs, but you can also speak to our application
engineers at anytime if you have any special measurement challenges.

Learn more about RTDs

Choose the right RTD
RTD Applications & FAQ

What elements make an RTD Probe?

Common Resistance Materials for RTDs

Benefits of Using an RTD

Resistance Temperature Detector Elements

Resistance Temperature Detector Surface Elements

Resistance Temperature Detector Probes

RTDs for Water Temperature Measurement

RTDs for Air and Gas Temperature Measurement

Why use an RTD instead of a thermocouple or thermistor sensor?

RTD Glossary & Definitions

Popular RTD Models

Learn more about RTDs

ORIGIN STORY OF RTDS
The discovery that resistivity of metals showed a marked temperature dependence was
made by Sir Humphrey Davy the same year Seebeck made his discovery about
thermoelectricity. Fifty years later, Sir William Siemens proffered the use of platinum as the
element in a resistance thermometer.

Benefits of Using an RTD

The RTD is one of the most accurate temperature sensors. Not only does it provide good
accuracy, it also provides excellent stability and repeatability. Most OMEGA standard RTDs
comply with DIN-IEC Class B. RTDs are also relatively immune to electrical noise and
therefore well suited for temperature measurement in industrial environments, especially
around motors, generators and other high voltage equipment.
Construction of an RTD Probe
A probe is an assembly composed of an element, a sheath, a lead wire, and a termination or
connection. Once the RTD element is selected, the wiring and packaging requirements need
to be determined. There are a number of ways to wire the sensors, along with an unlimited
number of probe or sensor constructions to choose from.

Wiring Arrangement
In order to measure temperature, the RTD element must be connected to some sort of
monitoring or control equipment. Since the temperature measurement is based on the
element resistance, any other resistance (lead wire resistance, connections, etc.) added to
the circuit will result in measurement error. Except for the 2-wire configuration, all other
wiring arrangements allow the monitoring or control equipment to factor out the unwanted
lead wire resistance and other resistances that occur in the circuit. Sensors using the 3-wire
construction are the most common design, found in industrial process and monitoring
applications. The lead wire resistance is factored out as long as all of the lead wires have
the same resistance; otherwise, errors can result.
Wire Materials
When specifying the lead wire materials, care should be taken to select the right lead wires
for the temperature and environment the sensor will be exposed to in service. When
selecting lead wires, temperature is by far the primary consideration, however, physical
properties such as abrasion resistance and water submersion characteristics can also be
important. The three most popular constructions are:
- PVC Insulatated Probes offer a temperature range of -40 to 105C, with goood Abrasion
Resistance and applicable for Water Submersion.

- PFA Insulatated RTD Probes offer a temperature range of -267 to 260C with Excellent
Abrasion Resistance. They are also great for Water Subersion Applications.
- Although Fiberglass Insulated RTD Probes offer a higher temperature range of -73 to
482C, its performance under abrasion or water submersion is considered to be not as
effective.
The Termination
Probes may be terminated in a connection head, quick disconnect, terminal block, or
extension wire. Other termination styles are available upon special request.
Configuration
Once the RTD element, wire arrangement, and wire construction are selected, the physical
construction of the sensor needs to be considered. The final sensor configuration will depend
upon the application. Measuring the temperature of a liquid, a surface, or a gas stream
requires different sensor configurations.

THE MOST COMMON RESISTANCE MATERIALS FOR RTDS ARE:

1. Platinum (most popular and accurate)
2. Nickel
3. Copper
4. Balco (rare)
5. Tungsten (rare)

RTD standards
There are two standards for platinum RTDs: the European standard (also known as the DIN
or IEC standard) and the American standard. The European standard, also known as the
DIN or IEC standard, is considered the world-wide standard for platinum RTDs. This
standard, DIN/IEC 60751 (or simply IEC751), requires the RTD to have an electrical
resistance of 100.00 at 0C and a temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of 0.00385
//C between 0 and 100C.
There are two resistance tolerances specified in DIN/IEC751:
Class A = (0.15 + 0.002*t)C or 100.00 0.06 at 0C
Class B = (0.3 + 0.005*t)C or 100.00 0.12 at 0C
Two resistance tolerances used in industry are:
13 DIN = 13* (0.3 + 0.005*t)C or 100.00 0.10 at 0C
110 DIN = 1 10* (0.3 + 0.005*t)C or 100.00 0.03 at 0C
The combination of resistance tolerance and temperature coefficient define the resistance
vs. temperature characteristics for the RTD sensor. The larger the element tolerance, the
more the sensor will deviate from a generalized curve, and the more variation there will be
from sensor to sensor (interchangeability). This is important to users who need to change or
replace sensors and want to minimize interchangeability errors.

Choose the right RTD

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RTD Elements
The RTD element is the simplest form of RTD. It consists of a piece of wire wrapped around
a ceramic or glass core. Because of their compact size, RTD elements are commonly used
when space is very limited.

RTD Surface Elements

A surface element is a special type of RTD element. It is designed to be as thin as possible
thus providing good contact for temperature measurement of flat surfaces.

RTD Probes
The RTD probe is the most rugged form of RTD. A probe consists of an RTD element
mounted inside a metal tube, also known as a sheath. The sheath protects the element from
the environment. OMEGA offers a wide variety of probes in various configurations.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Why use an RTD instead of a thermocouple or thermistor sensor?

Each type of temperature sensor has a particular set of conditions for which it is best suited.
RTDs offer several advantages:
A wide temperature range (approximately -200 to 850C)
Good accuracy (better than thermocouples)
Good interchangeability
Long-term stability
With a temperature range up to 850C, RTDs can be used in all but the highest-temperature
industrial processes. When made using metals such as platinum, they are very stable and
are not affected by corrosion or oxidation. Other materials such as nickel, copper, and
nickel-iron alloy have also been used for RTDs. However, these materials are not commonly
used since they have lower temperature capabilities and are not as stable or repeatable as
platinum.

Measuring the temperature of a liquid with an RTD

Probe-type sensor styles are normally used for measuring liquids. They can be as simple as
our general purpose RTD Probes PR-10 and PR-11 constructions, or as involved as our PR12, 14, 18, or 19with connection heads and transmitters. A popular choice is the quickdisconnect sensor. This can be used as is, with compression fittings for flexible installation,
or with our PRS plastic handle for a handheld probe. When measuring the temperature of
harsh environments such as plating baths or highly pressurized systems, sensors can be
coated with a material like PFA Teflon, or they can be housed in a thermowell to protect
the sensor from extreme conditions.

Air and Gas Temperature Measurement with RTD Sensors

Air and gas stream measurements are a challenge because the rate of transfer of
temperature from the fluid to the sensor is slower than for liquids. Therefore, sensors
specifically designed for use in air or gas place the sensing element as close to the media as
possible. These Air Temperature RTD Sensors allow the sensing element to be nearly in
direct contact with the air stream. With a housing design containing lots that allow the air to
flow past the element, this construction is very popular in measuring air temperature in
laboratories, clean rooms, and other locations. When the situation requires a little more
protection for the sensor, an option is to use a design similar to the RTD-860. This design
has a small diameter probe with a flange for mounting. The configuration will be a little
slower to respond to changes in the air stream, but it will provide improved protection for
the sensor.

Surface Temperature Measurements

Measuring the temperatute of a surface can be one of the most difficult to make accurately.
There are a wide variety of styles to choose from, depending on how you want to attach the
sensor, how sensitive to changes in temperature the sensor has to be, and whether the
installation will be permanent. The most accurate and fastest-responding surface RTD is our
SA1-RTD sensor. When applied to a surface, it becomes virtually a part of the surface it is
measuring. Surface sensors can also be bolted, screwed, glued, or cemented into place. The

RTD-830 has a pre-machined hole in the housing to allow for easy installation with a #4
screw. The RTD-850 has a housing with threaded tip that allows it to be installed into a
standard #8-32 threaded hole. This RTD is handy for measuring the temperature of heat
sinks or structures where screw holes may already exist.

RTD Glossary
RTD (Resistance Temperature Detector)
An acronym for resistance temperature detector or device. A resistance temperature
detector operates on the principle of the change in electrical resistance in wire as a function
of temperature.
RTD Element
Sensing portion of the RTD which can be made most commonly of platinum, nickel, or
copper. OMEGA features two styles of elements: wire wound and thin film.
RTD Probe
An assembly composed of an element, a sheath, a lead wire, and a termination or
connection. The standard OMEGA RTD probe is made with a 100 ohm platinum European
curve element (alpha = 0.00385).
Platinum RTD
Also known as Pt RTD, Platinum RTD's are typically the most linear, stable, repeatable, and
accurate of all RTD's. Platinum wire was chosen by OMEGA because it best meets the needs
of precision thermoetry.
Thin Film RTD
Thinfilm RTD's are made up of of a thin layer of a base metal embedded into a ceramic
substrate and trimmed to produce the desired resistance value. OMEGA RTD's are made by
depositing platinum as a film on a substrate and then encapsulating both. This method
allows for the production of small, fast response, accurate sensors. Thin film elements
conform to the European curve/DIN 43760 standards and the "0.1% DIN" standard
tolerance.
Class A RTD
Highest RTD Element tolerance and accuracy, Class A (IEC-751), Alpha = 0.00385
Class B RTD
Most Common RTD Element tolerance and accuracy, Class B (IEC-751), Alpha = 0.00385
Aplha .00385 Curve
European Curve meets "0.1% DIN" standard tolerance and conforms to the DIN 43760
standard
Sheath
The sheath, a closed end tube, immobilizes the element, protecting it against moisture and

the environment to be measured. The sheath also provides protection and stability to the
transition lead wires from the fragile element wires. OMEGAs standard sheaths are 3 mm
(1/8") and 6 mm (1/4") O. D. 304 stainless steel tubes. Other O.D.s and materials are
available upon request.

Preventing Vibration Damage to

Thermocouples and RTD Sensors
Thermocouples operate on the principle of the Seebeck effect, which states that two
dissimilar metals joined at two junctions generate an electromotive force, or EMF, at the
junctions. The metals react to changes in temperature to produce an EMF voltage in relation
to the difference in temperature at the junction. RTDs function on the precept that electrical
resistance increases with increasing temperature. The types of metal used to fabricate the
sensor impact accuracy, measurement range, response time and resistance to
environmental stressors such as vibration.

Grounded Junction,

OMEGACLAD Probes
OMEGACLAD Probes

Ungrounded Junction,

1PT100G Glass Wire-Wound RTDs

TFD
Thin-Film RTD shown magnified
Thermocouple junctions may be grounded or ungrounded. They are often covered with
protective metal but may be left exposed to improve response time. Grounding is frequently
required to prevent buildup of static charge, which may negatively impact accuracy.
However, if the thermocouple is grounded to machinery or other electrically powered
equipment, circuit noise may interfere with the measurement. A number of different metal
combinations are used in the construction of thermocouples. Each is classified according to
temperature range and acceptable measuring environments. Thermocouples encased in
metal are quite robust and, on average, much less susceptible to vibration than RTDs.
RTDs are available in wire-wound or thin-film types. Wirewound sensors are highly accurate.
They are made by winding copper, nickel or platinum wire around a glass or ceramic core to
which the wire is also fused. Glass-core sensors can be immersed in most liquids without
protection while those with a ceramic core offer stability for exceptionally high temperature
measurements. Platinum is the most preferred wire, since it provides the best accuracy over
the broadest temperature range. ASTM E1137 is the international standard that defines

tolerances for platinum resistance sensors. It is frequently used as one of the criteria for
selecting a temperature sensor, as RTDs manufactured and tested according to this
specification offer greater reliability and better performance.
Thin-film RTDs offer substantially more vibration protection than wire-wound RTDs. They are
produced by depositing a thin film of passivated platinum on a ceramic substrate. An
electrical circuit is etched into the material to create the preferred resistance. These sensors
display a practically linear temperature-resistance curve. Therefore, they provide highly
accurate and consistent measurements over a broad temperature range. Their compact size
gives them the advantage of faster response times and greater resistance to thermal shock
and vibration.

Challenges Presented to Temperature Measurements in the Presence of Vibration

Vibration can cause mechanical stress in the wires of thermocouples and RTDs.
Thermocouples are subject to vibration fatigue, which can lead to insulation failure and
short circuits. This may be evident from intermittently high readings resulting from the
measurement being taken at the short rather than at the junction. Wire-wound RTDs are
especially susceptible to vibration damage. The fine platinum wire used to wind the sensor
has a typical diameter of 15 to 35 microns and is quite fragile. A broken or damaged RTD
sensor wire may result in:

An open circuit

Noisy signals

Sporadically high temperature measurements

Decalibration is another fault condition that may occur in thermocouples exposed to

vibration. This is the process whereby the structure of the wire is altered to where the
voltage-temperature characteristics no longer conform to international standards. The major
concern with decalibration is that the temperature measurements appear to be accurate.
The readings will drift gradually over time. Testing the thermocouple against a known
temperature is the most common method of detecting decalibration.

Types of Vibrations that Affect Sensors

Machine vibrations are common in industrial processes. They can arise from the movement
of motors, pumps or compressors. The propensity to cause damage is proportional to the
amplitude and frequency of the vibration. The amplitude is the force being applied to an
object that is producing the vibration. For example, the speed of rotation in an electric
motor will contribute to the amplitude of vibration. The faster the motor rotates, the greater
the amplitude. Frequency is also a factor in the severity of vibration. It is the rate at which a
mechanical device moves back and forth under force. A machine can vibrate in multiple
directions with varying rates of amplitude and frequency.
Acoustical vibrations are generated by a large number of mechanical systems, such as
turbines and engines, as well as human voices and vehicle traffic. When acoustical noise
enters a structure, it becomes structural vibration. Sound waves can travel anywhere there
is air flow; therefore, they can come from any direction. Reverberation is the continuance of
sound after the original has ceased. This is the result of sound waves reflecting from
surfaces. Acoustic characteristics can vary depending on the size and shape of objects they
reflect from, making it difficult to predict how they will react.

Flow-induced vibrations result from the interaction of forces between fluid flow and the
inertia of structures immersed in or conveying it. Fluid flow is a source of energy capable of
producing mechanical and structural vibration. In cylindrical structures, vibrations are
classified as either axial-flow induced or cross-flow-induced, depending upon the angle of
inward flow in relation to the cylinder axis.

Vibration Resistant Thermocouples and RTDs

The OMEGA PR-21SL RTD is designed for use in thermowells and features spring loading to
sustain contact between the probe and the thermowell in the presence of static and
vibration. This ensures optimal heat transfer between the thermowell and probe and
insulates the sensor against vibration. The PR-21SL RTD can be used in two-, three- or fourwire applications and fits standard 0.26-inch bore thermowells. An adjustable, self gripping
spring allows it to be used in shorter thermowells.
OMEGAs PR-31 RTD probe is bendable and vibration resistant. The probe is constructed of
316 stainless steel, and the mineral-insulated cable allows the probe to be bent. The PR-31
RTD is vibration tested to MIL-STD-202G, Method 204D, Condition A and has a measuring
range between -50 and 500C. It is available in 100 and 1000 and can be used in 2-, 3- or
4-wire applications.
The M12M Series thermocouple probes can be used exposed, mounted into the process, or
in a thermowell. The probes are available as a Type K thermocouple with Inconel 600
sheaths or a Type J with 304 stainless steel sheaths. The Type K has a temperature range
between -40 and 1150C, and the Type J has a temperature range of -40 to 600C. The
M12M comes standard with an ungrounded junction; a grounded junction is optional.

PR-21SL RTD

PR-31 RTD Probe

Conclusion

M12M Thermocouple Probe

Choosing the right RTD or thermocouple for you application will optimize performance and
prevent sensor damage. Thermocouples are a versatile and cost-effective means of
temperature measurement and offer the best protection against vibration. Wire-wound RTDs
offer superior accuracy and a wider measurement range but are not as resilient. Thin film
RTDs provide highly accurate and consistent data and offer greater resistance to vibration
than wire-wound RTDs. OMEGA also has custom engineered solutions for very severe
vibration environments.