Air Temperature Measurement Sensors

Dr. Bruce Bugbee, of Apogee Instruments, covers the differences in air temperature measurement sensors including thermistors, thermocouples, and platinum resistance thermometers (PRTs). He discusses data that compares the accuracy of these sensors and data collected from Apogee sensors at Peter Sinks, UT-the second coldest temperature location recorded in the continental US.

VIDEO CONTENT

01:37 What kind of electronic sensors would you use for air temperature measurement?-You need to have an electronic output from you temperature so you can record the measurements.

01:54 Different types of temperature sensors

02:14 Fine Wire Thermistor http://www.apogeeinstruments.com/st-2...
These sensors are typically used in a syringe to inject into an animal to measure internal temperature or in delicate flowers. They stay very close to air temperature because they’re so tiny, however, our long term studies show they drift, making the unstable for air temperature measurements.

03:01 Thermocouples-are a classic temperature measurement device. They are widely used and inexpensive, but they are not the most accurate reference standard.

04:00 Thermistors http://www.apogeeinstruments.com/st-1...

These sensors have a big signal size and are easy to measure.
04:23 Platinum Resistance Thermometers (PRT) http://www.apogeeinstruments.com/st-3...
These sensors are enclosed in a stainless steel sheath, making them extremely rugged, bigger than a thermistor, and more expensive.

05:07 Ceramic Sheath Thermistor http://www.apogeeinstruments.com/ther...
This sensors is great for rugged environments and direct burial in soils.

06:27 Smaller is Better-The effect of sensor size on temperature measurements and supporting data.

08:26 PRT classifications-All PRTs are not created equal. There are five classes of PRTs each with different specifications. The most accurate is of the five is 1/10 DIN. As accuracy increases so does price.

09:12 Comparison of Class A PRTs to yellow-bead epoxy coated thermistors from Apogee. The specified accuracy of these two sensors is very similar, however, the price is not. After testing the two sensors against each other, it was concluded that the yellow-bead thermistor had better accuracy than the Class A PRT, and it costs less.

14:30 Testing 1/10 DIN PRTs and 1/10 DIN PRTs against the yellow-bead thermistor.

15:49 Peter Sinks- The record lowest temperature for Utah and the second coldest temperature ever recorded in the continental United States at 56.3 C (-69.3 F) uses the Apogee yellow-bead thermistor and TS-100 solar radiation shield for temperature measurements. The TS-100 at Peter Sinks uses two yellow bead thermistors and two PRTs, in the same shield, to do rigorous replicate comparison of accuracy and stability over a long term.

18:31 Data from Peter Sinks- The replicate thermistors are very close to each other. The replicate PRTs are close to each other. Over the year test period the yellow-bead thermistors were every bit as good as the PRTs for stability. The yellow-bead thermistor had an advantage over the PRTs during the winter. The thermistors did not heat up the way the PRTs did due to reflected solar radiation from the snow.

More information at http://www.apogeeinstruments.com/temp... and http://www.apogeeinstruments.com/temp....

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More videos on the air temperature and humidity measurements and solar radiation shields can be found at    • Solar Radiation Shields Overview  .

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BUY THE SENSORS FROM THIS VIDEO

ST-110 Yellow-bead Thermistor http://www.apogeeinstruments.com/st-1...

TS-100 Fan-aspirated Radiation Shield http://www.apogeeinstruments.com/aspi...

ST-300 Platinum Resistance Thermometer (PRT) http://www.apogeeinstruments.com/st-3...

ST-200 Fine-wire Thermistor http://www.apogeeinstruments.com/st-2...

ST-100 Ceramic Sheath Thermistor http://www.apogeeinstruments.com/ther...