2 Wire RTD Sensor, Pt100

A 2 Wire RTD sensor is a temperature sensor that measures temperature based on the resistance of a material (typically platinum). It works by detecting changes in the material's resistance as the temperature changes. The "2-wire" configuration means the sensor uses two wires to transmit the measurement signal to the monitoring system.

A 2-wire RTD sensor uses two wires to connect the sensor to the measurement system, where one wire carries the signal and the other serves as the return path. While this is a simple and cost-effective design, it can introduce measurement errors due to the resistance of the wires themselves, especially over long distances. This is because the resistance of the wires adds to the resistance measured by the sensor, leading to inaccuracies. In contrast, a 3-wire RTD sensor includes three wires, which allows for compensation of the lead resistance. One wire is used for the signal, and the other two are used to measure and subtract out the lead resistance, resulting in a more accurate temperature reading, particularly in applications with longer cable lengths or where high precision is required. Therefore, the main difference between the two is that the 3-wire configuration offers better accuracy by reducing the impact of lead resistance, making it more suitable for longer distance installations and applications where precise temperature measurement is crucial.

Calibration typically involves measuring the sensor’s resistance at known temperature points and comparing it with the expected values. For high-accuracy applications, specialized calibration equipment like a temperature bath or precision thermometer is used. Calibration can be done manually or automatically depending on the system.