Resistance Temperature Detector (Pt100)

What are the Pt100 connections?

Pt100 (RTDs in general) are available with four different leadwire configurations. The selection of
leadwire
configuration is based on desired accuracy and instrumentation to be used for the measurement.
Two wires RTD : the two wire RTD is the simplest wire configuration. One wire is
attached to each side of the element. A measure can be taken by any device
equipped to measure resistance, including basic Volt Ohm Meters. This is the least accurate way of
measuring temperature, due to the fact that the leadwire resistance is in series with the sensing
element.
The
leadwire
is
at
a
different
temperature
than
the
sensing element and also has different resistance verses temperature characteristics. The longer the
leadwire the greater the effect on the measurement.

Three Wire RTD : The three wire RTD is the most popular configuration for use in
industrial applications. When used correctly, the three wire configuration eliminates the series
resistance. This allows an accurate measurement of the sensing element. Two of the leads are
connected to one side of the sensing element and the single lead to the other side. The resistance in
the two closest wires should be matched as close as possible, this will cause the lead resistance to
cancel themselves. The color code for a three wire RTD is two red wires and one white.

Four Wire RTD : A four wire RTD is the most accurate method to measure an
RTD. It is primarily used in laboratories and is seldom seen in an industrial
application.
A
four
wire
RTD
circuit
removes
the
effect
of
mismatched
resistances on the lead wires. A constant current is passed through external wires while wires closest
to the RTD element measure the voltage drop across the RTD element. The color code for a four wire
RTD
is
usually
two
red
wires
and
two
white
wires.

What are the tolerances and the standards?

The European standard, also known as the DIN or IEC standard, is considered the world-wide
standard for Pt100. 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 (alpha) of 0.00385
//C between 0 and 100C.
There are actually four resistance tolerances specified in DIN/IEC751:2008. These tolerances apply
for thermometers of any value of R0 (you can download tables here below):
Class AA = ( 0.10 + 0.0017 * | t | ) C
Class A = ( 0.15 + 0.0020 * | t | ) C
Class B = ( 0.30 + 0.0050 * | t | ) C
Class C = ( 0.60 + 0.0100 * | t | ) C
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 for users who need to change or replace sensors and
want to minimize interchangeability errors.

What are the equations of an Pt100?

The relationship between resistance (R) and temperature (t) of platinum
thermometers (RTD, Pt100) is described by The Callendar-Van Dusen equation.

resistance

It is also used in the international standard DIN EN 60 751 (IEC751). For a more accurate
relationship, the ITS-90 is used.
For the range between -200 C to 0 C the equation is :
R(t) = R(0)[1 + A * t + B * t^2 + (t 100)C * t^3]
For the range between 0 C to 661 C the equation is
R(t) = R(0)(1 + A * t + B * t^2)
These equations are listed as the basis for the temperature/resistance tables for platinum resistance
thermometers. The coefficient A, B and C are temperature dependent and can be determined using
calibration in our metrology laboratory.
The equation was found by British physicist Hugh Longbourne Callendar, and refined by M. S. Van
Dusen.

As an example, the table below shows both sets of coefficients for a Pt100 resistor
according to the IEC751 and ITS90 scale:
R0 = 100 Ohm
A=3,908 x 10^-3
B=-5,775 x 10^-7
C=-4,183 x 10^-12
A=3,908 x 10^-3
B=-5,775 x 10^-7
C=-4,183 x 10^-12
At last, the coefficient alpha () is a linear parameter determined as the normalised slope between 0
and 100 C:
=(R100-R0)/100xR0
The more used Pt100 have an alpha coefficient equals to 0.00385 following DIN IEC751.