How can I choose between thermocouples, resistance temperature detectors (RTDs), Thermistors when measuring temperature?
A. You have to consider the characteristics and costs of the various sensors as well as the available instrumentation. In addition: THERMOCOUPLES generally can measure temperatures over wide temperature ranges, inexpensively, and are very rugged, but they are not as accurate or stable as RTDs and Thermistors. RTDs are stable and have a fairly wide temperature range, but are not as rugged and inexpensive as thermocouples. Since they require the use of electric current to make measurements, RTDs are subject to inaccuracies from self-heating. THERMISTORS tend to be more accurate than RTDs or thermocouples, but they have a much more limited temperature range. They are also subject to selfheating.
