element14 Community
element14 Community
    Register Log In
  • Site
  • Search
  • Log In Register
  • About Us
  • Community Hub
    Community Hub
    • What's New on element14
    • Feedback and Support
    • Benefits of Membership
    • Personal Blogs
    • Members Area
    • Achievement Levels
  • Learn
    Learn
    • Ask an Expert
    • eBooks
    • element14 presents
    • Learning Center
    • Tech Spotlight
    • STEM Academy
    • Webinars, Training and Events
    • Learning Groups
  • Technologies
    Technologies
    • 3D Printing
    • FPGA
    • Industrial Automation
    • Internet of Things
    • Power & Energy
    • Sensors
    • Technology Groups
  • Challenges & Projects
    Challenges & Projects
    • Design Challenges
    • element14 presents Projects
    • Project14
    • Arduino Projects
    • Raspberry Pi Projects
    • Project Groups
  • Products
    Products
    • Arduino
    • Avnet Boards Community
    • Dev Tools
    • Manufacturers
    • Multicomp Pro
    • Product Groups
    • Raspberry Pi
    • RoadTests & Reviews
  • Store
    Store
    • Visit Your Store
    • Choose another store...
      • Europe
      •  Austria (German)
      •  Belgium (Dutch, French)
      •  Bulgaria (Bulgarian)
      •  Czech Republic (Czech)
      •  Denmark (Danish)
      •  Estonia (Estonian)
      •  Finland (Finnish)
      •  France (French)
      •  Germany (German)
      •  Hungary (Hungarian)
      •  Ireland
      •  Israel
      •  Italy (Italian)
      •  Latvia (Latvian)
      •  
      •  Lithuania (Lithuanian)
      •  Netherlands (Dutch)
      •  Norway (Norwegian)
      •  Poland (Polish)
      •  Portugal (Portuguese)
      •  Romania (Romanian)
      •  Russia (Russian)
      •  Slovakia (Slovak)
      •  Slovenia (Slovenian)
      •  Spain (Spanish)
      •  Sweden (Swedish)
      •  Switzerland(German, French)
      •  Turkey (Turkish)
      •  United Kingdom
      • Asia Pacific
      •  Australia
      •  China
      •  Hong Kong
      •  India
      •  Korea (Korean)
      •  Malaysia
      •  New Zealand
      •  Philippines
      •  Singapore
      •  Taiwan
      •  Thailand (Thai)
      • Americas
      •  Brazil (Portuguese)
      •  Canada
      •  Mexico (Spanish)
      •  United States
      Can't find the country/region you're looking for? Visit our export site or find a local distributor.
  • Translate
  • Profile
  • Settings
Sensors
  • Technologies
  • More
Sensors
Sensor Forum Temperature sensor accuracy
  • Blog
  • Forum
  • Documents
  • Quiz
  • Events
  • Polls
  • Members
  • Mentions
  • Sub-Groups
  • Tags
  • More
  • Cancel
  • New
Join Sensors to participate - click to join for free!
Actions
  • Share
  • More
  • Cancel
Forum Thread Details
  • State Verified Answer
  • Replies 38 replies
  • Subscribers 338 subscribers
  • Views 5257 views
  • Users 0 members are here
  • temperature
  • temperature sensor
Related

Temperature sensor accuracy

ntewinkel
ntewinkel over 1 year ago

Hi all,

I have two temperature sensors near each other, outside. In the winter I was using one to keep track of the nectar temperature in a hummingbird feeder, but I just left it hanging there for the summer.

Here is the typical result:

image

The top line is a dht11 or could be 12. It includes pressure and humidity. The bottom line is a ds18b20 in a metal tube.

Both are digital, but one is nearly always about 1 or 2 degrees higher than the other. Generally it’s fine to give me a close enough idea of what’s going on, but I think I should be more accurate when looking at the freezing point.

Do I need to calibrate them? How would I go about doing that? Ie, what can I trust as a proper baseline? I don’t have access to any really guaranteed kind of thermometer, I think. Thinking 

Thanks in advance for any wisdom you can send my way!

-Nico

  • Sign in to reply
  • Cancel

Top Replies

  • dougw
    dougw over 1 year ago +5 verified
    If they are waterproof you can stick them in a slush of ice and water to get a zero degrees reference. If they aren't waterproof you can put them in a plastic bag in the ice/water mix. If they can take…
  • beacon_dave
    beacon_dave over 1 year ago +5 verified
    Comparing data sheets it looks like the accuracy of the DHT11 is ±2°C whereas the DS18B20 is ±0.5°C It will be interesting to see what your testing shows.
  • wolfgangfriedrich
    wolfgangfriedrich over 1 year ago in reply to dougw +4 verified
    During the ice-water test, you have to be careful not to touch the ice-cubes. They are still colder than zero degC. I learnt this during a thermocouple roadtest.
Parents
  • dougw
    +1 dougw over 1 year ago

    If they are waterproof you can stick them in a slush of ice and water to get a zero degrees reference. If they aren't waterproof you can put them in a plastic bag in the ice/water mix.

    If they can take 100 degrees, you can put them in a plastic bag in boiling water for a second reference point.

    This will tell you which sensor is more accurate and allows 2-point (linear curve fit) calibration.

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up +5 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • Reject Answer
    • Cancel
  • ntewinkel
    0 ntewinkel over 1 year ago in reply to dougw

    Thanks Doug!

    I think the ds18b20 is water proof, I’ll give that a shot.

    I didn’t realize these things needed the ole physics class tricks to get them set up!

    And then do I just add or subtract from the readings they give?

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up +2 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • Verify Answer
    • Cancel
  • dougw
    0 dougw over 1 year ago in reply to ntewinkel

    If a subtraction fixes both zero and 100 than that is all that is needed. If it doesn't fix both readings, you need to add or subtract a number and multiply by a scaling factor so that the result matches both at 0 and at 100. If you publish your readings we can explain how to calibrate them. 

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up +2 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • Verify Answer
    • Cancel
Reply
  • dougw
    0 dougw over 1 year ago in reply to ntewinkel

    If a subtraction fixes both zero and 100 than that is all that is needed. If it doesn't fix both readings, you need to add or subtract a number and multiply by a scaling factor so that the result matches both at 0 and at 100. If you publish your readings we can explain how to calibrate them. 

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up +2 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • Verify Answer
    • Cancel
Children
No Data
element14 Community

element14 is the first online community specifically for engineers. Connect with your peers and get expert answers to your questions.

  • Members
  • Learn
  • Technologies
  • Challenges & Projects
  • Products
  • Store
  • About Us
  • Feedback & Support
  • FAQs
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Legal and Copyright Notices
  • Sitemap
  • Cookies

An Avnet Company © 2025 Premier Farnell Limited. All Rights Reserved.

Premier Farnell Ltd, registered in England and Wales (no 00876412), registered office: Farnell House, Forge Lane, Leeds LS12 2NE.

ICP 备案号 10220084.

Follow element14

  • X
  • Facebook
  • linkedin
  • YouTube