Experimenting with Thermistors

In this competition, participants will incorporate thermistors from Molex into their original experiments and designs, documenting their progress and findings along the way.

Experimenting with Thermistors

About Competition | Blogging | Example Application | Resources | The Dates | The Prizes | The Kit | The Judges | Terms & Conditions | The Challengers | Summer of Sensors

Temperature sensors measure heat to ensure that a process or piece of equipment is operating within a mandatory temperature range. These sensors sometimes operate in extreme heat, in the presence of hazards, or at inaccessible measuring points. There are three main types of temperature sensors: thermocouples, NTC thermistors and resistance temperature detectors (RTDs). Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages for use in specific applications.

The thermocouple is the simplest of these sensors; it has been in use since the late 1800s, after a discovery by Italian scientist Allesandro Volta and later, a “rediscovery” by German physicist Thomas Johann Seebeck. RTDs use a resistor whose resistive value changes with temperature. The thermally sensitive resistor (thermistor) — and specifically the negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor — was first described by Michael Faraday in 1833, who found that the resistance of silver sulfide decreased with increases in temperature. However, as the thermistor was difficult to produce and applications were few, commercial production began a century later when Samuel Ruben patented the thermistor in 1930.

Thermistors have continued to be popular because their higher resistance change per degree of temperature provides greater resolution. They are highly repeatable and stable, and have excellent interchangeability. They have low thermal mass, and thus, respond quickly to temperature changes. NTC thermistors are made from a pressed disc, rod, plate, bead or cast chip of semiconducting material, such as sintered metal oxides. NTC thermistors are used primarily for precise temperature control because they can be manufactured to very tight resistance tolerances and temperature accuracy. They can be used as an inrush current limiter in power supplies, where they present a high initial resistance that prevents high current levels from flowing when the host device is turned on. After they heat up, this resistance decreases, allowing more current to flow and the host device to function without damage.

Thermistors come in a variety of shapes, including disk, chip, bead or rod, and can be surface mounted or embedded in a system. They can be encapsulated in epoxy resin, glass, baked-on phenolic, and also painted. The optimal shape often depends on whether the material being monitored is a solid, liquid or gas. They can also be connected to a cable when the device being measured is inaccessible or difficult to reach. Thermistors vary in cost, depending in part on their accuracy.

In this competition, participants will have an opportunity to experiment, test, or build a circuit with thermistors by Molex. Before we talk about what the participants will receive in the Challenger's kit and the great prizes they are competing for, let's talk about how to enter this competition, the timeline, and some FAQs.

How do you enter the Experimenting with Thermistors competition?

All you need to do is log into the Community, go to the Experimenting with Thermistors enrollment page, then click Enroll Now. Complete the application form with all required information and click submit.

Who is Eligible to Enroll in the Experimenting with Thermistors Competition?

Any element14 member can enroll in the Experimenting with Thermistors competition; however, to receive one of 10 FREE kits, you need to submit an application entry form by the enrollment deadline, July 5, 2022.

What are the milestones of the competition?

Blogging Requirements: Only 2 Blogs!

In order to successfully finish this competition, you are required to blog twice during the competition period. You can blog more than twice, if you wish. The due dates for the blogs are described below:

• Write Blog 1: Introduce yourself in the blog and explain what experiments you plan to perform. The due date for publishing the first blog on element14 is August 2, 2022.

• Write Blog 2: Write up the results of your experiments, using images, screen captures, videos, tables, charts, etc. Then tell us what you learned about thermistors. The due date for publishing the second blog on element14 is September 19, 2022.

Please also tag your blogs with 'Experimenting with Thermistors'.

The Prizes

There will be two big prizes awarded in this competition: a Grand Prize and a Runner Up prize. We also offer a complimentary finisher prize to those who have met the requirements for finishing the competition, but have not been chosen for the Grand and Runner Prizes. (Note: The Grand and Runner Up Prize winners will not receive a finisher prize.)

The Grand Prize

FLUKE 279 FC/IFLEX Thermal Multimeter + Apple AirPods Max Approximate value ($1600)

The Runner Up

De'Longhi BCO430BM All-in-One Combination Maker & Espresso Machine Approximate value ($470)

The Finisher Prize

Duratool D02154 129 Piece Tool Set Approximate value ($30ea)

The Kit

element14 is offering 10 kits FREE of charge. To be eligible to receive one of them, you must submit an application by the enrollment deadline (July 5, 2022). See kit below:

Resources/Technical Documentation

Molex
Temperature Sensor Cable Assemblies
Thermistors—A Closer Look
NTC Ring Temperature Sensor Cable Assemblies
Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) - Ring Temperature Sensor Cable Assemblies

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What kind of experiments can the participants perform with the thermistors?

How you experiment with them depends on your interests and what stirs your curiosity about thermistors. Thermistors can be used in temperature monitoring for a wide variety of applications such as space heaters, vending machines, hair dryers, motors, HVAC, computers, medical devices, and many more.

What do I need to do to win the Grand or Runner Up Prize?

After the enrollment period is completed and the 10 FREE kits are shipped, you will have 8 weeks to complete your experiments, write the two required blogs, and share what you learned about thermistors. You will be judged by the quality of your final blog and what you learned.

Can I still be eligible for the Grand Prize or Runner Up Prizes if I am not selected for one of the 10 kits?

Yes, on the condition that you obtain the thermistors featured in the official kit and perform experiments with them, then post your blogs in the Experimenting with Thermistors Group. You must write and post two blogs before the deadline. Also, please notify rscasny@newark.com with links to your two blogs.

What do I get if I don't win the Grand Prize, but I wrote the two blogs?

If you write two blogs and post them in the Experimenting with Thermistors Group by the deadline on September 19, 2022, you have successfully completed your entry in the competition. If our judges do not select you for the Grand or Runner-Up prizes, you will be eligible to receive the finisher prize as a thank you for participating. But remember, you have to write two blogs by the deadline to be considered a finisher!

Can I write more than two blogs?

Yes. To finish the competition, you have to write and post a minimum of two blogs to the Experimenting with Thermistors group. Sometimes the participants will write more than two blogs. You do not get extra points for writing more blogs, but writing more blogs will provide the judges with more information to help determine the best experimenters. But two blogs meet the basic requirements of participation in this activity.

Tips on Writing Your Application

If you want to get a chance to receive one of the 10 FREE Kits, you need to submit an application no later than July 5, 2022. The key to writing a winning application entry form is to provide as much meaningful information about your proposed experiments as possible.

The application entry form should be detailed enough to give a good idea of what you plan to do and how you plan to pull it off. But you don't have to write a book! By answering each of the following questions in your application, you will provide enough information:

(a) Describe your technical background.

(b) Why are you interested in this competition?

(c) What kind of experiment(s) do you plan to perform? (Be as specific as you can)

(d) Have you participated in the element14 Community? If so, please provide some links to what you've done. If you are a new member, answer "New Member."

All interested element14 members must submit an application entry form before the end of enrollment on July 5, 2022.

Here are some other suggestions for completing a winning application:

1. Please complete all required information (contact information, etc.) Please use the email address that is associated with your element14 profile.

2. Answer all of the application questions. Tell us why you want to be selected. Before deciding what you want to write, think about the following things: You are entering a competition. The most persuasive applications are the ones that attract the eye of the judges.

A single sentence application will never be selected. This competition is not a game of chance.

Be as detailed as possible, but don't write a book.

The Judges

Top Members of the element14 Community will be our judges. They are:

Top Member genebren

Top Member dab

Thank you to our Judges for offering their time and service.

General Questions

For any general questions about the ‘Experimenting with Thermistors’ competition, please post a comment on this page.

To keep up-to-date with this competition, please bookmark it.

Terms & Conditions