What is the symbol of a thermistor?
2 Answers
The symbol of a thermistor is typically represented in circuit diagrams as a resistor with a small "T" or a curve indicating its temperature-sensitive nature. Here's a more detailed explanation of its symbol and what it means:
### Basic Symbol
- **Resistor Symbol**: Since a thermistor is a type of resistor whose resistance changes with temperature, the symbol used in circuit diagrams is essentially that of a resistor, which is a zig-zag line (or sometimes a rectangle, depending on the standard).
### Special Notation for Thermistors
- **Curve or Label**: Often, the resistor symbol for a thermistor includes a label or an additional marking to distinguish it from regular resistors. For example:
- A **NTC thermistor** (Negative Temperature Coefficient) might be labeled with "NTC" next to the resistor symbol or have a specific marking showing it decreases resistance as temperature increases.
- A **PTC thermistor** (Positive Temperature Coefficient) might be labeled with "PTC," indicating its resistance increases as temperature rises.
### Additional Markings
- **Temperature Dependence**: Some thermistor symbols include additional annotations, such as a curve showing how resistance changes with temperature, or other alphanumeric notations, to provide more details about the thermistor's characteristics.
### Summary:
- The basic **thermistor symbol** looks like a standard **resistor** in a circuit diagram, but it might be annotated or labeled to indicate its temperature-dependent behavior.
- For a **NTC thermistor**, the symbol may have an "NTC" label, while for a **PTC thermistor**, it may be labeled "PTC."
The thermistor's main characteristic is that its **resistance changes with temperature**, which is why it’s used in temperature-sensing applications.
### Basic Symbol
- **Resistor Symbol**: Since a thermistor is a type of resistor whose resistance changes with temperature, the symbol used in circuit diagrams is essentially that of a resistor, which is a zig-zag line (or sometimes a rectangle, depending on the standard).
### Special Notation for Thermistors
- **Curve or Label**: Often, the resistor symbol for a thermistor includes a label or an additional marking to distinguish it from regular resistors. For example:
- A **NTC thermistor** (Negative Temperature Coefficient) might be labeled with "NTC" next to the resistor symbol or have a specific marking showing it decreases resistance as temperature increases.
- A **PTC thermistor** (Positive Temperature Coefficient) might be labeled with "PTC," indicating its resistance increases as temperature rises.
### Additional Markings
- **Temperature Dependence**: Some thermistor symbols include additional annotations, such as a curve showing how resistance changes with temperature, or other alphanumeric notations, to provide more details about the thermistor's characteristics.
### Summary:
- The basic **thermistor symbol** looks like a standard **resistor** in a circuit diagram, but it might be annotated or labeled to indicate its temperature-dependent behavior.
- For a **NTC thermistor**, the symbol may have an "NTC" label, while for a **PTC thermistor**, it may be labeled "PTC."
The thermistor's main characteristic is that its **resistance changes with temperature**, which is why it’s used in temperature-sensing applications.
The symbol for a thermistor in a circuit diagram is typically represented as a **resistor** symbol with a small additional element to indicate its temperature-sensitive property. Depending on the type of thermistor (NTC or PTC), there might be slight variations. Below are the details:
1. **General Thermistor Symbol**:
A thermistor is represented as a rectangle (or zigzag line, depending on the resistor symbol standard) with a diagonal line crossing it. The diagonal line often has a small circle or straight line added to emphasize its temperature dependency.
**Example Symbol:**
- **Resistor Symbol**: A rectangle or zigzag.
- **Thermistor Feature**: A diagonal line across it.
2. **NTC Thermistor Symbol (Negative Temperature Coefficient):**
- The diagonal line typically has a small downward arrow or minus symbol to indicate a decrease in resistance with increasing temperature. This behavior is characteristic of an NTC thermistor.
3. **PTC Thermistor Symbol (Positive Temperature Coefficient):**
- The diagonal line might have an upward arrow or plus symbol to show an increase in resistance with increasing temperature, which is the behavior of a PTC thermistor.
These symbols can vary slightly depending on the standards used (e.g., IEEE or IEC), but the diagonal line across the resistor is a consistent feature that distinguishes thermistors from standard resistors.
Would you like me to illustrate or generate a visual example?
1. **General Thermistor Symbol**:
A thermistor is represented as a rectangle (or zigzag line, depending on the resistor symbol standard) with a diagonal line crossing it. The diagonal line often has a small circle or straight line added to emphasize its temperature dependency.
**Example Symbol:**
- **Resistor Symbol**: A rectangle or zigzag.
- **Thermistor Feature**: A diagonal line across it.
2. **NTC Thermistor Symbol (Negative Temperature Coefficient):**
- The diagonal line typically has a small downward arrow or minus symbol to indicate a decrease in resistance with increasing temperature. This behavior is characteristic of an NTC thermistor.
3. **PTC Thermistor Symbol (Positive Temperature Coefficient):**
- The diagonal line might have an upward arrow or plus symbol to show an increase in resistance with increasing temperature, which is the behavior of a PTC thermistor.
These symbols can vary slightly depending on the standards used (e.g., IEEE or IEC), but the diagonal line across the resistor is a consistent feature that distinguishes thermistors from standard resistors.
Would you like me to illustrate or generate a visual example?