Temperature Measurement and

Calibration TD400
Calibration (TD400) equipment
shows the characteristics of several
popular temperature measurement
devices, their advantages and
disadvantages, and how to use
them correctly for best accuracy of
measurement
The main part of the equipment is a metal
frame that contains a water heater, an
icebox, digital displays and low voltage
electrical connections. The low voltage
connections work with the low voltage
temperature measuring devices.
The Heater Tank has an electric heating element, a
water level sensor and an overheat sensor for safety. It
has a removable lid with holes ready to hold the
devices during experiments. The heater is switched
on by pressing the green button labeled ‘ON/RESET’.
Press the red button labeled ‘OFF’ to turn the heater
off. When the heater is on, the heater ‘ON’ indicator
or the will be lit. If the water level drops too low,
equipment overheats, the heater will be switched off.
If this happens during use, you will need to add more
water or wait for the equipment to cool down before
continuing. Once the equipment is safe to use again,
press the ‘ON/RESET’ button to switch on the heater.
The Icebox is a thermally insulated
container to hold ice during
experiments and help to slow down the
melting process. It has a removable liner
to allow students to pour away the ice
water after experiments. It has a lid with
holes to help support some of the
devices during experiments and to help
slow down the melting process.
The first digital display (Reference Display) shows:

⚫ The reference temperature from the reference sensor.

⚫ Atmospheric pressure.
⚫ Boiling temperature of water (at the indicated
atmospheric pressure).
⚫ Local atmospheric pressure affects the boiling temperature
of water, so the display calculates the correct boiling
temperature for you, to get accurate experiment results.

⚫ The reference sensor is a platinum resistance thermometer

(PRT) calibrated with its display for an accurate reference
during experiments.

⚫ The second display (Millivolt meter) shows four different

voltages from each of the four pairs of sockets each side of
the display, for use with the low voltage devices.
 To show how the platinum resistance thermometer
works and how to connect it correctly.

To show the linearity of the platinum resistance

thermometer (PRT(.

To prove that the platinum resistance thermometer

is good for use as a reference temperature sensor
for all the other experiments.
⦁ The resistance thermometers use a known
change of electrical resistance in a metal for a
known temperature. The resistance
thermometers in this equipment use a thin
platinum wire or film, so they are also called
Platinum Resistance Thermometers (PRTs).
They have a positive temperature coefficient
(PTC) because their resistance increases with
temperature. A sealed metal tube with
insulation contains the thermometer for
protection against the conductive or corrosive
properties of any liquids that you put the
thermometer into.
⦁ The equipment includes two resistance
thermometers (sometimes called resistance
temperature detectors or RTDs). Both are type
PT100 - 100 Ohm at 0°C. One is the
reference temperature sensor and has a
special plug to connect to the reference
sensor socket. It uses the four wire constant
current connection for accuracy. The other is
an identical thermometer, but has four
accessible wires for use with the low voltage
connections to help show how the
thermometer works.
⦁ Connect the reference sensor to its socket
and connect the PRT to the millivolt meter
and the constant current source as shown
Note that the PRT is connected as a four wire
device.
• Put the reference sensor and the PRT into
the icebox (through the holes in its lid). Wait
a few minutes for the readings to stabilize
and record them (the reference temperature
should be between 0°C and 1°C).
• Now put both devices into the heater tank
(through the holes in its lid). Switch on the
heater and note the reference temperature.
At intervals of 10°C (shown by the reference
temperature), record the input 1 readings of the
millivoltmeter.
• Stop the experiment and switch off
the heater when the reference
temperature reaches 100°C.
⦁ Given that the constant current is 1 mA, use
Ohm’s law to calculate the resistance of the
PRT for each row in your table.

⦁ Plot a chart of resistance (vertical axis)

against temperature (horizontal axis). Start
the vertical axis at 100 Ohm.
⦁ Add to your results table and chart, the
standard resistances given in Table 1 that
match the reference temperatures.
Find temperature coefficient α
using equation :
RF=R0(1+α(TF-T0)
We can find T at specific resistance
using equation
T= (RT-R0)/(R100-R0)×100
 Experiment 2

Calibration of Gas pressure and

BI metal Thermometers
Gas Pressure and Bi-metal
Thermometers
The gas Pressure thermometer works on the
principle of a known volume expansion rate of a
gas (vapour of a fluid) for a known rise in
temperature. As the gas (vapour above a small
a rise in volume of fluid) expands with
temperature, its pressure increases and pushes
against a mechanical mechanism that turns a
calibrated dial.
The bi-metal thermometer works on the
principle of different expansion rates of two
different metal strips fixed (laminated)
together to form a thicker strip that is a
composite of the two metals. As
temperature increases, one metal expands
more than the other and the composite
bends, pushing a calibrated mechanical
dial.
Objective :

• To show the linearity

and accuracy of gas
(vapour) pressure and
Bi-metal devices, by
calibration against the
reference sensor.
Procedure
1- Setup the heater and
icebox as shown in
Initial Setup
Choose one of the thermometers. Put
the reference sensor and the
thermometer into the icebox (through
the holes in its lid). Wait a few minutes
for the readings to stabilize and record
them (the reference temperature
should be between 0°C and 1°C).
Now put both devices into the
heater tank (through the
holes in its lid). Switch on the
heater and note the reference
temperature.
At intervals of 10°C (shown by
the reference temperature),
record the readings of the
thermometer
 Gas (Vapour) Thermometer
Reference Indicated Deviation
Temperatu Temperatur (difference Error (%)
re (°C) e (°C) ) (°C)
 Bi-metal Thermometer
Reference Indicated Deviation
Temperature Temperature (difference) (°C) Error (%)
(°C) (°C)
6. Stop the experiment and
switch off the heater when
the reference temperature
reaches 100°C
Repeat the experiment for the
other thermometer, the bi-metal
thermometer. Allow the heater
water to cool down (and change
it if necessary for cooler water)
between tests.
Results
Analysis
For each device, find the
deviation and calculate the
percentage error to
complete your results
tables.
Create charts of the
indicated temperature
(vertical axis) against
reference temperature
(horizontal axis).
Add to your charts, the
reference temperature
(against its own readings) to
create a linear standard to
compare against the
indicated readings
On your results table, find
the difference between
the standard and your
results (the deviation) and
calculate the percentage
error
Compare the devices against
the standard to see which is
the most accurate over the
range
Can you identify any possible
causes of error
Experiment 3 - NTC Thermistor
Thermistor (NTC)
•The equipment includes a thermistor
(thermal resistor ). This works in a similar
way to the resistance thermometers, except
that it uses an electrical resistor made of a
semiconductor material instead of a metal. It
has a negative temperature coefficient (NTC)
of resistance, giving it the name ‘NTC
Thermistor’. Its resistance decreases as
temperature increases.
OBJECTIVE :

To show how the NTC Thermistor

works.

To show the non-linearity of the NTC

Thermistor.
Procedure
1. Connect the reference sensor to its
socket and connect the NTC Thermistor
to the millivoltmeter and the constant
current source as shown in Figure
•Setup the heater and icebox as shown in
Initial Setup (for Experiment 3 onwards).
Put the reference sensor and the NTC
Thermistor into the icebox (through the
holes in its lid). Wait a few minutes for the
readings to stabilize and record them (the
reference temperature should be between
0°C and 1°C).
•At intervals of 5°C (shown by the reference
temperature), record the input 1 readings of
the millivolt meter.
6. Create a blank results table, similar to:
NTC Thermistor Calibration
Reference Measure Calculated Standard
Temperature d Voltage Resistance Resistance Deviation
(°C) (mV) Error (%)
• 7. Stop the experiment and switch off the heater when the reference
temperature reaches 100°C.
•Results Analysis
•Given that the constant current is 1 mA, use
Ohm’s law to calculate the resistance of
the Thermistor for each row in your table.
•Plot a chart of resistance (vertical
axis) against temperature
(horizontal axis).
•Draw a best fit curve through your results
•Add to your results table and chart, the
standard resistances for the NTC Thermistor
from Table on and compare the curves. On
your results table, find the difference
between the standard and your results (the
deviation) and calculate the percentage
error.
•Can you identify any possible causes of
error.
We can find T at specific resistance using equation
 Experiment 4
J and K Type Thermocouple
• The figure ,it shows the basic construction of a thermocouple,
formed by two cables of different materials, With this
disposition, when the joint ends warm, an output voltage is
obtained between the other two ends and it depends on the
difference of temperature in the two unions and between the
two materials.
Thermocouples
There are two different thermocouple
types:
• K type
• J type.
K Type thermocouple
J Type thermocouple
• They work on the principle of potential
difference across two different metals subject
to a heat gradient.

• These thermocouples work with electrical or

electronic circuits that convert the small
potential difference into
a calibrated value of voltage or current.
 Note :
• The thermocouple is provide with a amplifier
circuit, that allow to read the small voltage at
the output of thermocouple, and prevent it
from dangerous overload.
OBJECTIVE :
❖ To show how thermocouples work

❖ To show and compare the linearity and output signal

levels of J and K type thermocouples
Procedure
 1. Connect the reference sensor
to its socket and connect the J or
K type thermocouple to the
amplifier and the millivolt meter
as shown in Figure.
 INPUT 1 INPUT 2 INPUT 3 INPUT 4

MILLIVOLTMETER

PRT SENSOR AND

NTC THERMISTOR

100R 100R

R4

WHEATSTONE
R3 100R
BRIDGE
1mA 100R

R2
Vx
REFERENCE
SENSOR

CONSTANT
R1
CURRENT
SOURCE CONSTANT
PRT SIMULATOR VOLTAG
E
SOURCE

J - Type = Black
K - Type = Green

G = 20
THERMOCOUPLE
J- AND K- TYPES

J - Type = White
K - Type = White IN OUT

JUNCTIONS

RESISTORS
Thermocouple

10R 100R 1000R

 Note :
• The amplifier amplifies the small voltage from the
thermocouple by 20. This makes it suitable for the millivolt
meter. The actual voltage from the thermocouple will therefore
be 1/20 of the reading from the millivolt meter.
• 2. Setup the heater and icebox as shown in
Initial Setup
• 3. Put the reference sensor and the
thermocouple into the icebox (through the
holes in its lid). Wait a few minutes for the
readings to stabilize and record them (the
reference temperature should be
approximately 0°C).
• 4- Now put both devices into the heater tank (through the
holes in its lid). Switch on the heater and note the reference
temperature.
5. At intervals of 5°C (shown by the reference temperature),
record the input 1 readings of the millivoltmeter.
 J and K Type Thermocouple Calibration
Reference Measured Measured Standard
Temperature Voltage (mV) Voltage/20 Voltage Deviation
(°C) (mV) (mV) Error (%)
• 7. Stop the experiment and switch off the heater when the
reference temperature reaches 100°C.
• 8 -Repeat the procedure for the other thermocouple.
• Results Analysis
• Divide your millivolt meter readings by 20 to
find the actual measured voltage generated by
the thermocouples for each row in your table.
• For each thermocouple, plot a chart of actual
measured voltage (vertical axis) against
temperature (horizontal axis).

Measured voltage

tempreture
• Draw a best fit curve through
each of your results to see how
linear the voltage change is for
each thermocouple over the
range 0 to 100°C. Note how your
results prove that voltage goes up
as temperature increases.
• Compare your results with the standard specifications for the
thermocouples given in Table 6.1 and Table 6.2
• On your results table, find the difference between the standard
and your results (the deviation) and calculate the percentage
error.

Percentage error = (deviation/standard) x 100

• Your results should be reasonably linear, but the deviation may
be large and consistent (an offset). Can you identify the causes
of any errors? Hint - think about the thermocouples and the
connections to the amplifier.
• Can you understand why thermocouple connections are
important, and why you cannot simply connect a
thermocouple directly to an ordinary measuring device and
expect it to work correctly?
 Experiment 5
Thermocouples and
the Seebeck Effect
In 1821, a German-Estonian physicist -Thomas Seebeck,
discovered that certain conductors (mainly metals) will
generate a small voltage when you heat them. This is
known as the Seebeck or thermoelectric effect. It works
best when you use two different metals and connect
them together, so that the voltage developed along one
metal is opposite to that developed along the other. If
you join the metals at each end, you create a circuit with
two junctions. When one junction is at a higher
temperature than the other, a current flows around the
circuit.
To measure temperature correctly, the
thermocouple must measure with
respect to a known temperature, so
one junction is at a known (reference)
temperature
• They work on the principle of potential
difference across two different metals subject
to a heat gradient.

• These thermocouples work with electrical or

electronic circuits that convert the small
potential difference into
a calibrated value of voltage or current.
 How Thermocouples Work
Junction 1 Current Flow Junction 2
Wire made of metal 1

Small Potential Difference (voltage)

Wire made of metal 2 Reference Temperature

(for example - 0°C)
Different metal combinations work better than others
for different applications. For example, one pair of
metals may work well at lower temperatures, but
could melt at higher temperatures, where a different
set of metals would work better. Also, some
combinations may give more linear results than
others.
• Since Seebeck’s discovery, scientists have found many different
combinations that work for different applications (good for use
near powerful magnetic fields), and others can measure
temperatures above 1500°C.
 Note :

• The thermocouple is provide with a

amplifier circuit, that allow to read the
small voltage at the output of
thermocouple, and prevent it from
dangerous overload.
OBJECTIVE :
To connect two identical thermocouples together and prove the
Seebeck effect.

To show that when one junction of two directly connected

thermocouples is at a known reference temperature, you can
calibrate the pair to directly measure temperature on the Celsius
scale.
Procedure
 1. Connect the two K-type
thermocouples to the amplifier as
shown in Figure. Link the two white
wires together on a spare socket (the
diagram uses the connection at the
end of the resistors).
 Note :
• The amplifier amplifies the small voltage from the
thermocouple by 20. This makes it suitable for the millivolt
meter. The actual voltage from the thermocouple will therefore
be 1/20 of the reading from the millivolt meter.
• 2. Setup the heater and icebox as shown in
Initial Setup (for Experiment 3 onwards).
• 3. Put the reference sensor and the
thermocouple into the icebox (through the
holes in its lid). Wait a few minutes for the
readings to stabilize and record them (the
reference temperature should be
approximately 0°C).
• 4- Now put the reference sensor and the K - type
thermocouple shown in the diagram with ‘heater’ into the
heater tank (through the holes in its lid). Leave the other
thermocouple in the ice. Switch on the heater and note the
reference temperature.
• 5. At intervals of 10°C (shown by the reference temperature),
record the input 1 readings of the millivoltmeter.
•
 Seebeck Effect
Reference Measured actual Standard
Temperature Voltage voltage = Voltage Deviation
(°C) Measured
Voltage/20 Error
(%)
• 7. Stop the experiment and switch off the heater when the
reference temperature reaches 100°C.
• Results Analysis
 Note
• how the thermocouples produce little or no voltage when their
junctions are both in the ice at the same temperature
(approximately 0°C).
 Note
• the thermocouples produce a voltage when one junction is at a
different temperature to the other, and this voltage is with
respect to 0°C where one junction is in the ice.
• Divide your millivolt meter readings by 20 to
find the actual measured voltage generated by
the thermocouples for each row in your table.
• For each thermocouple, plot a chart of actual
measured voltage (vertical axis) against
temperature (horizontal axis).

standard, actual measured voltage

Temperature
• Add to your chart, the standard
voltages Draw best fit lines
through your results and
compare them with the standard.
• On your results table, find the difference between the standard
and your results (the deviation) and calculate the percentage
error.

Percentage error = (deviation/standard) x 100

• Can you explain the cause of any errors ? Hint - think about
the connecting junction between the thermocouples, the
initial ice temperature and the amplifier.
Experiment 6 - Thermocouples
and Circuit Resistance
Objective:

• To show how resistance in the measuring circuit can affect the

readings from thermocouples.
 Thermocouple Extension Wires and
Circuit Resistance
Because thermocouples use two different materials to produce a small voltage,
any cables you use to extend them must be made of the same material as
those of the thermocouple wires. If you use different materials, you create
additional thermocouple junctions, which can affect the readings.
As with all measuring systems, the electronic circuits that
measure the signals from thermocouples must not
interfere with the signal levels from the thermocouple. For
this reason, the measuring circuits must have a high input
resistance, or they will reduce the signal and make it
unusable. However, in some applications, the measuring
instrument may need a slightly lower input resistance than
normal to help reduce any noise picked up on the
thermocouple wires.
Because thermocouple circuits use small currents, the
resistance of its wires does not have a large affect on
the signal, so theoretically they may be very long.
However, you should always try to use short cables
wherever possible, to reduce any small measurement
errors and avoid receiving stray noise signals from
other equipment.
Procedure
1. Connect the reference sensor
and a K-type thermocouple as
shown in Figure 8.1.
– 2. Connect the K-type thermocouple directly to
the amplifier input, but use the socket at the end
of the resistors as a connection point as shown in
Figure 8.1.
 – 3. Setup the heater as shown in Initial Setup (for
Experiment 3 onwards).
•
– 4- Put the reference sensor and the K - type thermocouple into the
heater tank (through the holes in its lid).
 – 5. Switch on the heater. When the heater water reaches
approximately 100°C, measure and record the actual reference
temperature and the millivolt meter reading.
•
 – As shown by the dotted line of Figure 8.1 move the connecting wire
to the next socket along the resistors, to add 10 Ohm resistance to
the cable. Note the millivolt meter reading.
•
• 7- Now move the connecting wire to the next sockets to add
110 Ohm (10+100) and 1110 Ohm (10+100+1000) series
resistances
 Create a blank results table, similar to Table 8.1 .

Series Circuit Resistance Reference Temperature:

Millivolt meter
Series Resistance Reading
(mV)
Difference Error (%)

None - -

10 R

110 R

1110 R
Procedure 2 - Parallel (Measuring
Instrument) Resistance
1-Create a blank results table, similar to Table 8.2.

Parallel Circuit Resistance Reference Temperature:

Millivoltmeter
Parallel Reading Difference
(mV)
Resistance (mV) Error (%)
None - -

10 R

110 R

1110 R
• 2- Connect the reference sensor and a K-type thermocouple (green and white) as
shown in Figure 44.

• 3- Connect the K-type thermocouple directly to the amplifier input, use the socket
at the left end of the resistors as a connection point as shown in Figure 8.2 (both
wires 1 and 2 in the left most socket).

• 4- Setup the heater as shown in Initial Setup (for Experiment 3 onwards).

• 5- Put the reference sensor and the K - type thermocouple into
the heater tank (through the holes in its lid).

• 6- Switch on the heater. When the heater water reaches

approximately 100°C, measure and record the actual reference
temperature and the millivolt meter reading.

• 7- As shown by the (thinner) dotted line of Figure 44, move the

connecting wire (2) only to the next socket along the resistors,
to add 10 Ohm resistance across (parallel to) to the amplifier
input. Note the millivolt meter reading.
• 8- Nowmove the connecting wire (2) only to the next sockets
one after the other to add 110 Ohm (10+100) and 1110 Ohm
(10+100+1000) parallel resistances take a reading each time.
• Results Analysis
From each of your results, subtract the no
resistance results from the results with
resistance and find the percentage error.
Percentage error = ((reading with
resistance - no resistance reading)/no
resistance reading) x 100
Note how the increased series
resistance (simulating long cables)
has only a relatively small effect on
the measured signal, but errors
increase with increased series
resistance.
• Also note that parallel resistance
(simulating a low resistance input to
a measuring instrument) has a large
affect on the measured signal and
errors decrease with increased
parallel resistance. Proving that an
instrument with a high input
impedance is best for connection to
a thermocouple.
DE LERNZO (DL2312HG )
 Experiment 7

VARIATION OF OUTPUT VOLTAGE IN A

POTENTIOMETER USED AS A POSITION
TRANSDUCER
What is a Potentiometer (POT)?

A potentiometer is a variable resistor with three terminals

whose voltage is adjustable manually with the help of a movable
contact, in order to control the flow of electric current through it.
Every variable resistor will have some kind of mechanical or
electronic control to vary its resistance, based on the variation of
this resistance the voltage across it and current through it is
controlled with respect to Ohms Law. The most obvious use of the
potentiometer which most of us have spotted is volume control in
radios and other audio equipment.
The Potentiometers are classified into three types based on their
working, as Rotary potentiometer, Linear potentiometer, and
Digital potentiometer. Among these three, the Rotary
potentiometer is the most commonly used type of
potentiometers.
1. Connect the circuit as is shown in the figure 1, using the 100KΩ potentiometer and
only use the digital meter in the output B.
2. Connect the potentiometer control to zero.
3. Observe the output voltage:

4. Use only the digital meter

5. Use only the moving coil meter
6. Use both meters Fill in the table 4.
7. Put the potentiometer control to ¼ of trip and repeat the lectures for this position,
writing the obtained values in the table

8. Repeat the procedure for control positions of ½, ¾ , and to full trip, recording the
lectures in the respective column.
The Moving Coil Meter.
The moving coil meter consists basically on a coil in rectangular
form suspended between the poles of a permanent magnet that
has attached a needle that moves throughout the scale of the
meter.

When a current is applied to the coil through the springs, takes

place a magnetic field that reacts with the field of the permanent
magnet, producing a rotation of the reel and there for of the
needle.
The direction of the rotation depends on the polarity of current,
and the rotated angle depends on the size of the flowing current.

The coil rotates until the force taken place by the current is
balanced by the force of recovery of the springs.
characteristics of the moving coil meter adapted to The Trainer DL 2312HG are
those that are indicated next:
Current (full scale) = 500 A

Sensitivity = 3000 /V

Resistance (total Circuit) = 30k

Precision = Class 2
Experiment 8: strain gauge
A Strain gauge is a sensor
whose resistance varies with
applied force; It converts
force, pressure, tension,
weight into a change in
electrical resistance which
can then be measured.
Application of stain gauge :
1- Air bag
2- In the elevators
3- escalator
4- vibration measurement
5- electronic scale
 .50

.25 .75

_
+ .1 1
 Turn

Output voltage