Choosing the most accurate temperature measurement device or temperature sensor always depends on the process you need the measurement for. Yes, we do have a wide range of sensors on the market, with pros and cons in all of them.
To know more about temperature sensors, take a look at our article on temperature sensor types and applications.
No “perfect” temperature sensor exists for all applications. So we must know how to scale out a new device. Then we’ll have parameters to figure out which option suits our needs best in the short or long term.
How to select the most accurate temperature sensors?
- First, the most accurate and reliable sensor for your application will depend on your process requirements.
- In the short term, thermocouples and resistance temperature detectors (RTDs) have similar accuracy.
- In the long term, an RTD has more accuracy than a thermocouple because the thermocouple’s sensor will degrade.
- The specification of the thermowell and the temperature sensor can affect accuracy.
- Now, you can get surface temperature sensors that can calculate much more accurately than when they were first introduced.
- Usually, an infrared thermometer offers an accuracy of +-2 degrees Celsius.
- The IEC 60751 for RTDs specifies classes from least accurate to most accurate.
- Thermocouple accuracy can vary widely, with the special versions as the most accurate, of course.
To know more about temperature sensors or would like to ask advice for which temperature sensor would prove the most accurate measurement for your process, you can get in touch with our engineers!