Comparison of temperature sensors offered by Dracal Technologies

This Dracal Technologies USB sensor selection guide provides a summary of the main features of each sensor. You will then see a table to help you choose among our 11 USB sensors that best suit your application, allowing you to obtain temperature measurements adapted to your project.

Presentation of the features

Here is a brief description of each of the features that will be used in the following table, allowing an at-a-glance comparison of the various Dracal Technologies USB sensors.

• Sensor precision

  • The precision is the smallest difference observed between two measurements when the experiment is repeated under exactly the same conditions. It corresponds to the random error.

• Instrument resolution

  • Resolution is the smallest change detected by the sensor. The smaller the resolution, the more precisely the observed temperature changes.

• Probe protection

  • Many of our sensors are used to measure air temperature and have adequate protection for dust and other particles. Some sensors are used for other purposes and the enclosure around the probe is adapted to these other uses.

• Instrument responsiveness

  • It is related to several factors, including the type of sensor and its protection. The time constant (t63%) is a measure of the time it takes for the sensor to reach 63% of its final value. For example, for a sensor that goes from 0°C to 70°C, the time constant is the time it takes the sensor to reach 44.2°C.

• Temperature range

  • The temperature range is the minimum and maximum temperature that can be measured with the sensor. It depends on the probe used and the materials it contains. Thermocouples and RTD probes allow the largest temperature ranges to be measured.

 

Comparative table of the eleven sensors

Below, you will find a table of the temperature sensors offered by Dracal Technologies, grouped by type. The SHT digital sensors are integrated into the product in question. For thermocouples and RTD probes, the products described are universal converters working with the probe, either thermocouple or RTD Pt100, of your choice. We also offer these probes, whose links are available in the table.

Product	Picture	Precision (at 25°C)	Resolution	Protection	Responsiveness (t63%)	Range	Main application
TMP125		±0.5°C	±0.5°C	watertight casing	8 s	-55°C to 75°C	Air temperature under various conditions Warehouse, Server room
PTH200, TRH320		±0.3°C	±0.015°C	PTFE(1) membrane PET(2) mesh	8 s	-40°C to 70°C	Precise air temperature Environmental chamber, Weather station, Physical engineering
PTH420, TRH420		±0.1°C	±0.015°C	PTFE membrane PET mesh	8 s	-40°C to 70°C	Air temperature requiring increased precision Biomedical engineering, Research
PTH450, TRH450		±0.1°C	±0.015°C	PTFE membrane aluminum casing	8 to 10 s	-40°C to 125°C	High air temperature and harsh environments Environmental studies, Material engineering, Vivarium
TRH200		±0.1°C	±0.01°C	exposed sensor	5 s	-40°C to 70°C	Surface temperature Material temperature, OEM integration
In combination with our TMC-K-A-5 (Type K thermocouple)
TMC100k		±2.5°C	±0.0625°C	none	instant	-50°C to 200°C	High contact temperature Industrial processes, Water bodies
TMC200k		±2.5°C	±0.00005°C	none	instant	-50°C to 200°C	High contact temperature and observation of small temperature changes Pharmaceutical and food processes
In combination with our RTD-Pt100-SIL (RTD-Pt100 probe)
RTD_23		±0.41°C	±0.02°C	stainless steel	5 to 10 s	-200°C to 200°C	Very low contact temperature and terminal block connection Aerospace engineering and robotics
RTD223		±0.41°C	±0.02°C	stainless steel	5 to 10 s	-200°C to 200°C	Terminal block connection with other options available Aerospace engineering and robotics
RTD200		±0.41°C	±0.02°C	stainless steel	5 to 10 s	-200°C to 200°C	Wide contact temperature range and easy connection Biomedical engineering
RTD300		±0.351°C	±0.0005°C	stainless steel	5 to 10 s	-200°C to 200°C	Wide contact temperature range and observation of small temperature changes Biomedical engineering, Certification

1. Polytetrafluoroethylene

2. Polyethylene terephthalate

Note that some of these USB sensors can measure something other than temperature! The TRH series offers USB temperature and humidity sensors, while the PTH series adds atmospheric pressure to temperature and humidity measurements. So you can find the instrument that meets all your needs, not only for temperature but also for relative humidity and air pressure. That being said, if you think you will need to diversify your measurement types in the future, our mix & match system allows you to postpone this project without any additional time investment.

In conclusion

At Dracal Technologies, our mission is to help you advance your projects that require accurate measurement of certain parameters, including temperature. With this selection guide, you will easily find much information to help you choose among our 11 USB temperature sensors. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us.

 

References

Ball, S., Ibrahim, D., Ramsden, E., Huddleston, C., Wilson, J. S. (2008). Test and Measurement: Know It All. Pays-Bas: Elsevier Science.

Barani, Jan. “Difference between Sensor Response Time and Sensor Time Constant τ (Tau) 63.2%.” BARANI DESIGN Technologies, May 7, 2019. https://www.baranidesign.com/faq-articles/2019/5/6/difference-between-sensor-response-time-and-sensor-time-constant-tau.

Mekid, S. (2021). Metrology and Instrumentation: Practical Applications for Engineering and Manufacturing. Royaume-Uni: Wiley.