Thermistor Non-Linearity
Thermistors have a non-linear relationship between resistance and temperature, meaning that as the temperature changes, the resistance doesn’t change in a straight-line pattern. The behavior of thermistors can be described using the Steinhart-Hart equation or the B equation.
The B equation is simple to calculate using the B value, which you can find in the thermistor’s datasheet or from the manufacturer. On the other hand, the Steinhart-Hart equation uses A, B, and C coefficients. Some manufacturers provide these coefficients for their thermistors. When appropriate coefficients are available, the Steinhart-Hart equation can provide more accurate temperature calculations over a wider temperature range.
In the next chapters, we will see in detail how to use B equation and Steinhart-Hart equation to determine the temperature.