ACOSTA, ANGELO CHRISTIAN B.

BSME 2-YA-3 AUTO 221 Week 16 Activity #1

A thermocouple is a type of temperature sensor. It is made up of two different metals that are joined
together at one end. When the two metals' junction is heated or cooled, a voltage is produced that can be related
to the temperature. The most common type of Resistance Temperature Detector is the PT100 (RTD). The
resistance of the PT100 is 100 Ohms at 0°C and 138.5 Ohms at 100°C. Temperature sensors such as the PT100 are
widely used in industrial processes and laboratories. Because of their stability, accuracy, and repeatability, they are
a popular choice. Resistance thermometers, also known as resistance temperature detectors (RTDs), are
temperature sensors. Many RTD elements are made of fine wire wrapped around a ceramic or glass core, but
other constructions are used as well. RTD wire is made of a pure material, usually platinum, nickel, or copper. A
thermistor is a type of resistor whose resistance changes with temperature; it functions as a resistance
thermometer. They're made of metallic oxide that's been shaped into a bead, disk, or cylindrical shape before
being encased in epoxy or glass. And with testing a Thermocouple, first the resistance test, remove the faulty
thermocouple from the gas appliance with care. Connect the crocodile clips to the multimeter's slots. Attach one
clip to one end of the thermocouple and the other clip to the other end, which will be screwed into the gas valve.
Select the ohms/resistance reading option on the multimeter. If the thermocouple is working properly, the
multimeter should show a very low resistance in the order of a few ohms. Some multimeters have a continuity-
check option, which indicates low resistances in good conductors with an audible alert. If you're using such a
multimeter, set it to the continuity setting. If your thermocouple is working properly, you should hear a continuous
audio tone. A high resistance, such as 40 ohms, indicates a faulty thermocouple that must be replaced. Then, the
open circuit test, the same setup as before will be used in this test, but instead of measuring resistance, the
voltage generated by the thermocouple will be measured and checked. To do so, connect the crocodile clips as
described in the resistance test and select the millivolts option on the multimeter. Heat the end of the
thermocouple that is in contact with the pilot flame with the cigarette lighter (opposite to the one that gets
screwed into the gas valve). The thermocouples used in residential gas appliances, such as stoves and heaters, are
typically designed to output a voltage in the range of 25 mV to 30 mV. If the thermocouple under test produces
voltage in this range, it is satisfactory. If the output voltage is closer to 20 mV, it is recommended that it be
replaced. And lastly, the closed-circuit test, this test, as the name implies, is carried out by placing the
thermocouple in its working environment, namely within the gas appliance. It is a more thorough test because it
describes the thermocouple's performance under load. This is significant because a thermocouple may output
normal voltage under no-load conditions in an open circuit test, but its voltage may drop under load conditions. So,
if the thermocouple passes the open circuit test but your gas appliance still doesn't work with it installed, you must
perform the closed-circuit test, which is described below. A thermocouple adapter is required to perform the
closed-circuit test. Many manufacturers provide these adapters for testing, and they are also widely available in
retail outlets. This adapter is installed within the gas valve. The thermocouple is then screwed into the adapter's
other end. Attach one of the crocodile clips to the adapter's screw and the other to the exposed end of the
thermocouple. Turn on the appliance and select the millivolt reading option in the multimeter. The reading should
ideally be between 12 and 15 millivolts. If the thermocouple outputs a voltage less than 12 mV, there is a
significant drop, indicating that it is defective and must be replaced. Thus, a thermocouple can be easily tested
using the methods described above. If it fails these tests, it is best to replace it. And with testing Pt-100
temperature sensor, it makes sense to inspect the pt-100 temperature sensor. We used to find 114ohm to 120ohm
for functioning pt-100 (subject to ambient temperature being 30°c - 40°c) and 0 ohm or infinite for faulty pt-100 in
my power plant (open). Pt-100 temperature sensors can be tested or checked to see if they are working properly.
Pt-100 testing requires the use of a resistance meter or an ohmmeter. Open Pt-100 sensor cover to check: Open
the cap. Use multimeter (resistance measurement).Take out one wire from PT-100 connection box. Check Pt-100
sensor resistance: Measure the resistance by connecting the multimeter to two connection pins. Compare the
measured resistance to the values in the engine manual. If the value is not zero or infinite, the sensor is functioning
properly. And lastly testing a thermistor, first, Check the thermistor with an ohmmeter while no heat is applied.
When using a thermistor at room temperature or lower, the resistance should be very low. Apply heat to the
thermistor's body again, as before. Within seconds of being applied, the thermistor's resistance should gradually
ACOSTA, ANGELO CHRISTIAN B. BSME 2-YA-3 AUTO 221 Week 16 Activity #1

and steadily rise. If the resistance steadily increases, the thermistor is working properly. If it doesn't, it's faulty and
should be thrown away.