A Thermistor is used in a wide range of circuits and circuitry for temperature measurement as well as current-limiting control. The resistance change of a thermistor depends on the ambient temperature of the unit.
There are two semiconductor types, these are both based on the temperature coefficient.
- Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) Thermistor: An NTC's resistance decreases as the temperature rises and can be found in applications such as low-temperature measurements of temperature sensors, as well as inrush current suppression.
- Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) Thermistor: A PTC's resistance increases as the temperature rises and can be found in applications such as overcurrent protection.