Prevent Inrush Current with PTC and NTC Thermistors

PTC and NTC thermistors can provide inrush current protection in various equipment, machinery, and systems. Inrush current affects a wide range of products, from transformers to motors, and electronics from power supplies to inverters. 

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Inrush current becomes further complicated by systems that switch on and off quickly, such as welding equipment and HVAC systems. This post will give you a brief overview of the topic. For more information, you can read the full article here.

What is Inrush Current?

Inrush current is a surge of current when an application is powered-up. It is created by different electrical effects. The powering on of power supplies requires the charging of capacitors. The powering on of a transformer creates an inrush current during its initial magnetizing. 

Why Manage Inrush Current?

Inrush current can reduce the effective operating life of the equipment and damage the system. Fortunately, NTC and PTC limiting thermistors can properly manage this. Electrical and mechanical stresses can occur from this current surge which can decrease equipment lifespan. 

What is an NTC-based Limiting Thermistor?

NTC stands for Negative Temperature Coefficient. The NTC thermistor provides variable resistance based on temperature. As temperature increases, the resistance drops from high to low and allows current to pass through. When used for inrush current mitigation, it provides an additional series resistance at power on. As the thermistor self heats with current flow, the resistance drops to a negligible amount during steady-state, allowing normal current flow. 

NTC thermistors are the most commonly used thermistor. They fit a wide range of applications, including automotive, military, industrial, and emissions controls. Various items around your home contain NTC thermistors, including your oven, air conditioning, and fire detector.

What is a PTC-based Limiting Thermistor? 

PTC stands for Positive Temperature Coefficient. The PTC thermistor also provides variable resistance based on temperature. As temperature rises, resistance increases from low to high and blocks the overcurrent. Specific scenarios require a PTC thermistor over an NTC thermistor. These include equipment with a near-zero reset time, extreme temperature conditions, and systems that experience frequent shorts.

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Special Thermistors Limit Inrush Current

As the demand for power components increases, so does the need for reliable, efficient solutions. Thermal protection is one of the most important aspects of any power system, and thermistors are a vital element in achieving this. Choosing between two types of thermistors&#;PTC (positive temperature coefficient) and NTC (negative temperature coefficient)&#;can be tricky since both offer distinct advantages and disadvantages when used to manage inrush current. NTC&#;s and PTC&#;s benefits are different and can support your needs differently. Let&#;s take a closer look at each type of thermistor to better understand why they are best suited for specific applications.

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PTC Benefits vs. NTC Benefits

What Are PTC and NTC Thermistors?

Thermistors are resistive temperature-sensing devices that measure the resistance of a material within an electrical circuit. PTC thermistors have a positive temperature coefficient, meaning as they get warmer, their resistance increases; conversely, NTC thermistors have a negative temperature coefficient, which means their resistance decreases as they become warmer.

PTC Thermistors for Inrush Current

The primary advantage of using PTC thermistors for inrush current is their ability to limit power surges by absorbing excess energy from the circuit. Simply put, if too much energy is drawn from the main supply line during startup or due to other unexpected sources, the PTC will absorb it&#;in effect, "resetting" itself after the surge dissipates. This makes it an ideal solution for protecting sensitive components from damage due to overloads or short circuits.

PCT thermistors also provide inherent self-healing capabilities; when overcurrent conditions occur, the device will automatically shut off before resetting itself once the current has dropped below acceptable levels. The automatic shutoff eliminates the need for manual intervention or expensive replacement parts in case of an overcurrent issue.

NTC Thermistors For Inrush Current

NTC thermistors are primarily used to control inrush current through active monitoring and limiting techniques such as soft start circuits or pulse width modulation (PWM). This limits peak currents while also providing added protection against overloads and surges, thanks to its negative thermal coefficient properties. Additionally, using an NTC can greatly reduce overall energy consumption compared to other alternatives, such as contactor relays or fuses, because it requires less voltage drop across its terminals when activated.

Weigh the Difference: PTC Benefits vs. NTC Benefits

When dealing with inrush current, there are many factors to consider before choosing which type of thermistor is best suited for your application; however, both PCT and NTC offer distinct advantages that make them ideal solutions depending on your specific needs.

While PCT offers great self-healing properties that can help protect against overloads or short circuits without requiring manual intervention or replacement parts, NTC offers more efficient active monitoring techniques such as soft start circuits or pulse width modulation (PWM). Ultimately, it comes down to evaluating your application needs and determining which type will provide you with the best possible performance while still keeping operational costs low. With careful consideration and research into each option&#;s unique benefits and drawbacks, you can decide which type of thermistor is right for you.

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