MEBS 6013 2022 Testing & Commissioning

Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering

University of Hong Kong

Temperature measurement using resistive type temperature sensor and

Wheatstone Bridge
2-wired connection

For 2-wire configuration, R1 is usually made equal to R2, so the current, I, flowing
through both legs of R1 and R2 is equal to each other.
I(R1 + R3)= I(R2 + a + b + RT)
Thus
R3 = a + b + RT
If the connecting cable is very short, thus the resistance of the cable leads, a and b, is
negligible.
R3 = RT
However, if the cable lead is of significant length, then the cable leads will affect the
reading of the temperature sensor.

K.F. Chan (Mr.) Page 1 of 5 June 2023

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
 MEBS 6013 2022 Testing & Commissioning
Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering
University of Hong Kong

3-wired connection
The following diagram shows a 3-wired connection arrangement of a resistive
temperature sensor coupled with a Wheatstone Bridge.

For 3-wire configuration, R1 is usually made equal to R2.

Where there is no voltage drop across the potentiometer, the current, I, flowing in both
legs of R1 and R2 must be equal to each other.
𝑉 𝑉
𝐼= =
𝑅1 + 𝑅3 + 𝑏 + 𝑐 𝑅2 + 𝑎 + 𝑅𝑇 + 𝑐
I(R1 + R3 + b+c) = I(R2 + a+c + RT)
I(R1 + R3 + b) = I(R2 + a + RT)
Thus R1 + R3 + b = R2 + a + RT
Now R1 is equal to R2, and a=b=c because they are of the same length of cable (and of
same cross-sectional area), so
R3 + b = a + RT, or
R3 = RT
The effect of the cable leads is thus alleviated by making R1 equal to R2.

K.F. Chan (Mr.) Page 2 of 5 June 2023

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
 MEBS 6013 2022 Testing & Commissioning
Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering
University of Hong Kong

4-wired connection
The following diagram shows a 4-wire connection of a temperature sensor.
RT represents the resistance of the resistive temperature sensor, which resistance
changes with temperature
a, b, c, d represents the resistance of the 4 lead cables. R 1, R2 and R3 are the
resistors inside the measurement Wheatstone Bridge.

Suppose voltage of the power supply is V.

When there is zero potential difference across the potentiometer, current through
R1 and R2 is
𝑉
𝑅1 + 𝑅2

Current flowing through the temperature measuring resistance is

𝑉
𝑅3 + 𝑎 + 𝑏 + 𝑐 + 𝑑 + 𝑅𝑇

Now that the four cable leads are of equal length and equal cross-sectional area,
so a = b = c =d

K.F. Chan (Mr.) Page 3 of 5 June 2023

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
 MEBS 6013 2022 Testing & Commissioning
Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering
University of Hong Kong

Thus the current flowing through RT becomes

𝑉
𝑅3 + 𝑅𝑇 + 4𝑎

Potential drop across R1 is equal to potential drop across R3 + c +d, therefore

𝑉 𝑉
𝑅1 = (𝑅 + 𝑐 + 𝑑)
𝑅1 + 𝑅2 𝑅3 + 𝑅𝑇 + 4𝑎 3

Likewise, potential drop across R2 is equal to potential drop across a + RT + b,

thus
𝑉 𝑉
𝑅2 = (𝑅𝑇 + 𝑎 + 𝑏)
𝑅1 + 𝑅2 𝑅3 + 𝑅𝑇 + 4𝑎

Now R1 is usually made equal to R2, so the right hand side of the above two
equations are equal, thus:
𝑉 𝑉
( ) (𝑅3 + 𝑐 + 𝑑 ) = ( ) (𝑅𝑇 + 𝑎 + 𝑏)
𝑅3 + 𝑅𝑇 + 4𝑎 𝑅3 + 𝑅𝑇 + 4𝑎
 R3+c+d = RT+a+b
 R3 = RT

It can thus be seen that the effect of the length of cable leads is cancelled out.

In general, the resistance of the temperature sensor is either in the range of 100Ω
(PT100) or 1000Ω (PT1000). The voltage of the DC supply is typically 12V, 24V or
48V only. It can thus be seen that the current flowing through the sensor is
relatively small (this is also necessary to avoid heating the temperature sensor
which will affect the measurement result)
Assume that we use 1.5mm2 single core copper cable for the connections.
Resistance is about 0.025Ω/𝑚. (0.038Ω/𝑚) For 1000m long connecting leads,
this is 25Ω, 25% of that of a PT100 sensor at 0oC. There is thus a need to use 3-
wired or 4-wired connection when the connecting cable length is considerably long.

K.F. Chan (Mr.) Page 4 of 5 June 2023

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
 MEBS 6013 2022 Testing & Commissioning
Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering
University of Hong Kong

For 3-wired connection, the current

𝑉 𝑉
𝐼= =
𝑅1 + 𝑅3 + 𝑏 + 𝑐 𝑅2 + 𝑎 + 𝑅𝑇 + 𝑐
It can thus be seen that, for a 3-wired connection, inconsistency in R1 and R2 will
affect currents in both legs of the Wheatstone Bridge.
Furthermore, for 3-wired connection,
R1 + R3 + b = R2 + a + RT
It can be seen that inconsistency in R1/R2 vs a/b will have the same effect.
Both will slightly affect the measurement result.

For 4-wired connection, the current is

𝑉 𝑉
𝐼= =
𝑅3 + 𝑎 + 𝑏 + 𝑐 + 𝑑 + 𝑅𝑇 𝑅1 + 𝑅2
Using a 4-wired connection, inconsistency in R1 and R2 will not affect the current
on the RT leg of the Wheatstone Bridge.

Furthermore, for 4-wired connection

𝑅3 + 𝑐 + 𝑑 𝑅𝑇 + 𝑎 + 𝑏
=
𝑅1 𝑅2
Inconsistency in R1/R2 will have a smaller effect than that of (c+d)/(a+b). As such
inconsistency in R1 and R2 will affect the final measurement result to a lesser
extent than that of 3-wired connection.

Experience has shown that 4-wired connection is the most accurate arrangement.

K.F. Chan (Mr.) Page 5 of 5 June 2023

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