PT100 RTD sensor Pencil Type Probe 1M 3-wire Cable

Specifications:

• Sensor Type: PT100 RTD (Platinum Resistance Temperature Detector)
• Base Resistance: 100 Ohms at 0°C
• Sensing Temperature Range: -50°C to 250°C
• Accuracy: ±1.5°C
• Probe Material: Corrosion-resistant Stainless Steel
• Probe Dimensions: 150mm Length × 5mm Diameter
• Cable Interface: 3-Wire (allows for lead wire resistance compensation)
• Cable Length: 1 Meter

Features:

• PT100 RTD sensor Pencil Type Probe
• Sensing Temperature: -50 TO 250 degrees Celsius
• High-quality stainless steel construction. Industrial Bodies manufactured to be corrosion-resistant
• Long life and high Accuracy

Unlock New Capabilities

• If you've already experimented with... If you've already experimented with basic temperature monitoring using cheap thermistors or DHT22 sensors, you know they are fine for room temperature but melt or fail rapidly when exposed to real heat or industrial liquids. If you understand basic sensor integration, you are ready to step up to industrial-grade platinum resistance measurement.
• This PT100 RTD Sensor unlocks... This heavy-duty probe unlocks precision high-temperature projects like custom reflow oven controllers, automated home brewing systems, chemical process temperature monitoring, and engine exhaust temperature logging. These are applications where standard hobby sensors simply cannot survive the environment or deliver the required stability.
• Effort Level & Minimum Hardware
• Effort Level: Intermediate

Minimum hardware to get started:

• RTD Amplifier Module (e.g., MAX31865): A PT100 sensor outputs a very small change in resistance, not a direct voltage or digital signal. You cannot plug it directly into an Arduino; you must use a dedicated RTD amplifier to convert the resistance into a readable digital signal (SPI).
• Microcontroller (Arduino, ESP32, STM32): to communicate with the RTD amplifier and process the temperature data.
• Screw Terminals or Secure Connectors: to firmly attach the 3-wire cable to your amplifier board without introducing extra resistance from loose jumper wires.

Package Includes:

• 1x PT100 RTD sensor Pencil Type Probe 1M 3-wire Cable

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is this PT100 probe compatible with an Arduino Uno?
  Yes, but only if you use an RTD amplifier like the MAX31865; it cannot be connected directly to analog pins.
• Can I use this sensor with a Raspberry Pi?
  Yes, you can read the MAX31865 amplifier using the Raspberry Pi's hardware SPI pins and Python.
• Will this probe work with industrial 4-20mA PLC systems?
  Yes, when paired with a PT100 to 4-20mA temperature transmitter block.
• Can I immerse this stainless steel probe in liquids?
  Yes, the stainless steel tip is designed for liquid immersion, but keep the cable transition area and wires completely dry.
• What voltage does the PT100 sensor require?
  The sensor itself is passive and requires a very small excitation current provided by the amplifier board, typically driven by 3.3V or 5V logic.
• Does the probe draw a lot of current?
  No, RTD sensors draw only a few milliamps to prevent self-heating errors.
• Can I power my RTD amplifier from a 3.3V microcontroller?
  Yes, most modern MAX31865 boards are fully compatible with 3.3V logic and power sources like an ESP32.
• Why does the cable have three wires instead of two?
  The third wire is used by the amplifier to measure and subtract the electrical resistance of the 1-meter cable itself, drastically increasing accuracy.
• Does polarity matter when connecting the two matching colored wires?
  No, the two matching wires connect to the same side of the internal platinum resistor and are interchangeable on the RTD- and Force- terminals.
• How do I extend the 1-meter cable?
  You can splice additional 3-core copper wire, but you must ensure your amplifier's 3-wire compensation feature is active to account for the added resistance.
• Which Arduino library should I use for this sensor?
  We highly recommend the Adafruit MAX31865 library for the easiest and most stable SPI integration.
• Can I read the temperature without an external library?
  While possible by manually sending SPI commands and calculating the Callendar-Van Dusen equations, using a library is vastly simpler.
• How do I configure the code for a 3-wire setup?
  In the Adafruit library initialization, simply pass MAX31865_3WIRE as a parameter to activate the internal compensation logic.
• Why is my sensor constantly reading 850°C or a fault error?
  This usually indicates a broken wire connection, or that you have not soldered the "3-Wire" jumper pad and cut the "2-Wire" trace on your MAX31865 amplifier board.
• Why are my temperature readings fluctuating randomly?
  This is often caused by poor connections at the screw terminals or electrical noise; ensure your wires are tightly screwed in and stripped cleanly.