Vernier STS-BTA Manual

Surface Temperature
Sensor
(Order Code STS-BTA)
The Surface Temperature Sensor is designed for use in
situations in which low thermal mass or flexibility is
required. Special features include an exposed thermistor
that results in an extremely rapid response time.
Typical uses for the Surface Temperature Sensor include the following:
Skin temperature measurements

Human respiration studies

Specific heat experiments

Heat transfer experiments

Friction and energy studies

Note: Vernier products are designed for educational use. Our products are not
designed nor are they recommended for any industrial, medical, or commercial
process such as life support, patient diagnosis, control of a manufacturing
process, or industrial testing of any kind.
What's Included
Vernier Surface Temperature Sensor

Compatible Software and Interfaces
See
www.vernier.com/manuals/sts-bta
with the Surface Temperature Sensor.
Getting Started
1. Connect the sensor to the interface (LabQuest Mini, LabQuest 2, etc.).
2. Start the appropriate data-collection software (Logger Pro, Logger Lite,
LabQuest App) if not already running, and choose New from File menu.
The software will identify the sensor and load a default data-collection setup. You
are now ready to continue your experiment.
If you are collecting data using a Chromebook™, mobile device such as iPad
Android™ tablet, or a Vernier wireless sensor or interface, please see the following
link for up-to-date connection information:
www.vernier.com/start/sts-bta
Using the Product
Connect the sensor following the steps in the Getting Started section of this user
manual.
The Surface Temperature Sensor is for use in air and water only. For temperature
measurements in harsher environments that require a more durable probe, we
recommend our Stainless Steel Temperature Probe (order code TMP-BTA).
for a list of interfaces and software compatible
Videos
View videos related to this product at
Calibration
It should not be necessary to perform a calibration when using this sensor. It is
calibrated before it ships. However, you can calibrate the sensor using Logger Pro
3.3. or newer. Note: Calibration can only be done on computers running
Logger Pro. For more information, see

Specifications

Temperature range
Maximum temperature that the
sensor can tolerate without damage
13-bit resolution
12-bit resolution
10-bit resolution
Temperature sensor
Accuracy
Response time
(time for 90% change in reading)
® or
Probe dimensions: probe length
(handle plus body)
How the Sensor Works
This probe uses the 20 kΩ NTC Thermistor, which is a variable resistor. When the
temperature increases, the resistance decreases non-linearly. The best-fit
approximation to this nonlinear characteristic is the Steinhart-Hart equation. At
25°C, the resistance is approximately 4.3% per °C. The interface measures the
resistance value, R, at a particular temperature and converts the resistance using the
www.vernier.com/sts-bta
www.vernier.com/til/1310
–25 to 125°C (–13 to 275°F)
150°C
0.04°C (–25 to 0°C)
0.02°C (0 to 40°C)
0.05°C (40 to 100°C)
0.13°C (100 to 125°C)
0.08°C (–25 to 0°C)
0.08°C (–25 to 0°C)
0.03°C (0 to 40°C)
0.1°C (40 to 100°C)
0.25°C (100 to 125°C)
0.32°C (–25 to 0°C)
0.12°C (0 to 40°C)
0.4°C (40 to 100°C)
1.0°C (100 to 125°C)
20 kΩ NTC Thermistor
±0.2°C at 0°C, ±0.5°C at 100°C
50 seconds (in still air)
20 seconds (in moving air)
15.5 cm
2