7. Conclusion

Anyone calibrating or using a temperature sensor should never forget that :

• the information delivered by this sensor is a function of its own temperature (or of the temperature variation to which the sensor is subjected);

• the difference between the temperature of the sensor and that of the environment in which it is placed can be significant if the heat exchange conditions have not been analyzed and adapted to best effect;

• a temperature sensor is not a discreet instrument. Its presence will modify the temperature distribution within the environment in which it is placed.

Before calibration, it's a good idea to be aware of the nature of the sensor. A thermocouple and a metal-clad thermistor may look very similar from the outside. However,...