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Learn rtd-sensor

What is rtd-sensor?

rtd-sensor is a Python library that turns RTD resistance values into temperatures, and temperatures back into expected resistance values. It supports common platinum RTDs such as Pt100, Pt500, Pt1000, and several nickel sensor types. It also provides tools for calibration, custom sensor models, tolerance, uncertainty, simulation, and working with many readings at once.

What rtd-sensor is not

rtd-sensor does not read a physical RTD directly. Hardware such as a MAX31865 or another measurement circuit must first determine the sensor’s resistance, and your hardware or acquisition software must pass that resistance to rtd-sensor. rtd-sensor handles the RTD science and calculations; it does not handle wiring, SPI/I²C communication, ADCs, or other sensor-interface hardware.

Let's Go!

Ready to dive in and use rtd-sensor in research, engineering, or in a professional or hobby project? Start with the complete user documentation:

Full rtd-sensor Documentation

Or learn RTDs by experimenting. No hardware is required to start.

The RTD Playground, for beginners to intermediate users, begins with only Python and rtd-sensor. Later exercises will add a real Pt100, a multimeter, a MAX31865, and a Raspberry Pi.

Visit the RTD Playground

Start with a Pt100

A Pt100 is a platinum RTD whose ideal resistance is 100 ohms at 0 °C. In the first experiment, Python acts as the measurement lab: you ask what resistance a Pt100 should have at different temperatures and then run the calculation in reverse.

Start your first Pt100 experiment

Three different Pt100 temperature sensors

Three different Pt100 temperature sensors. Color-corrected from Pt100 Sensors.png by dirkhb, released into the public domain.

Where the RTD Playground goes

The beginner-to-intermediate exercises will gradually move from software-only exploration to real hardware:

  1. calculate Pt100 resistance and temperature;
  2. plot an RTD curve;
  3. test whether a Pt100 is really linear;
  4. compare Pt100, Pt500, and Pt1000 sensors;
  5. measure a real Pt100 with a multimeter;
  6. connect a MAX31865 and Raspberry Pi;
  7. explore calibration, tolerance, uncertainty, and portable models;
  8. go deeper into cross-language and embedded RTD implementations.

Visit the RTD Playground

Two ways to use this site

If you already know Python and want to use the package, begin with Start Here or the full documentation. If you want a more detailed, experiment-driven introduction, use the RTD Playground.