Thermistor

Also known as: Temperature Sensor, NTC Thermistor

intermediate Hardware

A temperature sensor that measures hotend and bed temperatures.

A thermistor is a temperature-sensitive resistor that measures the temperature of the hotend and heated bed, allowing the printer to maintain accurate temperatures.

Common Types

  • NTC 100K - Most common
  • PT1000 - More accurate, industrial
  • Thermocouple - High temperature applications

Problems

  • Thermal runaway - If thermistor fails, printer may overheat
  • Incorrect readings - Loose connection or wrong type configured
  • Noise - Electrical interference causing fluctuations

Safety

Modern firmware includes thermal runaway protection that shuts down heaters if thermistor readings seem wrong.