Tempcos

[Tony Clark]

> This sounds like an elgantly simple solution to any tempco problem; Roll
> your own!!!  Can any of you physics techies confirm the validity of this
> solution?  I suppose the only real challenge then is finding copper
> wirewound resistors.
> 
> John Speth (johns at oei.com)
> Object Engineering, Inc.
> Vancouver, WA

   Funny you sould mention this, but at my company, we do something very 
close to what you are suggesting!  We manufacture a device that measures 
the pressure, volume, and temperature of a gas under compression and 
expansion.  For the temperature sensor, instead of using some expensive 
sensor for this purpose, what we do is make a square plastic frame from 
which a very thin pure nickle wire is wound.
   Nickle has the wonderous quality of changing resistance linearly (or 
very close anyway) to temperature.  You'd have to find a source of enamel 
coated wire (copper or nickle) and wrap it around a non-conductive core.  
Should work pretty well I'd imagine!

   Tony

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I can't drive (my Moog) 55!
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Tony Clark -- clark at andrews.edu 
http://www.andrews.edu/~clark
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