Analog Devices DS18B20+: The Precision Choice for Industrial Temperature Measurement

In the fields of industrial automation and precision temperature measurement, Analog Devices Inc's (ADI) DS18B20+ digital temperature sensor has become a core component for engineers building reliable temperature measurement systems, thanks to its high precision, low power consumption, and strong anti-interference capabilities. This article will analyze the core value of this sensor from the perspectives of technical characteristics, application scenarios, and frequently asked questions.

I. Key Parameter Comparison: A Perfect Balance of Precision and Flexibility
The outstanding advantage of the DS18B20+ lies in its adjustable resolution and wide temperature range coverage. The specific parameters are shown in the following table:

Parameter	DS18B20+ Characteristics	Industry Comparison Advantages
Temperature Range	-55°C to +125°C	Covers extreme industrial environments, such as blast furnace water circulation and cold chain logistics
Resolution	Adjustable from 9 to 12 bits (12-bit by default)	In 12-bit mode, the resolution reaches 0.0625°C, meeting the needs of precision temperature control
Accuracy	±0.5°C within the range of -10°C to +85°C	Outperforms the typical accuracy of ±1°C of similar products
Power Consumption	Quiescent current <1μA, maximum 1.5mA during conversion	Suitable for battery-powered scenarios, such as wireless monitoring in agricultural greenhouses
Interface	1-Wire (single bus)	Requires only one data line, reducing wiring costs by over 50%

II. Typical Application Scenarios: Full Coverage from Industry to Civil Use
Industrial Equipment Monitoring
In the blast furnace water circulation system of a steel plant, the DS18B20+ with stainless steel encapsulation (such as the TS-18B20B model) is directly immersed in high-temperature liquids to monitor water temperature in real-time and trigger alarms. Its parasitic power mode (no external VCC required) simplifies the waterproof design, while the 12-bit resolution ensures accurate feedback even when the temperature fluctuation is ≤0.1°C.
Smart Agricultural Irrigation
A flower planting base in Yunnan uses a combination of the DS18B20+ and LoRa modules, with 200 sensors connected in series via a single bus to achieve temperature-humidity linkage control in greenhouses. Its strong anti-interference capability (with a 100pF filter capacitor) effectively suppresses electromagnetic interference from motor starts, achieving a data transmission stability rate of 99.7%.
Medical Equipment Temperature Control
A blood refrigerator manufacturer replaced traditional thermistors with the DS18B20+, utilizing its built-in EEPROM to store calibration coefficients and CRC verification function to reduce the temperature error from ±1.2°C to ±0.3°C, meeting the requirements of the Good Supply Practice (GSP) for pharmaceuticals.
III. Frequently Asked Questions: A Practical Guide for Engineers
Q1: How many DS18B20+ sensors can be connected to a single bus at most?
Theoretically, a single bus can support an unlimited number of nodes, but in practice, it is limited by the supply voltage and signal attenuation. ADI's official recommendations are as follows:

External power mode: Supports up to 256 devices with a bus length of ≤100 meters;
Parasitic power mode: Recommended for ≤16 devices with a bus length of ≤30 meters.
Case: A data center adopted an external power solution and successfully achieved stable communication among 64 sensors over an 80-meter distance using a 4.7kΩ pull-up resistor and shielded twisted-pair cables.
Q2: How to resolve abnormal temperature readings (e.g., a fixed 85°C)?
85°C is the default error code of the DS18B20+. Common causes and solutions are as follows:

Reverse power connection: Immediately power off and correct the wiring (left negative, right positive);
Timing errors: Check the accuracy of the microcontroller's delay function and suggest capturing the waveform with an oscilloscope;
CRC verification failure: Reread the data and verify the checksum, or replace the sensor.
A automotive electronics manufacturer reduced the error rate caused by electromagnetic interference from 12% to 0.3% by adding a 100nF filter capacitor.

The DS18B20+ has become a benchmark product in the field of industrial temperature measurement, thanks to ADI's process guarantees and the openness of the 1-Wire protocol. Its ultra-low power consumption (quiescent current of only 1μA at 3V supply) and wide temperature range of -55°C to +125°C make it suitable for extreme scenarios ranging from polar scientific research to desert monitoring. Choosing the DS18B20+ means choosing a temperature measurement solution that stands the test of time.

Fudong Communication (Shenzhen) Group Co., Ltd., established in 2004, is a specialized global first tier semiconductor agent/distributor.

Fudong Mall is an online e-commerce platform belonging to Fudong Communication (Shenzhen) Group Co., Ltd. Fudong collaborates with global electronic component distributors and Chinese spot inventory suppliers.