What Is A PTC Heater And Why Do I Need It for My Car?

Anyone who has ever experienced an overheated car condition knows the limitations of traditional resistance heaters. When you rely on a single point sensor to assume the temperature of an entire surface, it creates a significant safety risk, such as a fire.
Here's another, smarter solution. Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) heaters. In this article, we'll share some reasons why you should employ this type of heating solution in your next project.

What is a PTC heater?

Most standard heaters are equipped with a traditional resistance wire and coil to generate heat. A PTC heater forgoes this setup. Instead, its heating element consists of a ceramic stone based on barium titanate. This material exhibits unique properties that allow the PTC heater to act as its sensor. The heater can operate open-loop and does not require external diagnostics or feedback control. As a result, the PTC heater eliminates any risk of overheating.
It is more efficient and reliable than its standard model counterpart, making it ideal for products that require safe, fast and uniform heating.

1. Safer

Its unique design allows the PTC heater to bypass all of the failure modes and traps that are most commonly associated with resistance wire, carbon fiber and etched foil heaters. If any failure occurs, the system will "fail to cool", rendering it harmless. The part that fails will stop drawing additional current, while the rest of the heater will work normally. It also acts as its sensor, eliminating any chance of overheating.

2. Self-regulating function

In addition, PTC heaters are self-contained and self-regulating.
The PTC heater adjusts its consumption according to environmental conditions. Over time, as it reaches an optimal temperature, it is able to slow down production. As it recedes, the heater can keep its output as low as possible and maintain its temperature.

3. Lightweight materials

Forget bulky conventional heaters. When you invest in a PTC heater, the system is compact and lightweight. the footprint of the PTC unit is as small as possible.
PTC heaters are more flexible than silicone heaters. You can even connect multiple PTC heaters in parallel to meet the heating requirements of an oversized space.

PTC Heater for Bus

4. Fewer Components

PTC heaters have fewer functional parts than standard heat sinks.
There is less wear and tear to deal with, and fewer expensive parts to replace. As an added benefit, the ceramic parts of your system are less susceptible to water, chemical wear and corrosion. These benefits improve your return on investment and help ensure that your control system lasts as long as possible.

5. More cost effective

The result is less energy use in the long run, which can save users a significant amount of money. PTC heaters are designed to draw all of their energy at lower temperatures, which allows them to reach their threshold temperature as quickly as possible. They consume less energy than conventional heaters. In addition to lower utility bills, there are other savings you can enjoy when you choose a PTC heater.

Find your next PTC heater

Now that you know some of the most important benefits they offer for any industrial manufacturing environment, are you ready to find the right PTC heater you need? 
Please feel free to browse our PAKE website and contact us with any questions you may have. We offer video technical support, online support, and will help you find the right part to complete your project.