Three-Wire Configuration for Resistive Sensor Measurement Using the Analog-to-Digital Converters of Microcontrollers
Received: 5 September 2025 | Revised: 27 September 2025 | Accepted: 12 October 2025 | Online: 8 December 2025
Corresponding author: Jirapong Jittakort
Abstract
This paper presents a simple and effective three-wire configuration for accurate resistive sensor measurement using the Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADCs) of microcontrollers. The proposed method compensates for lead-wire resistance, a major source of error in long-wire sensor installations, without requiring additional analog circuitry or complex signal conditioning. The configuration is based on the Anderson current loop and exploits the internal resistances of microcontroller I/O pins to stabilize the current path. It uses a single ADC with four channels and two digital output pins to control the supply path of the measurement circuit. This architecture simplifies circuit design, reduces component count, and lowers system cost and power consumption. Experimental validation with resistances in the Resistance Temperature Detector (RTD) 1000 range (500–3,500 Ω) confirms high measurement accuracy, achieving a maximum uncertainty of 0.16%. The method is well-suited for practical, low-power, and cost-sensitive resistive sensing applications in embedded and Internet of Things (IoT)-based temperature monitoring systems.
Keywords:
three-wire configuration, resistive sensor measurement, Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADCs), microcontrollers, lead wire compensation, RTD1000, Anderson current loop, uncertainty error, Internet of Things (IoT) applications, embedded systemsDownloads
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