Conductivity Temperature Compensation Calculator
Conductivity rises about 2 % per °C in most water samples. Convert a measured value to the standard 25 °C reference, or predict the raw reading at another temperature.
- Factor = 1 + α × (T − Tref) = 1 + 0.02 × 10 = 1.2
- κref = κT ÷ factor = 1,000 µS/cm
Linear Temperature Compensation
α is about 1.9 to 2.1 %/°C for most natural waters and salt solutions. Acids, alkalis and ultrapure water have different and nonlinear coefficients.
Worked example
1200 µS/cm measured at 35 °C with α = 2 %/°C corresponds to 1200 ÷ 1.2 = 1000 µS/cm at 25 °C.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is conductivity referenced to 25 °C?
Conductivity changes about 2 % per °C, so readings must be referred to a standard temperature to be compared.
How do I find α for my sample?
Measure the raw conductivity at two temperatures and calculate α = (κ₂ − κ₁) ÷ [κ₁ × (T₂ − T₁)] relative to the reference.
Does compensation affect accuracy?
Yes. A wrong α causes an error that grows with the difference between sample and reference temperature.
Learn more on the blog
Electrical conductivity explained
A practical, field focused guide on instrumentationblog.in that explains the theory behind this calculator and how engineers apply it on real plants.
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