Voltage Reference Drift Error

error(ppm) = TC · ΔT

Calculator

Result
—

Formula

error(ppm) = TC(ppm/°C) × ΔT(°C)

Description

A voltage reference drifts with temperature at a rate given by its temperature coefficient. Over an operating temperature span this produces a total error in parts-per-million of the output. This drift often dominates a precision measurement’s accuracy budget, so the reference tempco—not the ADC resolution—frequently sets the real system accuracy.

Variables

  • error — Total drift error (ppm)
  • TC — Temperature coefficient (ppm/°C)
  • ΔT — Operating temperature span (°C)

Practical Notes

A 10 ppm/°C reference over a 50 °C span drifts 500 ppm ≈ 0.05%—enough to swamp a 16-bit ADC (15 ppm/LSB). For high accuracy choose a few-ppm/°C reference and limit ΔT.

Related Concepts

All Sensors & ADC formulas →
ADC Resolution (LSB) ADC Theoretical SNR Steinhart-Hart Temperature Wheatstone Bridge Linear Sensor Transfer Function Oversampling SNR Improvement RTD Callendar-Van Dusen Strain Gauge Resistance Change

Need more features?

Save calculations, import telemetry data, simulate battery discharge, and collaborate with your team.

Try the App