Platinum RTD Probes (Pt100/Pt1000)
A Pt100 is stainless steel and worth stainless prices — the only exception is the SPRT: a silvery non-magnetic tube that feels absurdly heavy for its diameter, sealed to a quartz handle with a calibration cert taped to it, holds more platinum than a thousand industrial probes.
How to spot it
Stainless tube 3–12 mm diameter and 25–500 mm long with a 1/2 in NPT or compression fitting, a cast aluminium DIN Form B head, and 2/3/4-wire leads (red-red-white-white for 4-wire per IEC 60751). Marked Pt100, Pt1000, DIN 43760, IEC 60751, Class A/B or 1/3 DIN, α = 0.00385. Bare elements are 2 × 2 mm white ceramic chips or a small glass tube with a coiled winding. Found in HVAC, food and pharma process, semiconductor tools, engine test cells and cryogenics.
Metal content
| Metal | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Platinum | ~30–80 mg per lb of complete probes | Thin-film element 0.01–0.1 mg; wire-wound Pt100 ~2–5 mg. Deterministic from resistivity and geometry |
| Base metal | 0.9–0.99 lb/lb 316SS or Inconel sheath | ~$0.50–0.90/lb as stainless — this is what the item actually is |
| Platinum | SPRT: 15–30 g per unit | Strain-free coil plus a platinum sheath tube — the sole exception, worth $830–1,650 of metal |
At 4 Aug 2026 spot prices that works out to $3.04 per pound of contained metal — Platinum 0.055 g = $3.04. A refiner paying $1 returns about 33% of that, which is normal: refining costs money and the buyer takes a margin.
Safe removal
Working temperature: No heat; mechanical only
Not economically justified. For an SPRT only: cut the head off, slit the soft sheath lengthwise with a cut-off wheel, extract the coil and quartz cross-former, and send the Pt as clean high-grade. For ordinary probes, do not bother — sell as 316 stainless.
Hazards
NEVER vacuum a mercury spill — it aerosolises it. Use a mercury spill kit or sulphur powder, or call your local hazmat line.
NEVER grind, sand, saw or incinerate anything that might contain thorium or radium. Sealed sources stay sealed.
NEVER torch, incinerate or overheat PTFE insulation, and never smoke around PTFE dust — it converts on the cigarette.
NEVER dry sweep or use compressed air on a scrapping bench. HEPA-vac or wet-wipe only.
Before you scrap it
The common trap
Questions
How much gold is in platinum rtd probes (pt100/pt1000)?
Platinum: ~30–80 mg per lb of complete probes. Platinum: SPRT: 15–30 g per unit. At current spot that is about $3.04 of contained metal per pound.
How do you identify platinum rtd probes (pt100/pt1000)?
A Pt100 is stainless steel and worth stainless prices — the only exception is the SPRT : a silvery non-magnetic tube that feels absurdly heavy for its diameter, sealed to a quartz handle with a calibration cert taped to it, holds more platinum than a thousand industrial probes.
How do you remove platinum rtd probes (pt100/pt1000) safely?
Not economically justified. For an SPRT only: cut the head off, slit the soft sheath lengthwise with a cut-off wheel, extract the coil and quartz cross-former, and send the Pt as clean high-grade. For ordinary probes, do not bother — sell as 316 stainless.
Is platinum rtd probes (pt100/pt1000) worth more working than as scrap?
Working or calibrated is worth 20–200× scrap. A functional 4-wire Class A Pt100 with a valid certificate sells $60–300 against under $0.50 scrap; a two-minute resistance check (100.00 Ω ±0.15 Ω at 0 °C) converts $0.30 into $40. SPRTs must be sold intact and never scrapped.
Related in Other
Get this offline → The full guide runs in your browser with no signal, and you can add your own photos.