Thermocouple Temperature Sensors
Thermocouple Sensors - Custom Built Thermocouples to your Specifications
We custom manufacture all thermocouple sensors to your specification. Both Base metal and noble metal thermocouples are available, typically shipped within five days.
Thermocouples Our most popular style of thermocouple, these rugged sensors, ideal for most applications. Vast choice of terminations e.g. pot seals, Wire, connectors, heads etc.Swaged Tip
Thermocouples Fast temperature response time thermocouple probes ideal for industrial and other applications. Miniature
Thermocouples Ideal for precision temperature measurements where minimal displacement and a fast response is required. Heavy Duty
Thermocouples For industrial applications such as furnaces, kilns, ovens, boilers, flues etc. Many types of sheath material available. High Temperature Thermocouples Various thermocouples specifically for high temperature applications. Wide choice of sheath materials and terminations. General Purpose
Thermocouples A wide range of thermocouples to suit many applications. Hand held, surface, bayonet, bolt, low cost simple styles, patch sensors etc. Hand Held
Thermocouple Probes A range of hand held thermocouple probes to suit a variety of applications from general purpose to surface and air temperature measurements. Thermocouples for
Surface Measurements A range of thermocouples to suit various surface temperature measurement applications. AMS2750 Approved
Thermocouples Calibrated thermocouples designed to meet the high quality and accuracies demanded for heat treatment and vacuum furnace applications Industrial Vacuum
Thermocouples Ceramic sheathed calibrated thermocouples designed specifically in vacuum furnace applications with very low leak rates ATEX/IECEx Approved
Thermocouples A large range of thermocouples with a variety of terminations such as pot seal, terminal heads etc.
Thermocouple Types
There are several different thermocouple types (K Type thermocouples, J Type, T Type, N Type, S Type etc) each with different characteristics and covering various temperature ranges. Type K is one the most popular thermocouples used in industrial applications, due to its versatility and wide temperature range, T type thermocouples are generally preferred in applications below 0ºC and Type R and type S thermocouples are preferred in furnace thermocouple applications. There are also thermocouples such as type C which are used in more specialist applications. A detailed list of the different thermocouple types along with color code information and other characteristics can be found here.
Thermocouple Accuracy and Temperature Range
Conductor Combination | Approximate generated EMF change in µV per ºC change (referenced to 0ºC) at: |
Approximate Working Temperature Range |
Thermocouple Output Tolerances to IEC 60584-1 |
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Type | + Leg | - Leg | 100ºC | 500ºC | 1000ºC | Continuous | Short Term | Type | Class 1 | Class 2 |
K | NICKEL - CHROMIUM Also known as: Chromel™, Thermokanthal KP*, NiCr, T1*, Tophel™ |
NICKEL - ALUMINIUM (magnetic) Also known as: Ni-Al, Alumel™, Thermokanthal KN™, T2™, NiAl™ |
42 | 43 | 39 | 0 to +1100ºC | -180 to +1350ºC | Temperature Range Tolerance Value Temperature Range Tolerance Value |
–40°C to +375°C ±1.5°C 375°C to 1000°C ±0.004 ⋅ |t| |
–40°C to +333°C ±2.5°C 333°C to 1200°C ±0.0075 ⋅ |t| |
T | COPPER |
COPPER - NICKEL Also known as: Constantan, Advance™, Cupron™ |
46 | – | – | –185 to +300°C | –250 to +400°C | Temperature Range Tolerance Value Temperature Range Tolerance Value |
–40°C to +125°C ±0.5°C 125°C to 350°C ±0.004⋅ |t| |
–40°C to +133°C ±1.0°C 133°C to 350°C ±0.0075 ⋅ |t| |
J | IRON (magnetic) Also known as: Fe | COPPER - NICKEL Also known as: Nickel-Copper, Constantan, Advance™, Cupron™ |
54 | 56 | 59 | +20 to +700°C | –180 to +750°C | Temperature Range Tolerance Value Temperature Range Tolerance Value |
–40°C to +375°C ±1.5°C 375°C to 750°C ±0.004⋅ |t| |
–40°C to +333°C ±2.5°C 333°C to 750°C ±0.0075 ⋅ |t| |
N | NICKEL - CHROMIUM -SILICON Also known as: Nicrosil | NICKEL - SILICON - MAGNESIUM Also known as: Nisil |
30 | 38 | 39 | 0 to +1150ºC | -270 to +1300ºC | Temperature Range Tolerance Value Temperature Range Tolerance Value |
–40°C to +375°C ±1.5°C 375°C to 1000°C ±0.004⋅ |t| |
–40°C to +333°C ±2.5°C 333°C to 1200°C ±0.0075⋅ |t| |
E | NICKEL - CHROMIUM Also known as: Chromel™, Tophel™, Chromium, Nickel | NICKEL - ALUMINIUM Also known as: Nickel-Copper, Constantan, Advance™, Cupron™ |
68 | 81 | – | 0 to +800ºC | -40 to +900ºC | Temperature Range Tolerance Value Temperature Range Tolerance Value |
–40°C to +375°C ±1.5°C 375°C to 800°C ±0.004⋅ |t| |
–40°C to +333°C ±2.5°C 333°C to 900°C ±0.0075 ⋅ |t| |
S | PLATINUM -
10% RHODIUM | PLATINUM |
8 | 9 | 11 | 0 to +1550ºC | -50 to +1750ºC | Temperature Range Tolerance Value Temperature Range Tolerance Value |
0°C to +1100°C ±1.0°C 1100°C to 1600°C ±(1 +0.003 (t ⋅ 1100)°C |
0°C to +600°C ±1.5°C 600°C to 1600°C ±0.0025 ⋅ |t| |
R | PLATINUM -
13% RHODIUM |
PLATINUM |
8 | 10 | 13 | 0 to +1600ºC | -50 to +1700ºC | Temperature Range Tolerance Value Temperature Range Tolerance Value |
0°C to +1100°C ±1.0°C 1100°C to 1600°C ±(1 +0.003 (t ⋅ 1100)°C |
0°C to +600°C ±1.5°C 600°C to 1600°C ±0.0025 ⋅ |t| |
2. Thermocouple materials are normally supplied to meet the tolerances specified in the table for temperatures above –40 deg C. These materials however, may not fall within the tolerances for low temperatures given under Class 3 for Types T, E and K thermocouples. If thermocouples are required to meet limits of Class 3, as well as those of Class 1 and/or Class 2, the purchaser should state this, as selection of materials is usually required.
ANSI and IEC Color Codes for Thermocouple Wires
Thermocouple Type |
United States ANSI MC96.1 |
International
Color Code to IEC 60584-3 |
Redundant national color coding for thermocouple cables | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thermocouple Grade | Extension Grade | BS 1843 | DIN 43714 | NFC 42324 | ||
K | ||||||
T | ||||||
J | ||||||
N | – | – | ||||
E | ||||||
S | -- | |||||
R | -- | – | – |
Detailed information on thermocouple wire tolerances and ranges can be found here.
Thermocouple Sheath Materials
In addition to ceramic sheaths and the wide range of designs featured in our general purpose thermocouples, our most popular mineral insulated thermocouples are available with the following sheath materials:
304 Stainless Steel has good corrosion resistance for general purpose usage. Used in food service and biological applications. Do not use in 800°F to 1600°F temperature range due to carbide precipitation. Maximum Temperature: 1650°F.
Grade 316L Stainless Steel has good high temperature corrosion resistance and suitable for use in sulphur bearing atmospheres. 316L stainless steel has high oxidation resistance. Maximum Temperature: 1650°F.
Grade 310 Stainless Steel has good high temperature corrosion resistance and suitable for use in sulphur bearing atmospheres. 310 stainless steel has high oxidation resistance. Maximum Temperature: 2010°F.
Inconel 600®Used in severely corrosive atmospheres to elevated temperatures. Has good resistance to oxidation. Not recommended for use above 1470°F when used with Type R, S or B thermocouples. Do not use in sulphur bearing atmospheres above 1020°F. Maximum Temperature: 2010°F.
Incoloy 800® and Incoloy 825® are suitable for use in severely corrosive atmospheres to elevated temperatures. Enjoys a good resistance to oxidation and carburisation. Incoloy 800 is resistant to sulphur bearing atmospheres. Maximum Temperature: 1650°F. Incoloy 825® is an Iron/Nickel/Chromium alloy with additions of molybdenum, copper, and titanium. Exceptional resistance to many corrosive environments. Resistant to chloride-ion stress-corrosion cracking. Maximum Temperature: 2280°F.
AISI 446 is suitable for use in severely corrosive atmospheres to elevated temperatures. Particularly suited for use in high concentration sulphur bearing atmospheres at high temperature. Sensor should be mounted vertically at temperatures above 1290°F. Maximum Temperature: 2100°F.
Hastelloy X® and Hastelloy C276® are for use in reducing, neutral and inert atmospheres. Has improved high temperature resistance to oxidation and attack by sulphur. At high temperature it has excellent tensile strength and develops a tightly adherent oxide film which does not spall. Maximum Temperaure: 2230°F. Hastelloy C276® has excellent corrosion resistance to both oxidizing and reducing media and excellent resistance to localized corrosion attack. Excellent resistance to sulphur compounds and chloride ions. Maximum Temperature: 1250°F.
Nicrotherm D™ is for high temperature Type ‘K’ and almost all Type ‘N’ applications (optimum benefits with Type ‘N’). Very good high temperature strength. Excellent in oxidising, carburising, reducing and vacuum atmospheres. Do not use in sulphur containing atmospheres. Maximum Temperature: 2280°F.
Platinum 10% Rhodium is primarily for use with thermocouple types R, S and B. Suitable for high temperature oxidizing atmospheres and inert atmospheres. Maximum Temperature: 2550°F.