Thermocouples (TCs)
TC Types
There are many, many types of thermocouples but only a small number have been standardized to the point of having distinct calibration tables, color codes and assigned letter-designations that are recognized world wide.
The ASTM Standard E230 provides all the specifications for most of the common industrial grades, including letter designation, color codes (USA only), suggested use limits and the complete voltage versus temperature tables for cold junctions maintained at 32 °F and 0 °C.
Needless to say there are other thermocouple standards around the world and the color codes can and do vary in places.
Note that there are about three or four “classes” of thermocouples. Although no one really calls them classes, they really are.
There are:
- The home body class (called base metal),
- The upper crust class (called rare metal or precious metal),
- The rarefied class (refractory metals) and,
- The exotic class (standards, limited availability and developmental devices).
In most countries all but the most exotic class are codified by a letter designation.
The home bodies, at least in the USA, are the Types E, J, K, N and T.
The upper crust are: Types B, S, and R, platinum all to varying percentages.
The rarefied class includes several tungsten alloy thermocouples usually designated as Type W (something)
The exotic class includes specialty reference thermocouples such as Platinum-Palladium, Gold-Platinum (used in metrology work) and the unique commercial types such as Platinels etc.
These pages will expand as more Web-based information on the subject expands and is reviewed for inclusion here.
- Thermocouple Technical Reference
Including color codes and most of the technical information described by the ASTM standard and a bit more. Courtesy on Instrument Service Co., Cleveland (actually North Royalton) Ohio, USA - Omega Engineering’s Thermocouple Wire color codes (including International Codes)
- FREE Thermocouple and Resistance Thermometry Guide
From the most informative site of TC.co Ltd in the UK - Branom’s TC literature
- ARi Industries(UK) Ltd home
- Biodata: Thermocouple Accuracy
We still search for a few more good thermocouple resources on the Web.
If you know of any, let us in on it, so we can steer more people to them. Click on “Submit” (above) to let us know about them, please.
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