Thermocouples convert temperature to voltage. they rely on Seebeck effect which states that a junction of different metals will generate a voltage that is proportional to the temperature of the metals. Thermocouples are low cost temperature sensors, they are readily available from multiple sources and they can measure a wide range of temperatures that can not be measured with semiconductor type temperature sensor. For example, they can be used to measure the temperature of the inside of a ceramics kiln which can reach 1200 Celsius.
The temperature range of a thermocouple depends on the type of metals that make up the thermocouple. There are some industry standard types as shown in the table:
Thermocouple Type |
Range ( Celsius ) |
Range (Fahrenheit) |
Features |
E |
95-900°C
|
200-1650°F |
Highest Output |
J |
95-760°C
|
200-1400°F |
|
K |
95-1260°C
|
200-2300°F |
|
T |
0-350°C
|
32-660°F |
|
Thermocouples give out voltages in the range of microvolts so the output of a thermocouple must be amplified before it can be converted into a digital value.
We offer a dedicated thermocouple board THERMOCOUPLE-1 that supports all the popular thermocouple types
( jumper selectable ) and accepts up to 4 thermocouples simultaneously.
Many combinations are possible to measure, log and monitor temperature using thermocouples as temperature sensors:
 Frequently Asked Questions
4-channel Temperature Meter using thermocouples
Monitoring Thermocouples through the Internet
Thermocouple Data Logger
Ceramics kiln Pyrometer
Identifying Thermocouples
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