HP 34970A Thermocouple Types

Chapter 8 Tutorial

Measurement Fundamentals

Thermocouple Types

			Temperature	Probe
T/C Type	Pos (+) Lead	Neg (-) Lead	Range	Accuracy	Comments
B	Platinum-30% Rhodium	Platinum-60% Rhodium	250°C - 1820°C	±0.5°C	High Temperature.
U.S.	Gray	Red			Beware of contamination.
British	N/A	N/A			Do not insert in
DIN	Red	Gray			metal tubes.
Japanese	Red	Gray
French	N/A	N/A
J	Iron	Constantan	-210°C - 1200°C	±1.1°C - 2.2°C	For vacuum, inert
U.S.	White	Red			environments.
British	Yellow	Blue			Least expensive.
DIN	Red	Blue			Not recommended for
Japanese	Red	White			low temperature.
French	Yellow	Black
K	Nickel-Chromium	Nickel-Aluminum	-200°C - 1370°C	±1.1°C - 2.2°C	For oxidizing environments.
U.S.	Yellow	Red			Good linearity
British	Brown	Blue			above 8 °C.
DIN	Red	Green
Japanese	Red	White
French	Yellow	Purple
T	Copper	Constantan	-200°C - 400°C	±0.5°C - 1°C	Withstands moisture.
U.S.	Blue	Red			Has a copper lead.
British	White	Blue			Low temperature
DIN	Red	Brown			applications.
Japanese	Red	White
French	Yellow	Blue
E	Nickel-Chromium	Constantan	-200°C - 1000°C	±1°C - 1.7°C	Highest output voltage.
U.S.	Purple	Red			Highest resolution.
British	Brown	Blue
DIN	Red	Black
Japanese	Red	White
French	Yellow	Blue
N	Nicrosil	Nisil	-200°C - 1300°C	±1.1°C - 2.2 °C	Superior stability to
U.S.	Orange	Red			K type at higher
British	N/A	N/A			temperatures.
DIN	N/A	N/A
Japanese	N/A	N/A
French	N/A	N/A
R	Platinum-13% Rhodium	Rhodium	-50°C - 1760°C	±0.6°C - 1.5 °C	High Temperature.
U.S.	Black	Red			Beware of contamination.
British	White	Blue			Do not insert in
DIN	Red	White			metal tubes.
Japanese	Red	White
French	Yellow	Green
S	Platinum-10% Rhodium	Platinum	-50°C - 1760 °C	±0.6°C - 1.5 °C	Low error, good stability.
U.S.	Black	Red			High temperature.
British	White	Blue			Beware of contamination.
DIN	Red	White			Do not insert in
Japanese	Red	White			metal tubes.
French	Yellow	Green

Constantan = Copper-Nickel; Nicrosil = Nickel-Chromium-Silicon; Nisil = Nickel-Silicone-Magnesium; N/A = Not Available

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