Thermocouples: types and tolerances to DIN EN 60584

A thermocouple generates a temperature-dependent thermoelectric voltage at the junction of two metals — the Seebeck effect. It is robust, fast and can be used up to 1,700 °C.

Which type suits which purpose, how large the permissible deviation is and which voltage is present at which temperature is set out in DIN EN 60584-1.

The types at a glance

Colour coding of cables to IEC 60584-3: sheath and positive conductor in the type colour, negative conductor white.

Colour coding to IEC 60584-3

Sheath and positive conductor carry the type colour, the negative conductor is always white. This lets you identify thermocouple and compensating cables without a measuring instrument.

Colours to IEC 60584-3. The marking on the supplied cable remains authoritative.

Tolerances to IEC 60584-1

Reference temperature 0 °C. The larger of the two values applies.

Thermoelectric voltage in mV, reference junction 0 °C

Thermoelectric voltage over temperature, reference junction 0 °C. Type J rises most steeply but ends at +750 °C; type S gives the smallest voltage and reaches furthest.

Measuring junction insulated or grounded

• Insulated — the thermocouple is galvanically isolated from the sheath. Interference-proof, our standard.
• Grounded — the thermocouple is welded to the sheath bottom. Shorter response time, half-value time from about 0.15 s for small diameters.

Insulated or grounded — the difference lies in the tip and determines interference immunity and response time.

Sheath materials

Inconel 600 / 2.4816 up to 1,150 °C, 1.4571 and 1.4404 up to 800 °C. Special materials such as Nicrofer, Hastelloy, Inconel 601 and tantalum on request. The complete list of materials can be found under Materials.