| Thermocouple Type | Material | Magnetic | ASTM Color Coding | IEC Color Coding |
| J | Iron Constantan | Yes No |
White Red |
White Black |
| T | Copper Constantan | No No |
Blue Red |
White Brown |
| K | Chromel Alumel | No No |
Yellow Red |
White Green |
| E | Chromel/Constantan | No No |
Purple Red |
White Violet |
| P | Platinel | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| S | Platinum 10% Rhodium Pure Platinum | No No |
Black Red |
White Orange |
| R | Platinum 13% Rhodium Pure Platinum | No No |
Black Red |
white Orange |
| B | Platinum 30% Rhodium Platinum 6% Rhodium | No No |
Grey Red |
White Grey |
| N | Nicrosil/Nisil | No Slightly |
Orange Red |
White Pink |
| C | Tungsten 5% Rhenium/ Tungsten 26% Rhenium | No No |
White Red |
N/A |
| ANSI Thermocouple Type | Temp Range (°C) | Temp Range (°F) | Standard Limits of Error (°C)* | Special Limits of Error (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J | 0 to 760 | 32 to 1400 | The greater of ±2.2 or ±0.75% | The greater of ±2.2 or ±0.75% |
| T | 0 to 370 | 32 to 700 | The greater of ±1 or ±0.75% | The greater of ±0.5 or ±0.4% |
| K | 0 to 1260 | 32 to 2300 | The greater of ±2.2 or ±0.75% | The greater of ±1.1 or ±0.4% |
| E | 0 to 870 | 32 to 1600 | The greater of ±1.7 or ±0.5% | The greater of ±1 or ±0.4% |
| S | 0 to 1480 | 32 to 2700 | The greater of ±1.5 or ±0.25% | The greater of ±0.6 or ±0.1% |
| R | 0 to 1480 | 32 to 2700 | The greater of ±1.5 or ±0.25% | The greater of ±0.6 or ±0.1% |
| N | 0 to 1246 | 32 to 2300 | The greater of ±2.2 or ±0.75% | The greater of ±1.1 or ±0.4% |
| B | 870 to 1700 | 1600 to 3100 | ±0.5% | ±0.25% |
| TA | -200 to 0 | -328 to 32 | The greater of ±1 or ±1.5% | B |
| EA | -200 to 0 | -328 to 32 | The greater of ±1.7 or ±1% | B |
| KA | -200 to 0 | -328 to 32 | The greater of ±2.2 or ±2% | B |
A: Thermocouple and thermocouple materials are normally supplied to meet the tolerances specified in the table of temperatures above 0°C. The same materials, however, may not fall within the tolerances given for temperatures below 0°C in the normal section in the table. If materials are required to meet the tolerances stated for temperatures below 0°C the purchase order must specifically state that requirement. Selection of materials will usually be required.
B: Special tolerances for temperatures below 0°C are difficult to justify due to limited available information.
*: Standard and special limits of error in °F are 1.8 times larger thant the °C tolerance at the equivalent °C temperature.
| Material Symbol |
Sheath Material |
Melting Point(°F) |
Max Temp; In Air(°F) |
Atmosphere* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| H | 304 SS | 2550 | 1650 | ORNV |
| J | 310 SS | 2550 | 2100 | ORNV |
| L | 316L SS | 2550 | 1650 | ORNV |
| O | 446 SS | 2700 | 2100 | ORNV |
| M | Inconel 600 | 2500 | 2100 | ONV |
| P | Inconel 702 | 2620 | 1500 | ONV |
| Q | Platinum | 3216 | 3000 | ON |
| R | Molybdenum | 4750 | 1000 | VNR |
| T | Titanium | 3300 | 600 | V |
| V | STABALOY | 2552 | 2220 | ORNV |
*KEY
O=Oxidizing, R=Reducing, N=Neutral, V=Vacuum
| Suggested Upper Limit for Outside Diameter (Single Element) °C (°F) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheath | Thermocouple Type | |||||
| In | mm | T | J | E | K | N |
| 1/25" | 1.0 | 260° (500°) | 260° (500°) | 300° (570°) | 700° (1290°) | 2700° (1290°) |
| 1/16" | 1.6 | 260° (500°) | 440° (825°) | 510° (950°) | 920° (1690°) | 920° (1690°) |
| 1/8" | 3.2 | 315° (600°) | 520° (970°) | 650° (1200°) | 1070° (1950°) | 1070° (1950°) |
| 3/16" | 4.8 | 370° (700°) | 620° (1150°) | 730° (1350°) | 1150° (2100°) | 1150° (2100°) |
| 1/4" | 6.3 | 370° (700°) | 720° (1330°) | 820° (1510°) | 1150° (2100°) | 1150° (2100°) |
| 3/8" | 9.5 | 370° (700°) | 720° (1330°) | 820° (1510°) | 1150° (2100°) | 1150° (2100°) |