Can you extend the wires on a thermocouple?

Can you extend the wires on a thermocouple?

Do not extend the lead wires with compensating conductors that do not suit the characteristics of the Thermocouple, or with ordinary lead wires, as this would prevent proper temperature measurement. Be sure also to connect the wires using the correct polarity (+/-). Use lead wires with thick conductors for extension.

What is extension grade thermocouple wire?

Thermocouple grade wire is wire that is used to make the sensing point (or probe part) of the thermocouple. Extension grade wire is only used to extend a thermocouple signal from a probe back to the instrument reading the signal.

Can I use copper wire to extend a thermocouple?

Thermocouple extension wire should ONLY be used to connect thermocouples to instrumentation, and copper wire should never be used. If you’re wiring a thermocouple into a switch or junction box, the contacts do NOT need to be the same as the thermocouple materials.

Does thermocouple wire length matter?

The length of a thermocouple has no effect on its measurement accuracy or its ability to transfer the signal to the instrument. In other words, thermocouples do not experience “voltage drops” or power loss along its length as a high current power line might possess.

Can you splice a thermocouple wire?

YES. Temperature probes must be extended with thermocouple wire.

How does thermocouple extension wire work?

Thermocouple extension wire is used to carry the signal from the thermocouple sensor to the readout device while maintaining a high degree of accuracy. The extension wire material must match the material used in the positive and negative leg of the thermocouple type (e.g. type K) being used in the application.

What is the difference between thermocouple compensating cable and extension cable?

We differentiate between thermocouple cable and compensating cable. Cables made of original materials are called extension or thermocouple cables, whereas conductor materials made of substitutes are known as compensating cables.

What gauge is thermocouple wire?

There are many factors that can impact the usable length of a thermocouple. As a guideline, under 100 feet with 20 AWG or thicker wire in an area free of electromagnetic interference usually is fine.

Can you splice thermocouple wire?

Do you have to use thermocouple wire?

RTDs are special resistors whose resistance value changes with temperature in a known way. RTDs are connected to the temperature recording or process control instrumentation using ordinary copper instrumentation cable. Thermocouple wire is not required to connect an RTD.

Can you shorten thermocouple wires?

On the flip side, you can cut thermocouples down to a shorter length if you require that as well. Just make sure to cut the size you want out of the side with the actual sensing area on it.

How do you extend a thermocouple?

Best way to make the extension is using a male-female pair of thermocouple connectors. These normally have small screw terminals under the plastic cover. Something along this line. Although I’ve never done this, you could also twist the wires together and secure them with small wiring nuts.