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Thermocouple question

Posted by HereinCS

HereinCS

Thermocouple question
March 26, 2011 07:57PM

Registered: 13 years ago
Posts: 46

I'm curious if a thermocouple such as the type K in the Makerbot can be cut and rejoined. I want to make a quick connect for this thermocouple using a DC male/female connector set. I'm just wondering if the different metal that is in the DC connector will mess up the thermocouple readings.

Thanks.

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Andrew Diehl

Re: Thermocouple question
March 26, 2011 08:10PM

Registered: 13 years ago
Posts: 581

Yes it can. As long as both pins on the connector remain the same temperature it works perfectly.

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brnrd

Re: Thermocouple question
March 27, 2011 12:39AM

Registered: 13 years ago
Posts: 1,780

I understand that the connector has to be the same type of metal or you will get erroneous reading from the additional junctions. There are connectors designed for use with thermocouples.

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Andrew Diehl

Re: Thermocouple question
March 27, 2011 01:39AM

Registered: 13 years ago
Posts: 581

It doesn't have to be the same kind of metal as long as the junctions are the same temperature.

Quite frankly it's not worth the added expense as long as the extension junction and the on chip junction are at approx room temperature.

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brnrd

Re: Thermocouple question
March 27, 2011 08:10AM

Registered: 13 years ago
Posts: 1,780

OK. You mean that the both connectors has to be at the same temperature so that any voltage in one contact is canceled by the voltage in the other contact.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/27/2011 08:39AM by brnrd.

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Andrew Diehl

Re: Thermocouple question
March 27, 2011 11:09AM

Registered: 13 years ago
Posts: 581

Yes.

Technically speaking, both those connectors should also be the same temperature as where the thermocouple reading chip on the circuit board is. A couple degrees off will only slightly affect the reading, though.