Thermocouple Type K question

[Titanium Steel]

Last year or so, I bought myself a Klein Tools MM200 Auto Ranging Multimeter and this came with a Type K thermocouple. This meter typically runs anywhere from $60 plus at stores such as Home Depot, but I was able to get this for $30 from a friend if I took this off his hands. Fair deal I must say.

However, while I will this is a fantastic Type K thermocouple (sure beats the Craftsman the same friend let me borrow for a time) I am wondering if there Thermocouples out there that are even better.

I own several Fluke test leads, so I have certainly heard of them, but those thermocouples are expensive and apparently (according to Grainger and to a Fluke Tech support person) aren't made in USA, unlike their test leads I own.

So I am wondering does anyone know of a company that produces thermocouples that creates thermocouples outside of where the Fluke Tech support guy told me?

Here is several links to the Fluke products I am talking about.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00116XSMY/?tag=atomicindus08-20

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/ww...h&Ntt=80BK-A&N=0&GlobalSearch=true&sst=subset

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/FLUKE-Thermocouple-Extension-4YV60?Pid=search

That is actually made in USA, but I am not sure it's the right product.

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/UEI-TEST-INSTRUMENTS-Temperature-Probe-6CMU0?Pid=search

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/TPI-Temp-Probe-3LRX6?Pid=search

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/COOPER-ATKINS-Temp-Probe-3PEW2?Pid=search

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/COOPER-ATKINS-Temp-Probe-3PEW6?Pid=search

These both are made in USA (at least that is what Grainger states) but I am not sure if these are right for a multimeter I have either.

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/AGILENT-TECHNOLOGIES-Bead-Probe-and-Adapter-3RDZ9?Pid=search

Thanks for the help.

 

[mark40sw]

That last link labels it K but desciption, called J- grainger may have messed up there.

If you want to use different types of thermocouples, you have to use a thermometer made that lets you select different types of thermocouples (more expensive). Cheaper thermometers are usually K only. Standard connetion to meter is the flat blade type. Adapters are for meters using their bannana plugs.

Don't know if your asking "better" as in type or "better" as in where made, or construction quality. Cheaper (under $300) meters may not realize the gains from a high quality thermocouple.

Also thermo probes are designed for different applications- liquid, air, surface....

Where I work, we make our own thermocouples from spools of special wire for each type (K,R,J...). We twist the wire ends and tig weld the tip to a bead. Then wired directly to temperture controller by screw terminals.

May want to look here for some info
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermocouple

 

[Titanium Steel]

Mark: Ever since Grainger updated their site, it has been for lack of better words, buggy and I really wish the old system they had on their database. So much easier to use.

Since you work in an industry that deals with thermocouples though, what grade do you think is best? I've been told time and time again Type N is the best, but I am looking at Type E and that actually also looks as if that would be a exceptional item as well.

Here is some pictures of my Klein MM200 Thermocouple though. There is virtually no information about this product other than basic information and I've been told, you can't buy this thermocouple either.

As for the wikipeida link, that information does sound correct, but given that is from Wikipedia, I am not so sure though. As anyone can edit that information and for all I know, some guy living in a pudding factory could have written all that information.

 

[vintagefan]

If you want the best:

www.omega.com

That is what is used by science and industry, for the most critical applications. They have so many options it will probably make you dizzy.

 

[Titanium Steel]

Vintagefan: Thank you! You are super awesome for providing that link for me and other people. I am having a bit of an issue navigating the site though.

I am typing Thermocouple, but what do you call the type of Thermocouple I posted in this thread? I know it's Type K, but do I call connection test lead or what?

Thanks again for that link though.

Edit: I found this link on this page and man is this really cool and helpful as well. http://www.omega.com/config/probeconfig_TC.html

You can configure your own probe and that is pretty awesome to say the least and there is more pretty expansive information as well.

 

[teletekman]

I second the OMEGA brand. We use the J-type thermocouples quite extensively here at work with our Labview test bench and our temperature ovens.

Another brand you might want to look into and they did sell the banana jack style leads at one time since we used them before our current setup is Pomona Electronics. I used their precision leads a lot and seem to hold up very well.

http://pomonaelectronics.com

 

[Titanium Steel]

Teletekman: So type J is also good as well? Nice to know as I actually calibrated and tested the true temperature of a oven recently myself. Not industrial grade, but surprisingly easy for the first time.

Pomona Electronics seems like a great site, too bad the item I am looking at they are currently out of stock though.

I'll say this though Omega.com really has a great amount of supply and I will now recommend that site to anyone who ever wants a site to buy industrial products such as thermocouples.

Thanks for the link Teletekman, I've never heard of them before, but all the better I suppose.

 

[wycx]

Here is a good reference for thermocouples:

http://www.picotech.com/applications/thermocouple.html

The sensitivity (µV/°C), temperature range and the chemical characteristics/resistance of the different thermocouple types will define what you need.

What makes the Klein so much better than the Craftsman? What do you want to be "better" than the Klein?

Type K is relatively sensitive, has a relatively large temperature range and is cheap.

 

[welder4956]

Teletekman: So type J is also good as well? Nice to know as I actually calibrated and tested the true temperature of a oven recently myself. Not industrial grade, but surprisingly easy for the first time.

I'm not sure what you mean when you ask if a certain "Type" is better than another Type. Each Type (J, K, etc.) has a different temperature range and you pick a Type based on the temperature range you will be measuring. The accuracy of each Type is about the same. I would not say that one Type is "better" than another Type. You just have to choose the Type that fits your need.

There are better "manufacturers" than others. Omega is the leading manufacturer.

 

[teletekman]

Teletekman: So type J is also good as well? Nice to know as I actually calibrated and tested the true temperature of a oven recently myself. Not industrial grade, but surprisingly easy for the first time.

Pomona Electronics seems like a great site, too bad the item I am looking at they are currently out of stock though.

I'll say this though Omega.com really has a great amount of supply and I will now recommend that site to anyone who ever wants a site to buy industrial products such as thermocouples.

Thanks for the link Teletekman, I've never heard of them before, but all the better I suppose.

As Welder4956 has stated, type J vs. K vs. any other "type" of thermocouple is not a question of which one is better but more of which one is rated for the temperature range you are working with. Yes, Omega is a primary leader in thermocouple selection and while type J is what we use here the most we have other types as well. The below link will answer probably any question you have and then some as far as figuring out what type of thermocouple will work for what you want to do.

http://www.omega.com/temperature/Z/zsection.asp

 

[mark40sw]

Titanium Steel,

Not sure if your trying to get this temperature probe for your Klien Multimeter. If you are, you have to use a K type most likely. You can plug in other types that will give a reading, but it will not be correct.

We use these at work
http://www.omega.com/pptst/CL20.html
and these
http://www.fluke.com/Fluke/usen/Electrical-Testers/Thermometers/Fluke-50-Series-II.htm?PID=56085
Higher cost dedicated thermomters let you select what type of thermocouple you are using. Every meter & controller I have used, you have to manually select type thermocouple you are using- if you slect wrong type, readings will not be corect. (Exception being cheaper, fixxed one thermocouple type instruments)

This is where we get the wire to make our own
http://www.pyromation.com/
For our high temp furnaces, we have to use R type- expensive platinum stuff.

As others have correctly said here, one is not really any better than the other, just what is more suitible for your application.

The picts you have of the larger pronged plug, we use on some of our instruments. When I troubleshoot, we have an adapter that goes from that to the smaller flat blade for a handheld calibrator meter.

I don't take Wikipedia as gospel, but a good starting point. I believe it does have oversite as not to get out of control.

 

[purplezr2]

Omega does make good stuff, its all we used when I worked in the equipment testing industry.

 

[Titanium Steel]

Mark40sw: Yes sir I am. That is to say for my Klein Tools Multimeter MM200. I have a picture of meter, I'll post that picture here. As you can tell by the pictures my Klein Tools Thermocouple is a Type K, as well. Well that would make sense that only a Type K would work though. Actually really makes a great deal of sense though.

So because I have a Type K, a type N would would work, but the readings would be incorrect. Thanks for all the links, I can't really afford the $550 model, but I am really glad to be see such a quality thermocouple meter.

Yeah this makes sense that one type is not better than the other, but rather what you are using the thermocouple with.

Yeah I know Fluke makes adapters for (their) meters, but that is really some else that the type I have is used in calibration in a industrial setting.

As for Wikipedia, yeah you do bring up a great point, but I've seen times when someone edited an article on Wikipedia and the information wasn't at all correct.

Purplezr2: Yeah, I just wish I found this site years ago. Every person I spoke to in the past has either never heard of a thermocouple or thought I was joking. I'll be honest, that is very annoying to say the least.

Here are the pictures of my Klein Tools MM200 meter though.

This meter uses a standard nine volt battery as means of operating and has a battery lifetime of 200 hours. I'll admit, this item is made in China, but really has worked out well for me.