It has been nearly 50 years since I was involved in any serious work with 
thermocouples. I think type K is chromel/alumel. We used to buy it in spools 
and make our own probes by using an acetylene torch or a spot welder to form 
the tip. It was necessary to measure the output with a balanced bridge using 
a Leeds & Northrop K2 potentiometer, reference cell, melting ice reference 
junction and a Galvanometer.The voltage was compared to a table in the 
"Handbook of Chemistry & Physics".  As I recall, the tables go up to nearly 
the meting point of the wire. Some form of calibration was still needed for 
accurate data.  Note that all of this needs to float free of any stray 
currents. Commercially available probes brought along speed, accuracy and 
temperature limitations:

John Ferrell    W8CCW
"Life is easier if you learn to plow
       around the stumps"
http://DixieNC.US

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Chung" <kravnus@yahoo.com>
To: "Microcontroller discussion list - Public." <piclist@mit.edu>
Sent: Friday, May 18, 2007 9:08 AM
Subject: [EE]: Question on thermocouple wire


> >From my previous post I was looking at a setup to
> measure the tip of the solder gun. So far I have
> managed to nail some specs I need to get the
> measurement. The thermocouple wire should be type K.
> The sales guy claims that the thermocouple wire can
> withstand heat up to 1200C but the tip of the
> thermocouple wire can only withstand 400C.
>
> My question. Is it possible to obtain a few strips of
> thermocouple wire K that can withstand up to 500C*the
> tip of the thermocouple wire* ?
>
>
>
> ____________________________________________________________________________________You 
> snooze, you lose. Get messages ASAP with AutoCheck
> in the all-new Yahoo! Mail Beta.
> http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/mailbeta/newmail_html.html
> -- 
> http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
> View/change your membership options at
> http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist
> 

-- 
http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist