ANRITSU METER / Temperatute Measurement│Q4

Q4 What is the difference between E-type and K-type thermocouple?

The differences and features of each thermocouple type are as follows.

Thermocouple type	Type E	Type K	Type J	Type T	Type R
Temp. range	－200 to 800℃	－200 to 1200℃	ー40 to 750℃	－40 to 350℃	0 to 1600℃
Composing materials	Chromel(+) Alumel(-)	AChromel(+) Constantan(-)	Iron(+) Constantan(-)	Copper(+) Constantan(-)	Platinum /Rhodium(+) Pure Platinum(-)
ASP			ー	ー	ー
ANP	Purple	Yellow	Black	Blue	Green
Cable color(JIS)
Cable color(JIS)	Purple	Green or Blue	Black or Yellow	Brown	Orange or Black
Cable color(ASTM)
Cable color(ASTM)	Purple	Yellow	Black	Blue	Green
Details	Learn more	Learn more	Learn more	Learn more	Learn more

The alloy materials of the conductors used for the + and - poles are different.
Therefore, the measurable temperature range will change, but the durability and tolerance are the same for the E type and K type temperature probes in general environments.

Type E

Composing materials: (+) : Chromel　　(-) : Constantan

Measurable temperature range: -40°C to 800°C

Features: Electromotive force of thermocouple that does not easily change over time

How to distinguish thermocouple types: Cable color : Purple(JIS) / Purple(ASTM)
Plug color : Purple

How to distinguish between + and - poles: Basically, the color of the inner coating is white for JIS standards and red for ASTM standards.
Please check including the color of the outer coating.
*Basically, the reverse connection will only output the reversed temperature, so the sensor and measuring instrument will not be damaged.
If the temperature drops, please suspect reverse connection.

Important point: Please use the same thermocouple type for the probe and thermometer.
e.g.) Probe : A-231E-01-1-TC1-ASP / Thermometer : HR-1200E

Type K

Composing materials: (+) : Chromel　　(-) : Alumel

Measurable temperature range: -40℃ to 1200℃
*Please note that there are few options for temperature probes that can measure up to 1200℃.

Features: Widely used in general industrial applications.

How to distinguish thermocouple types: Cable color : Green (new JIS) or Blue (old JIS) / Yellow(ASTM)
Plug Color : Yellow
Also, since the Alumel side of negative pole have magnetic, it will stick to the magnet.

How to distinguish between + and - poles: Basically, the color of the inner coating is white for JIS standards and red for ASTM standards.
Please check including the color of the outer coating.
Also, since the alumel side of nagative pole have magnetic, it will stick to the magnet.
*Basically, the reverse connection will only output the reversed temperature, so the sensor and measuring instrument will not be damaged.
If the temperature drops, please suspect reverse connection.

Important point: Please use the same thermocouple type for the probe and thermometer.
e.g.) Probe : A-231K-01-1-TC1-ASP / Thermometer : HR-1200K

Type T

Composing materials: (+) : Copper　　(-) : Constantan

Measurable temperature range: -40℃ to 350℃

Features: The tolerance of JIS standard is 100℃±1.0℃, so it is highly accurate. (±2.5℃ for E and K)
*Tolerance may vary depending on the actual temperature probe shape.

How to distinguish thermocouple types: Cable Color : Brown(JIS) / Blue(ASTM)
Plug Color : Blue

How to distinguish between + and - poles: Basically, the color of the inner coating is white for JIS standards and red for ASTM standards.
Please check including the color of the outer coating.
Also, since the positive pole is copper, it can be distinguished by the color of the conductor.
*Basically, the reverse connection will only output the reversed temperature, so the sensor and measuring instrument will not be damaged.
If the temperature drops, please suspect reverse connection.

Important point: Please use the same thermocouple type for the probe and thermometer.

Type J

Composing materials: (+) : Iron (-) : Constantan

Measurable temperature range: -40℃ to 750℃

Features: The unit price of thermocouple materials is relatively cheap.

How to distinguish thermocouple types: Cable Color : Black or Yellow(JIS) / Black(ASTM)
Plug Color : Black
Also, since the iron side of positive pole have magnetic, it will stick to the magnet.

How to distinguish between + and - poles: Basically, the color of the inner coating is white for JIS standards and red for ASTM standards.
Please check including the color of the outer coating.
Also, since the iron side of positive pole have magnetic, it will stick to the magnet.
*Basically, the reverse connection will only output the reversed temperature, so the sensor and measuring instrument will not be damaged.
If the temperature drops, please suspect reverse connection.

Important point: Please use the same thermocouple type for the probe and thermometer.

Type R

Composing materials: (+) : Platinum/13％Rhodium　　(-) : Pure Platinum

Measurable temperature range: 0℃ to 1600℃

Features: Thermocouple materials are very expensive due to precious metals.
Temperature measurement in high temperature range is possible.
*Please note that there are few options for temperature probes that can measure up to 1600℃.

How to distinguish thermocouple types: Cable Color : Orange or Black(JIS) / Green(ASTM)
Plug Color : Green

How to distinguish between + and - poles: Basically, the color of the inner coating is white for JIS standards and red for ASTM standards.
Please check including the color of the outer coating.

Important point: Please use the same thermocouple type for the probe and thermometer.

Measurable Temperature Range (JIS C1602-2015) (Anritsu Meter basically employs Class 2)

Measurable Temperature Range and Electromotive Force Table

Measurable Temperature Range

(JIS C1602-2015) (Anritsu Meter basically employs Class 2)

Type	Grade	Measurable range (°C)	Tolerance
E	Class 1 (Grade 0.4)	-40 to 800	-40°C to less than 375°C　±1.5°C	375°C to less than 800°C　±0.004×t
	Class 2 (Grade 0.75)	-40 to 800	-40°C to less than 333°C　±2.5°C	333°C to less than 800°C　±0.0075×t
	Class 3 (Grade 1.5)	-200 to 40	-167°C to less than 40°C　±2.5°C	-200°C to less than -167°C　±0.015×t
K	Class 1 (Grade 0.4)	-40 to 1,000	-40°C to less than 375°C　±1.5℃	375°C to less than 1,000°C　±0.004×t
	Class 2 (Grade 0.75)	-40 to 1,200	-40°C to less than 333°C　±2.5℃	333°C to less than 1,200°C　±0.0075×t
	Class 3 (Grade 1.5)	-200 to 40	-167°C to less than 40°C　±2.5℃	-200°C to less than -167°C　±0.015×t

Electromotive Force Table(JIS C1602‐2015)

Type: E (CRC), 0°C standard (excerpted from the JIS C 1602-2015)

Unit:mV

°C	0	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100	°C
-100	-5.237	-5.681	-6.107	-6.516	-6.907	-7.279	-7.632	-7.963	-8.273	-8.561	-8.825	-100
(-) 0	0	-0.582	-1.152	-1.709	-2.255	-2.787	-3.306	-3.811	-4.302	-4.777	-5.237	(-) 0
(+) 0	0	0.591	1.192	1.801	2.42	3.048	3.685	4.33	4.985	5.648	6.319	(+) 0
100	6.319	6.998	7.685	8.379	9.081	9.789	10.503	11.224	11.951	12.684	13.421	100
200	13.421	14.164	14.912	15.664	16.42	17.181	17.945	18.713	19.484	20.259	21.036	200
300	21.036	21.817	22.6	23.386	24.174	24.964	25.757	26.552	27.348	28.146	28.946	300
400	28.946	29.747	30.55	31.354	32.159	32.965	33.772	34.579	35.387	36.196	37.005	400
500	37.005	37.815	38.624	39.434	40.243	41.053	41.862	42.671	43.479	44.285	45.093	500
600	45.093	45.9	46.705	47.509	48.313	49.116	49.917	50.718	51.517	52.315	53.112	600
700	53.112	53.908	54.703	55.497	56.289	57.08	57.87	58.659	59.446	60.232	61.107	700
800	61.017	61.801	62.583	63.364	64.144	64.922	65.698	66.473	67.246	68.017	68.787	800
900	68.787	69.554	70.319	71.082	71.844	72.603	73.36	74.115	74.869	75.621	76.373	900
°C	0	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100	°C

Type: K (CA), 0°C standard (excerpted from the JIS C 1602-2015)