IOThrifty Blog

Trying to decide between an infrared temperature sensor and a thermocouple? This guide compares IR sensors and contact thermocouples for industrial, food, HVAC, and manufacturing applications. Learn how each sensor works, their pros and cons, and when to use non-contact infrared temperature measurement versus rugged, embedded thermocouples. Whether you're measuring moving surfaces, extreme heat, or sensitive equipment, this article will help you choose the best temperature sensor for your needs.

Learn how to extend thermocouples without compromising temperature accuracy. This guide covers the best practices for extending thermocouple wires using proper thermocouple extension wire, minimizing electrical noise, and avoiding ground loop errors. Whether you're working with K type thermocouples or other types, understanding these key factors ensures reliable temperature sensor performance in industrial environments.

Looking for resistance data on thermocouple wires? This reference chart provides ohms-per-foot resistance values for popular thermocouple types including K, J, T, E, N, S, R, and B across multiple wire sizes (AWG). Understanding thermocouple wire resistance is essential for accurate temperature measurement, especially in longer runs or sensitive applications. Use this guide to compare resistance values by thermocouple alloy and improve the performance of your temperature sensing system.

Need to calculate thermocouple temperature without a digital thermometer? This guide explains how thermocouples work, how to apply thermocouple laws, and how to convert millivolts to temperature manually. Learn about hot and cold junctions, voltage reference tables, and download a free spreadsheet that calculates temperature from thermocouple voltage for types K, J, T, E, N, R, S, and B. Ideal for labs, engineers, and anyone working with thermocouples in the field.

In this post we will  provide a a basic understanding thermocouples including theory of operation, the different types and styles of thermocouples and which thermocouple configurations are best suited for different application environments.