Conrad Kacsik Blog

Thermocouples – Technology and History | Conrad Kacsik

Written by Jason Schulze | Apr 24, 2023 4:21:13 PM

Thermocouples are a critical part of the thermal processing industry. They ensure our process, including production hardware, is being processed at the correct temperature and time.

Thermocouple technology was 1st developed by Thomas Seebeck in 1821. Seebeck discovered that two wires of dissimilar material, emit an mV when exposed to heat. The difference between the two mV readings, when compared to a cold junction, will allow users to understand the temperature (when converted). Of course, through the years, thermocouple technology has made vast improvements such as material, error and protection types.

When selecting the type of thermocouple technology to be used for a specific process, it is important to consider the environment in which the thermocouple will be used, the temperature it will be exposed to, the material type the thermocouple may be touching (load thermocouples) as well as how many cycles the thermocouple may be subject to (see AMS2750 for specific limitations). 

Conrad Kacsik has the expertise to help suppliers choose which thermocouple may be best for their specific application. Conrad Kacsik has a large inventory of different types of thermocouples and the resources to limit turnaround time and pricing. Please contact our customer service department for more information or request a quote today.

Click this link to view the full-length article by Jason Schulze, Director of Technical Services at Conrad Kacsik regarding thermocouple history, technology and use.