Thermocouple Tolerances
| Thermocouple Initial Calibration Tolerances | |||
| Type | Temperature | Standard limits | Special limits |
| T | -200ºC to 0ºC * 0ºC to 350ºC |
± 1ºC or ± 1.5% * ± 1ºC or ± 0.75% |
± 0.5ºC or ± 0.8% * ± 0.5ºC or ± 0.4% |
J |
0ºC to 750ºC | ± 2.2ºC or ± 0.75% | ± 1.1ºC or ± 0.4% |
| E | -200ºC to 0ºC * 0ºC to 900ºC |
± 1.7ºC or ± 1% * ± 1.7ºC or ± 0.5% |
± 1ºC or ± 0.5% * ± 1ºC or ± 0.4% |
| K | -200ºC to 0ºC * 0ºC to 1250ºC |
± 2.2ºC or ± 2% * ± 2.2ºC or ± 0.75% |
N/A ± 1.1ºC or ± 0.4% |
*Thermocouple wire is usually supplied to meet tolerances for temperatures above 0ºC. Special selection and testing
may be required for these same materials in order for them to fall within the sub-zero tolerances given
| Upper Temperature Limit for Various Sizes in Degrees C, (ºF) | ||||||
| Thermocouple Type | 8 Gage | 14 Gage | 20 Gage | 24 Gage | 28 Gage | 30 Gage |
| Units | 3.25mm | 1.63mm | 0.81mm | 0.51mm | 0.33mm | 0.25mm |
| Units | 0.128in | 0.064in | 0.032in | 0.020in | 0.013in | 0.010in |
| T | N/A | 370(700) | 260(500) | 200(400) | 200(400) | 150(300) |
| J | 760(1400) | 590(1100) | 480(900) | 370(700) | 370(700) | 320(600) |
| E | 870(1600) | 650(1200) | 540(1000) | 430(800) | 430(800) | 370(700) |
| K | 1260(2300) | 1090(2000) | 980(1800) | 870(1600) | 870(1600) | 760(1400) |
The above table gives the recommended upper temperature limits for various themrocouples and wire sizes.
These limits apply to protected thermocouples, that is, thermocouples in conventional closed-end protecting tubes