Thermocouples ~ Wire Color and Temperature Ranges

Thermocouple Ranges and USA Color Coding from Anderson-Bolds

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Thermocouple Type Wire Colors

Type K Thermocouple

• Thermocouple grade wire, –454 to 2,300F (–270 to 1260C)
• Extension wire, 32 to 392F (0 to 200C)
  Color coded Wires: Yellow and Red

Nickel-Chromium / Nickel-Alumel

The type K is the most common type of thermocouple. It’s inexpensive, accurate, reliable, and has a wide temperature range.

Type J Thermocouple

• Thermocouple grade wire, -346 to 1,400F (-210 to –760C)
• Extension wire, 32 to 392F (0 to 200C)
  Color coded Wires: White and Red

Iron/Constantan

The type J is also very common. It has a smaller temperature range and a shorter lifespan at higher temperatures than the Type K. It is equivalent to the Type K in terms of expense and reliability. 

Type T Thermocouple

• Thermocouple grade wire, -454 to 700F (-270 to 370C)
• Extension wire, 32 to 392F (0 to 200C)

      Color coded Wires: Blue and Red
Copper/Constantan
The Type T is a very stable thermocouple and is often used in extremely low temperature applications such as cryogenics or ultra low freezers.


Type E   Thermocouple

• Thermocouple grade wire, -454 to 1600F (-270 to 870C)
• Extension wire, 32 to 392F (0 to 200C)
  Color coded Wires: Purple and Red

Nickel-Chromium/Constantan

The Type E has a stronger signal & higher accuracy than the Type K or Type J at moderate temperature ranges of 1,000F and lower. See temperature chart (linked) for details. 

Type N Thermocouple

• Thermocouple grade wire, -454 to 2300F (-270 to 392C)
• Extension wire, 32 to 392F (0 to 200C)
  Color coded Wires: Orange and Red

Nicrosil / Nisil

The Type N shares the same accuracy and temperature limits as the Type K. The type N is slightly more expensive. 

Type S Thermocouple 

• Thermocouple grade wire, -58 to 2700F (-50 to 1480C)
• Extension wire, 32 to 392F (0 to 200C)
  Color coded Wires: Not Established in the USA

Platinum Rhodium - 10% / Platinum

The Type S is used in very high temperature applications. It is commonly found in the BioTech and Pharmaceutical industries. It is sometimes used in lower temperature applications because of its high accuracy and stability.

Type R Thermocouple

• Thermocouple grade wire, -58 to 2700F (-50 to 1480C)
• Extension wire, 32 to 392F (0 to 200C)
  Color coded Wires: Not Established in the USA

Platinum Rhodium -13% / Platinum

The Type R is used in very high temperature applications. It has a higher percentage of Rhodium than the Type S, which makes it more expensive. The Type R is very similar to the Type S in terms of performance. It is sometimes used in lower temperature applications because of its high accuracy and stability.

Type B Thermocouple

• Thermocouple grade wire, 32 to 3100F (0 to 1700C)
• Extension wire, 32 to 212F (0 to 100C)

      Color coded Wires: Not Established in the USA

Platinum Rhodium – 30% / Platinum Rhodium – 6%
The Type B thermocouple is used in extremely high temperature applications. It has the highest temperature limit of all of the thermocouples listed above. It maintains a high level of accuracy and stability at very high temperatures.

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