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Thermocouple mV tables (IEC 60584-1)

A thermocouple mV table gives the thermoelectric voltage of a thermocouple in millivolts (mV) at a given temperature according to IEC 60584-1, with the reference junction at 0 °C. A type K thermocouple reads 0.000 mV at 0 °C, 4.096 mV at 100 °C and 41.276 mV at 1,000 °C.

Base-metal thermocouples — types K, J, T, E and N

Find the temperature in the left column (hundreds of degrees) and the top row (tens), then read the thermoelectric voltage in millivolts. Interpolate between adjacent values where required. Every value assumes the reference junction is held at 0 °C. For example, a type K thermocouple reading 8.138 mV corresponds to exactly 200 °C.

The base-metal types cover a broad range of industrial temperature measurement. Each table gives the thermoelectric voltage in millivolts over the type’s full defined range in IEC 60584-1 — for type K, that is −270 °C to 1,300 °C.

Type K thermocouple mV table (IEC 60584-1)
°C+0+10+20+30+40+50+60+70+80+90
-300-6.458-6.441-6.404-6.344-6.262-6.158-6.035
-200-5.891-5.730-5.550-5.354-5.141-4.913-4.669-4.411-4.138-3.852
-100-3.554-3.243-2.920-2.587-2.243-1.889-1.527-1.156-0.778-0.392
00.0000.3970.7981.2031.6122.0232.4362.8513.2673.682
1004.0964.5094.9205.3285.7356.1386.5406.9417.3407.739
2008.1388.5398.9409.3439.74710.15310.56110.97111.38211.795
30012.20912.62413.04013.45713.87414.29314.71315.13315.55415.975
40016.39716.82017.24317.66718.09118.51618.94119.36619.79220.218
50020.64421.07121.49721.92422.35022.77623.20323.62924.05524.480
60024.90525.33025.75526.17926.60227.02527.44727.86928.28928.710
70029.12929.54829.96530.38230.79831.21331.62832.04132.45332.865
80033.27533.68534.09334.50134.90835.31335.71836.12136.52436.925
90037.32637.72538.12438.52238.91839.31439.70840.10140.49440.885
100041.27641.66542.05342.44042.82643.21143.59543.97844.35944.740
110045.11945.49745.87346.24946.62346.99547.36747.73748.10548.473
120048.83849.20249.56549.92650.28650.64451.00051.35551.70852.060
130052.410
Type J thermocouple mV table (IEC 60584-1)
°C+0+10+20+30+40+50+60+70+80+90
-300-8.095
-200-7.890-7.659-7.403-7.123-6.821-6.500-6.159-5.801-5.426-5.037
-100-4.633-4.215-3.786-3.344-2.893-2.431-1.961-1.482-0.995-0.501
00.0000.5071.0191.5372.0592.5853.1163.6504.1874.726
1005.2695.8146.3606.9097.4598.0108.5629.1159.66910.224
20010.77911.33411.88912.44513.00013.55514.11014.66515.21915.773
30016.32716.88117.43417.98618.53819.09019.64220.19420.74521.297
40021.84822.40022.95223.50424.05724.61025.16425.72026.27626.834
50027.39327.95328.51629.08029.64730.21630.78831.36231.93932.519
60033.10233.68934.27934.87335.47036.07136.67537.28437.89638.512
70039.13239.75540.38241.01241.64542.28142.91943.55944.20344.848
80045.49446.14146.78647.43148.07448.71549.35349.98950.62251.251
90051.87752.50053.11953.73554.34754.95655.56156.16456.76357.360
100057.95358.54559.13459.72160.30760.89061.47362.05462.63463.214
110063.79264.37064.94865.52566.10266.67967.25567.83168.40668.980
120069.553
Type T thermocouple mV table (IEC 60584-1)
°C+0+10+20+30+40+50+60+70+80+90
-300-6.258-6.232-6.180-6.105-6.007-5.888-5.753
-200-5.603-5.439-5.261-5.070-4.865-4.648-4.419-4.177-3.923-3.657
-100-3.379-3.089-2.788-2.476-2.153-1.819-1.475-1.121-0.757-0.383
00.0000.3910.7901.1961.6122.0362.4682.9093.3583.814
1004.2794.7505.2285.7146.2066.7047.2097.7208.2378.759
2009.2889.82210.36210.90711.45812.01312.57413.13913.70914.283
30014.86215.44516.03216.62417.21917.81918.42219.03019.64120.255
40020.872
Type E thermocouple mV table (IEC 60584-1)
°C+0+10+20+30+40+50+60+70+80+90
-300-9.835-9.797-9.718-9.604-9.455-9.274-9.063
-200-8.825-8.561-8.273-7.963-7.632-7.279-6.907-6.516-6.107-5.681
-100-5.237-4.777-4.302-3.811-3.306-2.787-2.255-1.709-1.152-0.582
00.0000.5911.1921.8012.4203.0483.6854.3304.9855.648
1006.3196.9987.6858.3799.0819.78910.50311.22411.95112.684
20013.42114.16414.91215.66416.42017.18117.94518.71319.48420.259
30021.03621.81722.60023.38624.17424.96425.75726.55227.34828.146
40028.94629.74730.55031.35432.15932.96533.77234.57935.38736.196
50037.00537.81538.62439.43440.24341.05341.86242.67143.47944.286
60045.09345.90046.70547.50948.31349.11649.91750.71851.51752.315
70053.11253.90854.70355.49756.28957.08057.87058.65959.44660.232
80061.01761.80162.58363.36464.14464.92265.69866.47367.24668.017
90068.78769.55470.31971.08271.84472.60373.36074.11574.86975.621
100076.373
Type N thermocouple mV table (IEC 60584-1)
°C+0+10+20+30+40+50+60+70+80+90
-300-4.345-4.336-4.313-4.277-4.226-4.162-4.083
-200-3.990-3.884-3.766-3.634-3.491-3.336-3.171-2.994-2.808-2.612
-100-2.407-2.193-1.972-1.744-1.509-1.269-1.023-0.772-0.518-0.260
00.0000.2610.5250.7931.0651.3401.6191.9022.1892.480
1002.7743.0723.3743.6803.9894.3024.6184.9375.2595.585
2005.9136.2456.5796.9167.2557.5977.9418.2888.6378.988
3009.3419.69610.05410.41310.77411.13611.50111.86712.23412.603
40012.97413.34613.71914.09414.46914.84615.22515.60415.98416.366
50016.74817.13117.51517.90018.28618.67219.05919.44719.83520.224
60020.61321.00321.39321.78422.17522.56622.95823.35023.74224.134
70024.52724.91925.31225.70526.09826.49126.88327.27627.66928.062
80028.45528.84729.23929.63230.02430.41630.80731.19931.59031.981
90032.37132.76133.15133.54133.93034.31934.70735.09535.48235.869
100036.25636.64137.02737.41137.79538.17938.56238.94439.32639.706
110040.08740.46640.84541.22341.60041.97642.35242.72743.10143.474
120043.84644.21844.58844.95845.32645.69446.06046.42546.78947.152
130047.513

Noble-metal thermocouples — types S, R and B

The platinum-rhodium types are used for high-temperature measurement, and their signals are considerably smaller — type S produces about 0.646 mV at 100 °C, where type K produces 4.096 mV. Type B has a very small output at low temperatures: 0.002 mV at 50 °C. As a result, changes in reference-junction temperature have very little influence on the measurement.

Type S thermocouple mV table (IEC 60584-1)
°C+0+10+20+30+40+50+60+70+80+90
-100-0.236-0.194-0.150-0.103-0.053
00.0000.0550.1130.1730.2350.2990.3650.4330.5020.573
1000.6460.7200.7950.8720.9501.0291.1101.1911.2731.357
2001.4411.5261.6121.6981.7861.8741.9622.0522.1412.232
3002.3232.4152.5072.5992.6922.7862.8802.9743.0693.164
4003.2593.3553.4513.5483.6453.7423.8403.9384.0364.134
5004.2334.3324.4324.5324.6324.7324.8334.9345.0355.137
6005.2395.3415.4435.5465.6495.7535.8575.9616.0656.170
7006.2756.3816.4866.5936.6996.8066.9137.0207.1287.236
8007.3457.4547.5637.6737.7837.8938.0038.1148.2268.337
9008.4498.5628.6748.7878.9009.0149.1289.2429.3579.472
10009.5879.7039.8199.93510.05110.16810.28510.40310.52010.638
110010.75710.87510.99411.11311.23211.35111.47111.59011.71011.830
120011.95112.07112.19112.31212.43312.55412.67512.79612.91713.038
130013.15913.28013.40213.52313.64413.76613.88714.00914.13014.251
140014.37314.49414.61514.73614.85714.97815.09915.22015.34115.461
150015.58215.70215.82215.94216.06216.18216.30116.42016.53916.658
160016.77716.89517.01317.13117.24917.36617.48317.60017.71717.832
170017.94718.06118.17418.28518.39518.50318.609
Type R thermocouple mV table (IEC 60584-1)
°C+0+10+20+30+40+50+60+70+80+90
-100-0.226-0.188-0.145-0.100-0.051
00.0000.0540.1110.1710.2320.2960.3630.4310.5010.573
1000.6470.7230.8000.8790.9591.0411.1241.2081.2941.381
2001.4691.5581.6481.7391.8311.9232.0172.1122.2072.304
3002.4012.4982.5972.6962.7962.8962.9973.0993.2013.304
4003.4083.5123.6163.7213.8273.9334.0404.1474.2554.363
5004.4714.5804.6904.8004.9105.0215.1335.2455.3575.470
6005.5835.6975.8125.9266.0416.1576.2736.3906.5076.625
7006.7436.8616.9807.1007.2207.3407.4617.5837.7057.827
8007.9508.0738.1978.3218.4468.5718.6978.8238.9509.077
9009.2059.3339.4619.5909.7209.8509.98010.11110.24210.374
100010.50610.63810.77110.90511.03911.17311.30711.44211.57811.714
110011.85011.98612.12312.26012.39712.53512.67312.81212.95013.089
120013.22813.36713.50713.64613.78613.92614.06614.20714.34714.488
130014.62914.77014.91115.05215.19315.33415.47515.61615.75815.899
140016.04016.18116.32316.46416.60516.74616.88717.02817.16917.310
150017.45117.59117.73217.87218.01218.15218.29218.43118.57118.710
160018.84918.98819.12619.26419.40219.54019.67719.81419.95120.087
170020.22220.35620.48820.62020.74920.87721.003
Type B thermocouple mV table (IEC 60584-1)
°C+0+10+20+30+40+50+60+70+80+90
00.000-0.002-0.003-0.002-0.0000.0020.0060.0110.0170.025
1000.0330.0430.0530.0650.0780.0920.1070.1230.1410.159
2000.1780.1990.2200.2430.2670.2910.3170.3440.3720.401
3000.4310.4620.4940.5270.5610.5960.6320.6690.7070.746
4000.7870.8280.8700.9130.9571.0021.0481.0951.1431.192
5001.2421.2931.3441.3971.4511.5051.5611.6171.6751.733
6001.7921.8521.9131.9752.0372.1012.1652.2302.2962.363
7002.4312.4992.5692.6392.7102.7822.8542.9283.0023.078
8003.1543.2303.3083.3863.4663.5463.6263.7083.7903.873
9003.9574.0414.1274.2134.2994.3874.4754.5644.6534.743
10004.8344.9265.0185.1115.2055.2995.3945.4895.5855.682
11005.7805.8785.9766.0756.1756.2766.3776.4786.5806.683
12006.7866.8906.9957.1007.2057.3117.4177.5247.6327.740
13007.8487.9578.0668.1768.2868.3978.5088.6208.7318.844
14008.9569.0699.1829.2969.4109.5249.6399.7539.8689.984
150010.09910.21510.33110.44710.56310.67910.79610.91311.02911.146
160011.26311.38011.49711.61411.73111.84811.96512.08212.19912.316
170012.43312.54912.66612.78212.89813.01413.13013.24613.36113.476
180013.59113.70613.820

The reference functions behind the tables

In a working installation, the instrument measures the thermocouple voltage and its own terminal temperature, applies cold-junction compensation and converts the result to temperature using the reference functions. The tables are useful when you have a voltmeter reading, a data sheet or a calibration certificate and need to make the conversion yourself.

Every value in the tables comes from the reference functions defined in IEC 60584-1: polynomials in temperature, fitted per type and per range — type K adds an exponential term above 0 °C. The functions are what a modern instrument evaluates when it converts voltage to temperature, and the tables are those functions written out at 10 °C intervals. Temperatures in IEC 60584-1 are expressed on the International Temperature Scale of 1990 (ITS-90).

The tables show the nominal curve

The tables are the nominal IEC 60584-1 characteristic — the curve a thermocouple is built to follow. A real thermocouple deviates from it within its tolerance class: for a type K in class 2, up to ±2.5 °C below 333 °C and ±0.0075 · t above. The classes and their formulas for every type are covered under Thermocouple tolerance classes.

Frequently asked questions

What is a thermocouple mV table?

A reference table that lists the thermoelectric voltage a thermocouple produces at each temperature, according to IEC 60584-1, with the reference junction at 0 °C. Types B, E, J, K, N, R, S and T each have their own table.

What voltage does a type K thermocouple produce?

0.000 mV at 0 °C, 4.096 mV at 100 °C and 41.276 mV at 1,000 °C, with the reference junction at 0 °C — roughly 41 µV per °C over most of the range.

What is cold-junction compensation?

A thermocouple measures the temperature difference between its measuring junction and its reference junction. The tables assume the reference junction is at 0 °C. In a working installation, the reference junction is at the instrument terminals, so the instrument measures the terminal temperature and uses it to compensate the thermocouple reading. This is cold-junction compensation.

How do I convert thermocouple mV to temperature?

Find the measured voltage in the table for your thermocouple type and read the corresponding temperature, interpolating between adjacent values where required. Instruments and transmitters perform the same conversion automatically using the IEC 60584-1 reference functions.

Why does a type B thermocouple read almost zero at room temperature?

Type B produces only 0.002 mV at 50 °C, giving it a very small output at low temperatures. Changes in reference-junction temperature therefore have very little influence on the measurement, which is useful at the high temperatures for which type B is used.

What is the difference between IEC 60584-1 and IEC 60584-3?

IEC 60584-1 defines the reference functions and tolerance classes used for the thermocouple mV tables on this page. IEC 60584-3 specifies requirements, tolerances and identification for extension and compensating cables, including their colour identification.

Related

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