Measuring Temperature
- Updated2024-10-22
- 2 minute(s) read
Measuring Temperature
Using a Thermocouple to Measure
Temperature
A popular way to measure temperature with a DAQ device is to use a thermocouple, as shown in the following figure, because thermocouples are inexpensive, easy to use, and easy to obtain. Thermocouples produce a voltage that varies based on temperature. Using a thermocouple, you can measure a voltage and use a formula to convert the voltage measurement to temperature.
The typical wiring for a thermocouple, as shown in the following figure, uses a resistor, R, only if the thermocouple is not grounded at any other point. If, for example, the thermocouple tip were already grounded, using a resistor would cause a ground loop and result in erroneous readings.
You also can measure temperature using Resistance Temperature Detectors (RTD) and Thermistors.