ANSI and IEC Color Codes†

for Thermocouples, Wire and Connectors

All OMEGA® Thermocouple Wire, Probes and Connectors are available with either ANSI or IEC Color Codes. In this Handbook,
model numbers in the To Order tables reflect the ANSI Color-Coded Product. Please see the previous pages for instructions on
how to order IEC Color-Coded products.

Connectors Connectors
ANSI MC 96.1 Maximum EMF (mV) IEC 584-3
ANSI Color Coding Alloy Combination Comments T/C Grade Over Max Color Coding IEC
Code Thermocouple Extension
Environment Temp Temp Thermocouple Intrinsically Code
Grade Grade + Lead – Lead Bare Wire Range Range Grade Safe
Reducing, Vacuum,
+ + Inert. Limited Use + +

J J
IRON CONSTANTAN
– Fe COPPER- in Oxidizing at High –
– Temperatures. –210 to 1200°C –8.095 to –
(magnetic) NICKEL Not Recommended for –346 to 2193°F 69.553
Cu-Ni Low Temperatures.

ALOMEGA
®
Clean Oxidizing and Inert.
+ + CHROMEGA
®
+ +

K K
Limited Use in Vacuum
NICKEL- NICKEL-
– – ALUMINUM
or Reducing. Wide –270 to 1372°C –6.458 to – –
CHROMIUM Temperature
Ni-AI Range, Most Popular –454 to 2501°F 54.886
Ni-Cr
(magnetic)
H
Calibration

Mild Oxidizing,
+ + + +

T T
CONSTANTAN Reducing Vacuum or
– – COPPER COPPER- Inert. Good Where –270 to 400°C –6.258 to – –
Cu Moisture Is Present. Low
NICKEL Temperature & Cryogenic –454 to 752°F 20.872
Cu–Ni Applications

+ + CHROMEGA® Oxidizing or Inert. + +

E E
CONSTANTAN Limited Use in Vacuum or –270 to 1000°C –9.835 to
– – NICKEL- COPPER- Reducing. Highest EMF –454 to 1832°F 76.373
– –
CHROMIUM NICKEL Change
Ni-Cr Cu-Ni Per Degree

+ + Alternative + +

N N
OMEGA-P® OMEGA-N® to Type K. –270 to 1300°C –4.345
– – NICROSIL – –
NISIL More Stable –450 to 2372°F to 47.513
Ni-Cr-Si Ni-Si-Mg at High Temps

Oxidizing or Inert.
+ + +

R R
Do Not Insert in Metal
NONE PLATINUM- Platinum Tubes. Beware of –50 to 1768°C –0.226 – –
– 13% RHODIUM Pt Contamination.
ESTABLISHED High Temperature
–58 to 3214°F to 21.101
Pt-13% Rh

Oxidizing or Inert.
+ + +

S S
Do Not Insert in Metal
NONE PLATINUM- Platinum Tubes. Beware of
– 10% RHODIUM –50 to 1768°C –0.236 – –
ESTABLISHED Pt Contamination.
–58 to 3214°F
High Temperature to 18.693
Pt-10% Rh

Extension Grade
+ + +

U U
NONE COPPER-LOW Connecting Wire for
ESTABLISHED – COPPER R & S Thermocouples, – –
Cu NICKEL Also Known as RX & SX
Cu-Ni Extension Wire.

Oxidizing or Inert.
+ + +

B B
Do Not Insert in Metal
NONE – PLATINUM- Platinum- Tubes. Beware of – –
Contamination. 0 to 1820°C 0 to 13.820
ESTABLISHED 30% RHODIUM 6% RHODIUM
High Temp. Common Use 32 to 3308°F
Pt-30% Rh Pt-6% Rh in Glass Industry

G*
Vacuum, Inert, Hydrogen.
NONE
ESTABLISHED
+
– TUNGSTEN
W
TUNGSTEN-
26% RHENIUM
Beware of Embrittlement.
Not Practical Below
399°C (750°F). 0 to 2320°C 0 to 38.564
NO STANDARD
USE ANSI
COLOR CODE
G
(W) W-26% Re
Not for Oxidizing
Atmosphere
32 to 4208°F
(W)

C* C
Vacuum, Inert, Hydrogen.
NONE + TUNGSTEN- TUNGSTEN- Beware of Embrittlement. NO STANDARD
– 5% RHENIUM 26% RHENIUM Not Practical Below 0 to 2320°C USE ANSI
ESTABLISHED 399°C (750°F) 32 to 4208°F 0 to 37.066
W-5% Re W-26% Re COLOR CODE
(W5) Not for Oxidizing
Atmosphere (W5)

D* D
Vacuum, Inert, Hydrogen.
+ TUNGSTEN- TUNGSTEN- Beware of Embrittlement. NO STANDARD
NONE Not Practical Below 0 to 2320°C USE ANSI
– 3% RHENIUM 25% RHENIUM 399°C (750°F)–Not for
ESTABLISHED W-3% Re W-25% Re 32 to 4208°F 0 to 39.506 COLOR CODE
(W3) Oxidizing Atmosphere
(W3)
* Not official symbol or standard designation †
JIS color code also available. See page A-9 for details.

H-1
Thermocouple Tolerances
(Reference Junction at 0°C)
American Limits of Error ASTM E230-ANSI MC 96.1
ANSI Code Standard Limits† Special Limits†
Temp Range >0 to 750°C >32 to 1382°F 0 to 750°C 32 to 1382°F
Tolerance Value 2.2°C or 0.75% 4.0°F or 0.75% 1.1°C or 0.4% 2.0°F or 0.4%
Temp Range >0 to 1250°C >32 to 2282°F 0 to 1250°C 32 to 2282°F
Tolerance Value 2.2°C or 0.75% 4.0°F or 0.75% 1.1°C or 0.4% 2.0°F or 0.4%
Temp. Range* -200 to 0°C -328 to 32°F
Tolerance Value 2.2°C or 2.0% 4.0°F or 2.0%
Temp Range >0 to 350°C >32 to 662°F 0 to 350°C 32 to 662°F
Tolerance Value 1.0°C or 0.75% 1.8°F or 0.75% 0.5°C or 0.4% 1°F or 0.4%
Temp. Range* -200 to 0°C -328 to 32°F
Tolerance Value 1.0°C or 1.5% 1.8°F or 1.5%
Temp Range >0 to 900°C >32 to 1652 0 to 900°C 32 to 1652°F
Tolerance Value 1.7°C or 0.5% 3°F or 0.5% 1.0°C or 0.4% 1.8°F or 0.4%
Temp. Range* -200 to 0°C -328 to 32°F
Tolerance Value 1.7°C or 1.0% 3°F or 1.0%
Temp Range >0 to 1300°C >32 to 2372°F 0 to 1300°C 32 to 2372°F
Tolerance Value 2.2°C or 0.75% 4.0°F or 0.75% 1.1°C or 0.4% 2.0°F or 0.4%
Temp. Range* -270 to 0°C -454 to 32°F
Tolerance Value 2.2°C or 2.0% 4.0°F or 2.0%

Temp Range 0 to 1450°C 32 to 2642°F 0 to 1450°C 32 to 2642°F

Tolerance Value 1.5°C or 0.25% 2.7°F or 0.25% 0.6°C or 0.1% 1°F or 0.1%
Temp Range 800 to 1700°C 1472 to 3092°F Not
Tolerance Value 0.5% 0.9°F Established
Temp Range 0 to 2320°C 32 to 4208°F Not
Tolerance Value 4.5°C or 1.0% 0.9°F Established
* Not official symbol or standard designation †
Whichever value is greater.
Note: Material is normally selected to meet tolerances above 0°C. If thermocouples are needed to meet tolerances below 0°C, the purchaser
shall state this as selection of material is usually required.

IEC Tolerance Class EN 60584-2; JIS C 1602

IEC Code Class 1 Class 2 Class 3†
Temp Range -40 to 375°C -40 to 333°C



J Tolerance Value
Temp. Range
Tolerance Value
±1.5°C
375 to 750°C
±0.4% Reading
±2.5°C
333 to 750°C
±0.75% Reading
Not
Established

KN Temp Range
Tolerance Value
Temp. Range
-40 to 375°C
±1.5°C
375 to 1000°C
-40 to 333°C
±2.5°C
333 to 1200°C
-167 to 40°C
±2.5°C
-200 to -167°C
Tolerance Value ±0.4% ±0.75% Reading ±1.5% Reading

T
Temp Range -40 to 125°C -40 to 133°C -67 to 40°C
Tolerance Value ±0.5°C ±1°C ±1°C
Temp. Range 125 to 350°C 133 to 350°C -200 to -67°C
Tolerance Value ±0.4% Reading ±0.75% Reading ±1.5% Reading



E Temp Range
Tolerance Value
Temp. Range
-40 to 375°C
±1.5°C
375 to 800°C
-40 to 333°C
±2.5°C
333 to 900°C
-167 to 40°C
±2.5°C
-200 to -167°C
Tolerance Value ±0.4% Reading ±0.75% Reading ±1.5% Reading



RS Temp Range
Tolerance Value
Temp. Range
0 to 1100°C
±1°C
1100 to 1600°C
0 to 600°C
±1.5°C
600 to 1600°C
Not
Established
Tolerance Value ±[1 + 0.3% x (Rdg-1100)]°C ±0.25% Reading
Temp Range 600 to 800°C
Tolerance Value Not +4°C
Temp. Range Established 600 to 1700°C 800 to 1700°C
Tolerance Value ±0.25% Reading ±0.5% Reading
†
Material is normally selected to meet tolerances above -40°C. If thermocouples are needed to meet limits of Class 3, as well as those
of Class 1 or 2, the purchaser shall state this, as selection of material is usually required.

H-2