| Thermocouple Standards and Color Codes |
| United States and International Color Coding |
| Standard ANSI color coding (United States) is used on all insulated thermocouple wire and extension wire when type of insulation permits. In color coding, Watlow Gordon reserves the right to include a tracer to identify the ANSI type. Thermocouple grade wire normally has a brown overall jacket. For Types B, R and S the color codes relate to the compensating cable normally used. Additionally, various national and international standard agencies have adapted color codes for the identification of thermocouple wire and products. These generally differ from those used by ANSI. |
| International Standards |
|
Country |
National Standard |
Calibrations |
| USA Germany Japan United Kingdom France |
ANSI MC96-1-82 DIN 43710 JIS C1602 BS 4937 NF C42-321 |
E, J,
K, T E, J, K, T E, J, K, T E, J, K, T E, J, K, T |
| Italy IEC |
CTI-UNI 7938 584-1:1977 | E, J,
K, T E, J, K, T |
| Thermocouple and Extension Wire Color Codes |
| Overall/Positive (+)/Negative (-) |
| T/C Type | ANSI MC96.1 T/C | ANSI MC96.1 Extension | UK BS 1843 | Germany DIN 43714 | Japan JIS C1610-1981 | France NF C42-323 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B(overall) BP BN |
--- --- --- |
Grey +Grey -Red |
--- --- --- |
Grey +Red -Grey |
Grey +Red -White |
--- --- --- |
| E(overall) EP EN |
Brown +Purple -Red |
Purple +Purple -Red |
Brown +Brown -Blue |
Black +Red -Black |
Purple +Red -White |
--- --- --- |
| J(overall) JP JN |
Brown +White -Red |
Black +White -Red |
Black +Yellow -Blue |
Blue +Red -Blue |
Yellow +Red -White |
Black +Yellow -Black |
| K(overall) KP KN |
Brown +Yellow -Red |
Yellow +Yellow -Red |
Red +Brown -Blue |
Green +Red -Green |
Blue +Red -White |
Yellow +Yellow -Purple |
| N(overall) NP NN |
Brown +Orange -Red |
Orange +Orange -Red |
--- --- --- |
--- --- --- |
--- --- --- |
--- --- --- |
| R(overall) RP RN |
--- --- --- |
Green +Black -Red |
Green +White -Blue |
--- --- --- |
Black +Red -White |
--- --- --- |
| S(overall) SP SN |
--- --- --- |
Green +Black -Red |
Green +White -Blue |
White +Red -White |
Black +Red -White |
Green +Yellow -Green |
| T(overall) TP TN |
Brown +Blue -Red |
Blue +Blue -Red |
Blue +White -Blue |
Brown +Red -Brown |
Brown +Red -White |
Blue +Yellow -Blue |
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