- Joined
- Mar 12, 2006
- Messages
- 2,264
Well the most common type used for this sort of thing (good for about 2000F) is known as a Type K. There are others that go higher, but they are much, much more expensive as a rule and most controllers aren't going much higher anyway.
If you are using your forge as a HT oven (which I don't particularly recommend) you should make the thermocouple removable so that if you use your forge for welding, you don't have to subject the probe to that kind of abuse (temps will be out of range anyway).
I usually just order the stuff from Southeastern Heaters (a Watlow dealer). I've always had great customer service from them. They can make thermocouplers custom if you want. I usually get them much longer than needed and bend them 90 degrees (you can do that by hand) around the top third of the length. I do this to keep the heat well away from the most vulnerable part of the thermocouple, the top (where the wires come out). I've noticed that if this area is exposed to heat over time, the TC fails there first. Getting a longer or custom TC isn't much more than a short, off-the-shelf one.
If you are using your forge as a HT oven (which I don't particularly recommend) you should make the thermocouple removable so that if you use your forge for welding, you don't have to subject the probe to that kind of abuse (temps will be out of range anyway).
I usually just order the stuff from Southeastern Heaters (a Watlow dealer). I've always had great customer service from them. They can make thermocouplers custom if you want. I usually get them much longer than needed and bend them 90 degrees (you can do that by hand) around the top third of the length. I do this to keep the heat well away from the most vulnerable part of the thermocouple, the top (where the wires come out). I've noticed that if this area is exposed to heat over time, the TC fails there first. Getting a longer or custom TC isn't much more than a short, off-the-shelf one.