Type S thermocouple

Type S Thermocouples

For Superior Temperature Accuracy at High Temperatures

The best thermocouple for high-fire applications is a Type S platinum thermocouple. This is suitable for temperatures from Cone 8 to Cone 10. It should have an alumina sheath.
Recommended for very extreme conditions (like firing crystalline glazes) due to its high cost. Use it if the value or precision of your work is important. You may not want to risk thermocouple drift.

Type S thermocouples are composed of a positive leg which is 90% platinum and 10% Rhodium, and a negative leg which is 100% platinum.
It is usable from 32°F to 2700°F. (0°C to 1480°C).
It has a different EMF output than Type K thermocouples (meaning the same temperature will produce different voltages to the control which must then be interpreted differently).
That different scale requires both a simple hardware configuration change and a software change to take effect so it can not be done inadvertently.
At temperatures used in pottery kilns (even the highest 2350°F) these thermocouples can last for a very long time (as long as they are not mechanically broken).

This is not a retrofittable option on DynaTrols used before Jan 1, 2006.
On the 700 DynaTrol boards or Genesis control it is possible to switch from Type K to Type S with a programming change and a jumper change.
You MUST also change the thermocouple extension wire from Type K wire to Type S wire.

If you have a Type S thermocouple or are retrofitting an older kiln with a Type S thermocouple the control must be configured for use with Type S thermocouples. If not the kiln could seriously overfire and meltdown. See this for more information...