From: RWolf99@aol.com
Message-ID: <4a.a461a7a.26ddfd7d@aol.com>
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2000 02:02:37 EDT
Subject: Thermocouple Connectors
To: lancair.list@olsusa.com
Reply-To: lancair.list@olsusa.com
Mime-Version: 1.0

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Thermocouple connectors are readily available from Omega Engineering.  This 
URL is for the thermocouple connector section of their catalog.  They are not 
that expensive, if memory serves.

http://www.omega.com/toc_asp/section.asp?book=temperature&section=g

While these don't have a positive lock feature, my experience is that they 
have plenty of retention force.  I wouldn't waste my time conjuring up some 
safety wire or other locking feature -- it's not necessary and, frankly, not 
a flight safety issue if your OAT gauge craps out in flight due to a 
disconnected connector.

Make sure you get the right thermocouple material for the connector -- 
whether Type J or Type K.  (The connector has to match the type of 
thermocouple you're using.)  Also, take care to use the proper terminals on 
the connector.  Chromel-wire-to-chromel-terminal and 
alumel-wire-to-alumel-terminal for the Type K, and similarly iron-to-iron and 
constantan-to-constantan for Type J.  The connectors can only be plugged in 
one way since one spade is wider than the other.  You do need to run 
thermocouple wire from the connector to the electronic box as well, but 
there's no need to buy special thermocouple wire since you can just splice 
the connector into the existing thermocouple wire wherever you wish (assuming 
it's long enough to reach all the way from the sensor to the electronic box.)

- Rob Wolf
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