Inexpensive thermocouple for DIY reflow oven? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: UltraTrunks
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2014, 04:16:38 am
content: I may be under the wrong impression here, but I'm assuming that thermocouples should, or at least could be a very inexpensive part. I'm building a reflow oven but I can't seem to find a part under $15. Here's thecheapestI've found that will meet the temperature requirements. That'll be the most expensive part in the project. And I'm including the toaster oven cost as well.Am I looking in the wrong place, or are thermocouples just expensive?

author: Alex Eisenhut
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2014, 04:24:23 am
content: eBay

author: UltraTrunks
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2014, 04:35:13 am
content: God I hate eBay, but I see there are some cheap thermocouples there. I never really think to look on ebay for parts. I guess it'll do. Curious as to why you can't find reasonably priced thermocouples from the standard resellers like Digi-Key?

author: Jimmy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2014, 04:35:54 am
content: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/2M-50mm-Spade-K-Type-Temperature-Controller-Thermocouple-Sensor-100-C-to-1250-C-/121192321893?pt=AU_B_I_Electrical_Test_Equipment&hash=item1c37a01365&_uhb=1

author: UltraTrunks
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2014, 04:43:41 am
content: I guess I need to widen my net a bit when parts hunting to beyond the stardard parts places (eg Mouser, Digikey). Looks like I found what I need on Amazon. More comfortable shopping on Amazon than eBay any how.http://www.amazon.com/Type-Thermocouple-0-250C-Digital-Thermometer/dp/B005CG2W3U/ref=pd_sim_indust_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=0A19RF79Z1X0FEGFCNCD

author: charlespax
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2014, 05:02:05 am
content: Here's astainless steel probetype on dealextreme. They have worked just fine for me, but I have received a broken one once. Maybe a 10% failure rate.

author: Alex Eisenhut
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2014, 05:18:02 am
content: Quote from: UltraTrunks on August 25, 2014, 04:43:41 amGood. As long as your horizon has widened. There's a lot of stuff out there!Just as an example, I wanted to "exercise" rc airplane servos without the radio and receiver.Just a few seconds on eBay and I found thishttp://www.ebay.com/itm/221456290122?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AITHow can you possibly compete with that? There's a PCB, an enclosure, a pot, LEDs, a switch, connectors and a microcontroller.I'd spend more money just to eat the food to give my brain the calories to think about designing it myself!Nowadays when I think I need "x", I look on eBay first.

author: jeremy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2014, 06:03:13 am
content: All you pay for with thermocouples (in my experience) is their cal and material purity. If you're putting this thing on a smelter full of platinum, spending $100 makes sensebut for just a home reflow oven the eBay ones are perfectly fine. A few degrees error is probably less than the error caused by uneven heating.