The Surface Temperature Thermocouple with Miniature Copper Pad is designed for use in R&D and Testing of Heat Exchangers, Radiators, HVAC, PCBA's and other temperature testing applications requiring a small foot print. The sensor is made in the USA with superior materials, designed to withstand even the most rigorous testing conditions.
Typical temperature measurement applications are, but not limited to:
- Liquid cooled radiator assemblies such as tubes, tanks and fins.
- Heat exchanger elements
- HVAC Condensers
- Forced air ducting
- Bearings and guide ways
- Printed circuit board assemblies (PCBA)
The Surface Temperature Thermocouple with Miniature Copper Pad is designed to deliver high performance temperature measurements, reliably and consistently. These temperature sensors are designed for research and development, test labs, manufacturing, engineering and production environments. They can be customized for OEM applications as well.
- - Fast Response
- - Type J, K or T Thermocouple
- - 30 AWG PTFE Insulated Conductors, Solid Core
- - Glue Copper Pad to Surface
- - Grounded Junction
- - Comes Standard with a 10-Foot Cable
- - Made in USA
| Thermocouple Type: | J, K, or T |
| Special Limits of Error Accuracy : | ± 0.4% of reading |
| Copper Pad Dimensions : | 2.1mm x 2.4mm, 0.5mm thick |
| Response Time : | 500 milliseconds |
Type J, K or T Thermocouple
SKU: CPTC-120-X-N
We can quickly provide application information, pricing and delivery of these products. Our sales engineers are available to answer your temperature sensor application questions and to help find the right product for you.
Contact us TODAY!
Call 856-727-0250 or e-mail us tempsensors@alliancesensors.com
Download Miniature Copper Pad Thermocouple DatasheetThe miniature copper pad surface thermocouple combines a small-area copper heat-spreading pad with an integrated Type K thermocouple junction, providing a surface temperature sensor that measures temperature over a defined area rather than at a single point.
Copper’s high thermal conductivity—approximately 400 W/m·K—allows the pad to rapidly respond to local surface temperature and helps create a more uniform temperature distribution across the sensing area. This reduces sensitivity to the exact placement of the thermocouple junction and improves measurement consistency.
When a Copper Pad Is Preferred Over a Direct Contact Junction
On surfaces with significant temperature gradients—such as heat sink fins or engine components—a point-contact thermocouple can produce readings that vary depending on its exact placement.
A miniature copper pad averages the temperature across its footprint, providing a more representative measurement of the area being monitored and improving repeatability between installations.
The tradeoff is slightly slower response compared to a bare-junction thermocouple, as the pad must reach thermal equilibrium before accurately reflecting the surface temperature.
Typical Applications
The miniature copper pad thermocouple is commonly used in applications such as:
Heat sink monitoring
PCB hot spot detection
Battery pack temperature measurement
Surface temperature mapping during thermal testing
In motorsport applications, copper pad sensors are also used to measure brake caliper and rotor surface temperatures, where a direct-contact junction may be susceptible to mechanical damage from vibration and debris.
