Changes in the ambient air temperature near the front connector or a thermocouple wire conducting heat directly to terminal junctions can cause thermal gradients. Observe the following guidelines to minimize thermal gradients and improve the system accuracy.
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Use small-gauge thermocouple wire. Smaller wire transfers less heat to or from the terminal junction.
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Run thermocouple wiring together to keep the wires at the same temperature.
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Avoid running thermocouple wires near hot or cold objects.
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Minimize adjacent heat sources and air flow across the terminals.
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Keep the ambient temperature as stable as possible.
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Make sure the FieldDAQ device terminals are facing forward or upward.
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Keep the FieldDAQ device in a stable and consistent orientation.
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Allow the thermal gradients to settle after a change in system power or in ambient temperature. A change in system power can happen when the system powers on, or you add or remove devices from a network topology.
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Allow the thermal gradients to settle after plugging or unplugging the mini-TC plugs.