PT100 air probe, high temperature, 1 m

The Pico SE018 PT100 High-Temperature Air Probe, 1 m is designed for engineers, laboratories, thermal-test teams and research applications that require reliable measurement of air temperatures beyond the operating range of standard general-purpose PT100 probes.

Pico Technology describes the SE018 as a platinum resistance thermometer probe with a tip rated to +500 °C for measuring air temperature.

Its key specifications include:

• Order Code: SE018
• Sensor Type: PT100 platinum resistance thermometer
• Probe Type: High-temperature air probe
• Accuracy Class: Class B
• Accuracy at 0 °C: ±0.3 °C
• Temperature Range: −60 °C to +500 °C
• Probe Length: 150 mm
• Probe Diameter: 4 mm
• Cable Length: 1 m coiled
• Probe Material: Stainless steel
• Cable Material: PVC
• Number of Wires: 4
• Connector: 4-pin mini-DIN
• Handle: Yes

High-Temperature Air Measurement up to +500 °C

The main advantage of the SE018 is its ability to measure air temperatures up to:

• +500 °C

Its complete manufacturer-specified measurement range is:

• −60 °C to +500 °C

This makes the SE018 suitable for applications where air temperatures exceed the +250 °C limit of Pico's SE017 fast-response Class A air probe.

Typical measurement environments can include:

• High-temperature air testing
• Laboratory heating experiments
• Thermal chambers
• Heated-air systems
• Industrial thermal testing
• Oven and furnace air monitoring
• Product thermal validation
• R&D temperature experiments
• High-temperature equipment testing

Important +500 °C Probe-Tip Rating

Pico specifically states that the probe tip is rated to +500 °C.

This distinction is important because the SE018 uses a PVC cable. The +500 °C rating should therefore not be interpreted as permission to expose the entire cable, connector or handle assembly to +500 °C.

For high-temperature measurements:

• Position the stainless-steel sensing probe in the hot air region
• Keep the PVC cable away from excessive heat
• Avoid placing the connector in the high-temperature zone
• Route the lead so that cable temperatures remain appropriate for its material
• Consider the complete installation environment, not only the sensor-tip temperature

This is especially important when the probe is used near furnaces, ovens or heated test chambers.

Class B PT100 Accuracy

The SE018 uses a Class B PT100 sensing element.

Pico specifies:

• Accuracy Class: Class B
• Accuracy at 0 °C: ±0.3 °C

Class B accuracy is suitable for many general engineering and high-temperature air-measurement applications.

For applications requiring tighter temperature accuracy at lower temperatures, a Class A probe such as the Pico SE017 may be more suitable.

Designed Specifically for Air Temperature

The SE018 is specifically intended for:

• Air-temperature measurement

It should therefore be positioned as a high-temperature air probe rather than as a general immersion or insertion sensor.

Pico provides separate sensor designs for other physical measurement methods, including:

• SE014 immersion probe
• SE015 insertion probe
• SE016 heavy-duty insertion probe
• SE011 general-purpose probe

Selecting the appropriate probe type helps ensure that the sensor construction matches the measurement environment.

150 mm Stainless-Steel Probe

The SE018 uses a stainless-steel sensing probe with dimensions of:

• Probe length: 150 mm
• Probe diameter: 4 mm

The longer 150 mm stem allows the sensing section to be positioned within a heated air stream while helping maintain separation between the hot measurement area and the cable connection.

Stainless-Steel Probe Construction

Pico specifies:

• Probe material: Stainless steel

The stainless-steel sensing stem provides the physical structure required for high-temperature air measurements within the manufacturer's stated operating range.

Using the exact material specification is more useful than broad descriptions such as “durable construction” or “industrial grade.”

1 m Coiled Cable

The SE018 includes:

• Cable length: 1 metre
• Cable configuration: Coiled

The coiled construction provides flexible positioning between the measurement point and the connected temperature logger while keeping excess cable more manageable on a test bench.

PVC Cable Construction

Pico specifies:

• Cable material: PVC

Because PVC is not intended for exposure to the same extreme temperature as the +500 °C sensor tip, care must be taken when routing the cable in high-temperature test environments.

The cable should be positioned outside the hottest measurement zone whenever possible.

Four-Wire PT100 Connection

The SE018 uses a:

• 4-wire configuration

PT100 temperature measurement is based on the electrical resistance of the platinum sensing element. Resistance in the connecting cable can add measurement error if it is not compensated.

A four-wire measurement system allows compatible instrumentation to compensate for lead resistance, improving the accuracy of the measured sensor resistance.

This makes the probe well suited to high-resolution PRT measurement equipment such as the Pico PT-104.

4-Pin Mini-DIN Connector

The SE018 is fitted with a:

• 4-pin mini-DIN connector

This provides direct connection to compatible Pico PRT data-logging equipment.

The connector specification should remain separate from the DIN accuracy terminology used for some other PT100 sensors.

For SE018:

• Accuracy classification: Class B
• Physical connector: 4-pin mini-DIN

Integrated Handle

Pico specifies:

• Handle: Yes

The handle allows the probe to be positioned more conveniently during air-temperature measurements.

This can be useful in:

• Laboratory experiments
• Heated-air testing
• Thermal chamber setup
• R&D measurements
• Equipment validation

Recommended for Pico PT-104

Pico Technology lists the SE018 as a recommended accessory for the PT-104 High-Accuracy Temperature Data Logger.

The PT-104 provides:

• Four PRT measurement channels
• PT100 and PT1000 support
• High-resolution temperature logging
• USB and Ethernet connectivity

Up to four SE018 probes can therefore be connected directly to one PT-104 for multi-point high-temperature air monitoring.

Typical PT-104 and SE018 applications include:

• Multi-point hot-air measurements
• Thermal chamber monitoring
• Heated equipment validation
• R&D testing
• Temperature profiling
• Long-duration thermal data logging

High-Temperature Laboratory Testing

The SE018 is particularly suitable where the temperature of air rather than a solid surface or liquid needs to be recorded.

Potential applications include:

• Heated air ducts
• Oven atmosphere measurements
• Thermal test chambers
• Laboratory heating systems
• Airflow experiments
• High-temperature product testing
• Electronics heat testing
• Industrial research setups

Thermal Chamber Monitoring

The probe can be used to measure air temperature at different positions within suitable thermal chambers.

Using multiple probes can help engineers examine:

• Temperature distribution
• Hot and cold zones
• Heating profiles
• Cooling profiles
• Chamber stability
• Temperature changes over time

When used with multiple PT-104 channels, this provides a practical method for multi-point thermal monitoring.

Probe Accuracy and Complete System Accuracy

The ±0.3 °C at 0 °C specification applies to the SE018 probe itself.

Complete system measurement performance can also be affected by:

• PT-104 logger accuracy
• PT100 tolerance at the measured temperature
• Air movement
• Temperature gradients
• Probe location
• Radiation from nearby hot surfaces
• Thermal conduction along the probe
• Calibration status

For demanding thermal measurements, these factors should be considered as part of the complete measurement uncertainty.

Typical Applications

The Pico SE018 is suitable for:

• High-temperature air measurement
• PT100 temperature data logging
• Laboratory oven testing
• Furnace air monitoring
• Thermal chamber testing
• Heated-air measurement
• Industrial thermal experiments
• Equipment temperature validation
• Product thermal testing
• R&D temperature measurement
• Environmental testing
• Multi-point air-temperature monitoring
• Engineering laboratories
• PT-104 data-logging systems