{"id":7738,"date":"2020-06-29T15:58:16","date_gmt":"2020-06-29T22:58:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/?p=7738&#038;preview=true&#038;preview_id=7738"},"modified":"2025-07-24T14:59:03","modified_gmt":"2025-07-24T21:59:03","slug":"go-direct-thermocouple-troubleshooting-and-faqs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/7738","title":{"rendered":"Go Direct Thermocouple Troubleshooting and FAQs"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.34%\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/product\/go-direct-thermocouple\/\">Go Direct<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Thermocouple<\/a><\/h3>\n<p><strong>GDX-TC<\/strong>\u2014Amplifier + Type-K wire<br \/><strong>GDX-TCA<\/strong>\u2014Amplifier only<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/manuals\/GDX-TC\">Specifications and User Guide<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.34%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/product.gex-tca.hero._001-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><small><strong>Go Direct Thermocouple Amplifier<\/strong><\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/product.kwire-tca._hero.001-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><small><strong>Type-K Thermocouple Wire<\/strong><\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Troubleshooting<\/h3>\n<p><strong>General: <\/strong>Press the power button on the sensor to turn it on. Connect your sensor as described in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/get-started\/go-direct\">Getting Started instructions for your device<\/a>. <\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Primary Test:<\/strong> Ensure the thermocouple wire is securely connected to the thermocouple amplifier box with the + and \u2013 symbols correctly aligned. The thermocouple wire is installed properly and ready to use if the LED next to the check symbol turns green. If it turns red, your connection is not secure or your wire may be damaged. <\/li>\n<li><strong>Secondary Test:<\/strong> Check the accuracy of the readings for temperature in room air. They should be within 5 \u00baC.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Tertiary Test:<\/strong> Place your fingers over the wires and ensure that the temperature responds.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Additional Troubleshooting<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/1529\/\">Can I purchase a replacement thermocouple wire for my TCA-BTA or GDX-TC sensor?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/1303\/\">Can I use our thermocouple in a bunsen burner flame?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Specifications<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Range (type-K): \u2013200\u00baC to +1,400\u00baC<\/li>\n<li>Typical accuracy: \u00b12.2\u00b0C or 0.75% of reading, whichever is greater<\/li>\n<li>Compatible thermocouple wires: type-J, type-T, and type-K wires<\/li>\n<li>Connections<br \/>\u26ac Wireless: Bluetooth<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> v4.2 (wireless range 30 m unobstructed)<br \/>\u26ac Wired: USB 2.0 full speed <\/li>\n<li>Battery: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vernier.com\/gdx-bat-300\">300 mA Li-Poly<\/a><br \/>\u26ac Battery Life (single, full charge): ~24 hours continuous data collection<br \/>\u26ac Battery Life (lifetime): 2 \u2013 5 years (typical)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Calibration<\/h3>\n<p>Calibrate? No. This sensor is set to the stored calibration before shipping. If you wish to calibrate the sensor, you may conduct a one-point calibration in software. For more information, see <a href=\"\/til\/4011\/\">How do I calibrate my sensor?<\/a><\/p>\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Battery Troubleshooting<\/h3>\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the sensor can be turned on when connected by USB but not when disconnected from USB, the battery either needs charging or has reached its end of life and can no longer hold a charge. <\/span><br \/>\u26ac <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First, try charging the sensor for several hours. <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the sensor still won\u2019t turn on when disconnected from USB, try swapping the battery with a working sensor to see if the problem follows the battery or stays with the sensor.<\/span><br \/>\u26ac If the problem stays with the sensor, the battery is probably not the issue.<br \/>\u26ac If the problem follows the battery, <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the battery has likely reached its end of life.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you intend to use this sensor wirelessly, its battery will need replacing<\/span>.<br \/><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"\/product\/go-direct-300-mah-replacement-battery\/\">Go Direct&reg; 300 mAh Replacement Battery<\/a> (<nobr>GDX-BAT-300<\/nobr>)<\/span><\/li>\n<li>See <a href=\"\/til\/4014\/\">How do I remove or replace a Go Direct battery?<\/a> for more information (including a <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/Lv2yCaL0ruU\">video<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-very-light-gray-background-color has-background\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Rechargeable batteries are covered by a one-year warranty.<\/strong><\/span><br \/>Batteries <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">should last two to five years in typical use. <\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related Products<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/micro-usb-to-usb-c-cable\/\">Micro USB to USB-C Cable<\/a> (<nobr>CB-USB-C-MICRO<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/go-direct-charge-station\/\">Go Direct<sup>&reg;<\/sup> Charge Station<\/a> (<nobr>GDX-CRG<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/go-direct-temperature-probe\/\">Go Direct<sup>&reg;<\/sup> Temperature Probe<\/a> (<nobr>GDX-TMP<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/go-direct-surface-temperature-sensor\/\">Go Direct<sup>&reg;<\/sup> Surface Temperature Sensor<\/a> (<nobr>GDX-ST<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/go-direct-wide-range-temperature-probe\/\">Go Direct<sup>&reg;<\/sup> Wide-Range Temperature Probe<\/a> (<nobr>GDX-WRT<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/thermocouple\/\">Thermocouple<\/a> (<nobr>TCA-BTA<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Replacement Parts<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/go-direct-300-mah-replacement-battery\/\">Go Direct&reg; 300 mAh Replacement Battery<\/a> (<nobr>GDX-BAT-300<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/micro-usb-cable\/\">Micro USB Cable<\/a> (<nobr>CB-USB-MICRO<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/type-k-thermocouple-wire\/\">Type-K Thermocouple Wire<\/a> (<nobr>KWIRE-TCA<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Go Direct\u00ae Thermocouple GDX-TC\u2014Amplifier + Type-K wireGDX-TCA\u2014Amplifier only Specifications and User Guide Troubleshooting General: Press the power button on the sensor to turn it on&#8230;.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11015,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[7551,7535,720,1907,552,1906],"class_list":["post-7738","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","tag-gdxtcamain","tag-gdxtcmain","tag-maintil","tag-tcamain","tag-thermocouple","tag-thermocouplemain"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7738","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11015"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7738"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7738\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7738"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7738"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7738"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}