Overview
The Adafruit MAX31856 Universal Thermocouple Amplifier Breakout is a precision SPI-based thermocouple interface designed for demanding temperature measurement applications. Built around the MAX31856, it performs cold-junction compensation, linearization, and fault detection internally, eliminating the need for complex analog signal conditioning.
Unlike single-type thermocouple amplifiers, this breakout supports K, J, N, R, S, T, E, and B thermocouples, making it suitable for everything from low-temperature cryogenic measurements to extreme high-temperature industrial systems. The digital SPI interface ensures noise-resistant communication and allows easy integration with microcontrollers such as Arduino, Raspberry Pi, ESP32, and other embedded platforms.
The board includes an onboard 3.3V regulator and level shifting circuitry, enabling compatibility with both 3.3V and 5V logic systems. Inline filtering components, as recommended by Maxim, improve stability and reduce electrical noise for reliable long-wire thermocouple installations.
With a measurement range of –210°C to +1800°C (thermocouple dependent) and a fine resolution of 0.0078125°C, this breakout delivers high-resolution digital readings while maintaining practical real-world accuracy based on the thermocouple type used.
Specification
Technical details for Adafruit MAX31856 Universal Thermocouple Amplifier Breakout.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Core IC | MAX31856 |
| Thermocouple Types | K, J, N, R, S, T, E, B |
| Temperature Range | -210°C to +1800°C (sensor dependent) |
| Resolution | 0.0078125°C |
| Cold Junction Compensation | Integrated |
| Internal Temp Sensor | Yes |
| Interface | 4-Wire SPI |
| Operating Voltage | 3.3V – 5V (logic level compliant) |
| Fault Detection | Open circuit, short to GND/VCC, over/under temperature |
| Included | Assembled board, 2-pin terminal block, header strip |
Pinout
| Pin | Description |
|---|---|
| Vin | Power input (3V–5V). Onboard regulator converts input to 3V for the MAX31856. Use the same voltage as your microcontroller logic (e.g., 5V for Arduino). |
| 3Vo | 3.3V regulated output from onboard regulator. Can supply up to 100mA if required. |
| GND | Common ground for both power and logic. |
| Pin | Description |
|---|---|
| SCK | SPI Clock input to the MAX31856. |
| SDO | Serial Data Out (MISO). Data sent from MAX31856 to microcontroller. |
| SDI | Serial Data In (MOSI). Data sent from microcontroller to MAX31856. |
| CS | Chip Select. Pull low to begin SPI communication. |
| FLT | Fault output pin. Goes low when a configured temperature threshold or fault condition is triggered. |
| DRDY | Data Ready output. Goes low when a temperature conversion is complete (advanced usage). |
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