What is thermoelectric voltage?

Thermoelectric voltage refers to the difference in electrical potential between the positive and negative conductor of a thermocouple, which builds up due to a difference in temperature between the measuring tip and the connecting contacts. The resulting voltage is generated by the thermoelectric effect, otherwise known as the Seebeck effect. The standard voltage tables for individual types of thermocouples are standardized in DIN EN 60584-1 with 0°C as the reference junction. If the reference junction is at another temperature, the missing or excess thermoelectric voltage needs to be arithmetically compensated for.