Thermocouple offsets are a useful tool in zone-controlled kilns, allowing you to balance heat work by slightly raising or lowering the temperature indicated by each thermocouple. This is especially helpful if one zone tends to lag behind the others or when a thermocouple is worn but not yet ready for replacement.
Unlike cone offsets, thermocouple offsets affect all cone-fire and vary-fire programs, not just a single program or specific cone value. In kilns with multiple thermocouples, each one can have a unique offset, up to a maximum of 50°F. A negative offset lowers the indicated temperature, resulting in more heat work, while a positive offset increases the indicated temperature, reducing heat work.
