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Temperature measurement reliability and validity with thermocouple extension leads or changing lead temperature
Lisa S Jutte1, Blaine C Long, Kenneth L Knight
1School of Physical Education, Sport, & Exercise Science, Ball State University, Muncie, IN 47306, USA. lsjutte@bsu.edu
Context:
Thermocouples' leads are often too short, necessitating the use of an extension lead.
Objective:
To determine if temperature measures were influenced by extension-lead use or lead temperature changes.
Design:
Descriptive laboratory study.
Setting:
Laboratory.
Other Participants:
Experiment 1: 10 IT-21 thermocouples and 5 extension leads. Experiment 2: 5 IT-21 and PT-6 thermocouples.
Methods:
In experiment 1, temperature data were collected on 10 IT-21 thermocouples in a stable water bath with and without extension leads. In experiment 2, temperature data were collected on 5 IT-21 and PT-6 thermocouples in a stable water bath before, during, and after ice-pack application to extension leads.
Results:
In experiment 1, extension leads did not influence IT-21 validity (P = .45) or reliability (P = .10). In experiment 2, postapplication IT-21 temperatures were greater than preapplication and application measures (P < .05).
Conclusions:
Extension leads had no influence on temperature measures. Ice application to leads may increase measurement error.
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