A complete thermocouple temperature sensing assembly, in accordance with the present state of the art, consists of the following: A. Sensing element assembly including, in its most basic form, two dissimilar wires, supported by an electrical insulator and joined at one end to form a measuring junction. Such assemblies usually fall into one of three categories; those formed from wires have nonceramic insulation, those with hard-fired ceramic insulators, and those made from sheathed, compacted ceramic-insulated wires.