A complete thermocouple temperature sensing assembly, in accordance with the present state of the art, consists of one or more of the following: A. Sensing Element Assembly—In its most basic form this assembly includes two dissimilar wires, supported or separated or both by electrical insulation and joined at one end to form a measuring junction. Such assemblies usually fall into one of three categories; (1) those formed from wires having nonceramic insulation, (2) those with hard-fired ceramic insulators, and (3) those made from sheathed, compacted ceramic-insulated wires. This chapter will deal only with the first two. See Chapter 5 for complete details on the latter.