Provide a 50-75 word discussion reply to the following post below.

Assume that we can either use a thermocouple or a RTD (Resistive Temperature Detector) for a given industrial application. Discuss the pros and cons of using a thermocouple versus using an RTD.

RTD's (or Resistive Temperature Detector's) are resistance thermometers. They consist of a wire coil and are made of pure metal. As heat increases, the RTD's resistance increases in a known/repeatable manner that can be associated to a temperature. RTD's are great in high noise applications and are immune to other variables that could alter the sensor's readings, so they are terrific for use in commercial & industrial settings. RTD's have a wide temperature range, typically -200 C to 850 C and are very simply to calibrate and they provide a great deal of accuracy when reading temperatures. RTD's are usually limited to a temperature of around 1000 F so they are not ideal for all applications.

Thermocouples consist of two dissimilar metals (typically alumel and chromel). These metals are connected to each other on one end (known as the reference junction) and are exposed to the medium they are registering in the area known as the "measurement junction. When the junctions are at different temperatures, a voltage reference is sent giving the temperature reading against a known reference. Thermocouples are great in high temperature (>1000F). While in the military, we used thermocouples to monitor our EGT's and Combustion chamber temperatures (among other readings) on our marine gas turbine engines.