Any thermocouple measuement requires 2 temperature measurements
- hot junction measurement
- cold junction measurement
A cold junction is created at the point where non-compensation wire is connected to the thermocouple wire.
A measurement without compensation wire AND without a corresponding cold junction measurement is not valid.
The only way to take a K type thermocouple measurement (or any type thermocouple measurement) without compensating cable is to use a temperature transmitter configured for the type of thermocouple because the transmitter will perform the cold junction measurement at its wiring terminals.
credits: Carl Ellis