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I know that I can read RPi temperature through console, but I'd like to measure it using a standard, hardware thermometer. Is this possible?

Can I attach thermocouple directly to the RPi's processor as shown in the below pictures:

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Or am I risking some electrical problems on can endanger my device in any other way?

trejder
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1 Answers1

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There's nothing wrong with putting a thermocouple on the chip heatsink like this. You can still damage the Pi if the rest of your setup is inappropriate: for instance if your thermocouple wiring is exposed to ESD or it is powered by a non-isolated power supply (though in the latter case I would worry about my own health more).

If the temperature sensor is connected to a battery-powered equipment (a multimeter) or to equipment powered by a class II power supply (⧈), you should be fine.

You won't get much precision unless you provide a good thermal contact with the chip (thermal paste), and you should still expect a difference of some 2..10 degrees between the temperature inside and outside the chip (inside is hotter).

Dmitry Grigoryev
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