For the Hottest Applications on Earth There Are CPI Thermal Switches

For engineers solving heat monitoring and safety problems at super high temperatures in an aggressive environment, there are really only a few good solutions worldwide. If you know CPI at all, then you know our thermal switches are on the short list for any and all of these types of applications. With three distinct classes of thermal switches, we cover the gamut with programmable set points from -40F all the way to 1750F (our Rod&Tube Thermals)

A high-temperature, high-durability thermal switch with a set points up to 1750°F (954°C) has some very specialized and valuable real-world applications, particularly in industrial, aerospace, military, and high-performance vehicle sectors.

If you weren’t sure a top-tier thermal switch like CPI”s was right for you, consider this breakdown of notable use cases. 

1. Jet Engines and Aerospace Turbines

• Application: Monitor turbine inlet temperature (TIT) or exhaust gas temperature (EGT) zones in jet engines.

• Purpose: Triggers fail-safes or alerts if temperatures exceed critical limits to prevent catastrophic engine failure.

• CPI THERMAL SOLUTION: Extreme vibration, rapid thermal cycling, and sustained high heat make this perfect for either our plugstat or Rod & Tube lines of thermal switches. Commonly used in turbine areas is our X-Series Thermals with set points up to 850F

2. Industrial Furnaces and Kilns

• Application: Over-temperature protection in steel mills, glass-making furnaces, ceramic kilns, or heat-treatment ovens.

• Purpose: Prevents overheating that could damage expensive refractory linings, heating elements, or processed materials.

• CPI Thermal Solution – The extreme heat required to melt certain metals and glasses may require our Rod & Tube series switches which have set points up to 1750F

3. Rocket Engines and Spacecraft

• Application: Thermal management and safety cutoffs in liquid or solid-fuel propulsion systems.

• Purpose: Protect surrounding components or initiate abort sequences if heat thresholds are surpassed.

• CPI Thermal Solution – Applications for Rockets and Space vehicles run the gamut in terms of temperature ranges and form factors, making all our thermal switch products potential candidates for use in this sector.

4. Military Weapons and Armor Systems

• Application: Embedded in gun barrels, railguns, or tank engine compartments.

• Purpose: Detect overheating during rapid fire or engine strain to initiate cooldown or shutoff procedures.

• CPI Thermal Solution –  CPI thermal used on navy guns or tanks have been relied on for hot and cold temperature detection in these applications. Our Snapstat line can reliably detect temperatures as low as -40F

5. High-Performance Automotive (e.g., Racing, Dragsters)

• Application: Monitors exhaust headers, turbo housings, or ceramic-coated manifolds.

• Purpose: Ensures components do not exceed thermal thresholds, triggering fail-safe systems or activating auxiliary cooling.

• CPI Thermal Solution – Our snapstat line of thermal switches can be used to detect exhaust and manifold temperatures up to 350F

6. Power Generation Equipment

• Application: Used in gas turbines, boiler headers, or EV Charging Stations and Vehicles.

• Purpose: Acts as a safety limit switch or performance monitor in extreme heat zones.

• CPI Thermal Solution – The CPI AD series is a great solution for many applications here owing to its flexible small profile and crisp setpoint detection up to 300F. Versions with extreme dialectric strength are also available for operation in heavy electromagnetic fields.

7. Nuclear Energy Systems

• Application: Monitors piping, containment vessels, or graphite-moderated reactor components.

• Purpose: Offers passive safety feedback in case of abnormal heat rise.

• CPI Thermal Solution – The CPI Rod & Tube series is a great solution for many applications here owing to its accurate setpoint detection up to 1750F. 

8 Laboratory and Research Equipment

• Application: Found in material stress-testing rigs, plasma arc setups, or combustion chambers.

• Purpose: Helps maintain controlled test environments and prevent overheating of sensitive setups.

• CPI Thermal Solution – All products have been used.

9. Locomotive and Heavy-Duty Diesel Engines

• Application: Monitors exhaust systems, turbochargers, or engine bay components.

• Application: Fire Detection in key electrical panels or component boards. (See recent blog on PA train fire)

• Purpose: Protects against thermal runaway conditions or material fatigue at extreme load.

• CPI Thermal Solution – The CPI AD series is a great solution for many applications here owing to its flexible small profile and crisp setpoint detection up to 300F. Versions with extreme dialectric strength are also available for operation in heavy electromagnetic fields. 

With features like hermetic sealing, vibration resistance, and fast response time, CPI switches become even more valuable in mission-critical applications where thermal failure could endanger lives or destroy expensive machinery.

Off the Shelf or Custom: CPI’s Thermal Engineering team is Standing By

To see if CPI thermals are a fit for your most challenging thermal detection challenges, do give our engineering team a call today at (973) 887-9400