The Non-Steady-State Probe (NSSP) measurement method (also known as transient line source, thermal needle, hot needle, heat pulse- and hot wire technique) has the fundamental advantages that it is fast and absolute while the sample size is not critical. Hukseflux is specialized in NSSP design. Special models have been developed for in-situ field experiments. For permanent installation in soils, a dedicated model, TP01, is available. TP08 has been designed and tested in collaboration with the Applied Physics Group of Wageningen University.

Hukseflux specializes in Non-Steady-State probe design. The primary model of the Hukseflux product range is the TP02. This model offers optimal measurement accuracy by a combination of its design features. For some applications however the requirements regarding the sample size are such that the needle length and diameter of the TP02 are too large. For this category of samples, TP08 has been designed. Having a needle length of 70 mm, with the junction at around 17 mm from the tip, and a diameter of 1.2 mm, samples of around 80 ml can be analysed. (35 mm depth). In some cases samples can even be smaller (consult Hukseflux). In TP08 the reference junction of the thermocouple is located in the base. A high quality measurement with TP08 requires that not only the sample but also the base are at a stable (preferably the same) temperature. Usually this is achieved by clamping the base into the same material (metal) that holds the sample.