diff --git a/inc/tempsense.h b/inc/tempsense.h
--- a/inc/tempsense.h
+++ b/inc/tempsense.h
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@
 #define TEMPSENSE_H
 
 
+#define TEMPSENSE_MAX_CS_PIN GPIO_PIN_15
+#define TEMPSENSE_MAX_CS_PORT GPIOA
+
+
 void tempsense_init(void);
 float tempsense_readtemp(void);
 
diff --git a/lib/max31856/max31856.c b/lib/max31856/max31856.c
--- a/lib/max31856/max31856.c
+++ b/lib/max31856/max31856.c
@@ -4,17 +4,31 @@
 
 #include "max31856.h"
 #include "states.h"
+#include "error.h"
 
 // Private variables
 static float temp_latest = 0.0;
 static float temp_avg = 0.0;
 
 static SPI_HandleTypeDef* spiport;
+static GPIO_TypeDef* csport;
+static uint32_t cspin;
+
+
+// Private prototypes
+static void __cs_assert(void);
+static void __cs_deassert(void);
+static void __write_reg(uint8_t reg, uint8_t data);
+static void __read_reg(uint8_t reg, uint8_t* rxbuf, uint8_t len);
 
 
 // Initialize the MAX31856 driver
 void max31856_init(SPI_HandleTypeDef* spi_port, GPIO_TypeDef* cs_port, uint32_t cs_pin, uint32_t sensor_type)
 {
+	// Set CS pin references
+	csport = cs_port;
+	cspin = cs_pin;
+
 	// Set SPI port reference
 	spiport = spi_port;
 
@@ -31,14 +45,40 @@ void max31856_init(SPI_HandleTypeDef* sp
 	// - probably no filtering, we'll do that on this side of things
 	// - set up to read the typical open/short faults but not the high/low alarms
 
-	uint8_t data[] = {0,0,0,0};
-	HAL_SPI_Transmit(spiport, data, 1, 100);
+
+	// TODO: Enable open/short detection
+	// Enables auto conv
+	__write_reg(MAX31856_CR0_REG, MAX31856_CR0_OCFAULT0 | MAX31856_CR0_AUTOCONVERT);
+
+	// Averaging set to 1 sample, TC type set to K
+	__write_reg(MAX31856_CR1_REG, MAX31856_TCTYPE_K);
 
 	// sensor type - could we just mask bits off? maybe optimize the enum for this
 }
 
+
+// Pull reading from the MAX31856 IC
 void max31856_process(void)
 {
+	uint8_t tempbuf[4];
+	__read_reg(MAX31856_LTCBH_REG, tempbuf, 3);
+
+
+	int32_t temp24 = tempbuf[0] << 16 | tempbuf[1] << 8 | tempbuf[0];
+	if (temp24 & 0x800000) {
+		temp24 |= 0xFF000000;  // fix sign
+	}
+
+	temp24 >>= 5;  // bottom 5 bits are unused
+
+	float tempfloat = temp24;
+	tempfloat *= 0.0078125;
+
+	return tempfloat;
+
+
+
+
 	// Read temperature from the MAX31856 (approx 10hz optimally)
 	uint8_t data[] = {0,0,0,0};
 	HAL_SPI_Transmit(spiport, data, 1, 100);
@@ -52,8 +92,57 @@ float max31856_latest_temp(void)
 	return temp_latest;
 }
 
+
 // Return average temperature reading (deg C)
 float max31856_avg_temp(void)
 {
 	return temp_latest;
 }
+
+
+static void __write_reg(uint8_t reg, uint8_t data)
+{
+	// Set write bit
+	reg |= MAX31856_WRITE_BIT;
+
+	uint8_t outarr[2] = {reg, data};
+
+	// Assert the bus
+	__cs_assert();
+
+	// Write data
+	HAL_SPI_Transmit(spiport, outarr, 2, 100);
+
+	// Release the bus
+	__cs_deassert();
+}
+
+static void __read_reg(uint8_t reg, uint8_t* rxbuf, uint8_t len)
+{
+	// Transmit buffer only uses first item for reg addr
+	uint8_t regarr[1] = {reg};
+
+
+	// Assert the bus
+	__cs_assert();
+
+	// Send address
+	HAL_SPI_Transmit(spiport, regarr, 1, 100);
+
+	// Receive data
+	HAL_SPI_Receive(spiport, rxbuf, len, 100);
+
+	// Release bus
+	__cs_deassert();
+
+}
+
+static void __cs_assert(void)
+{
+	HAL_GPIO_WritePin(csport, cspin, 0);
+}
+
+static void __cs_deassert(void)
+{
+	HAL_GPIO_WritePin(csport, cspin, 1);
+}
diff --git a/lib/max31856/max31856.h b/lib/max31856/max31856.h
--- a/lib/max31856/max31856.h
+++ b/lib/max31856/max31856.h
@@ -3,5 +3,62 @@
 
 #include "stm32f3xx_hal.h"
 
+void max31856_init(SPI_HandleTypeDef* spi_port, GPIO_TypeDef* cs_port, uint32_t cs_pin, uint32_t sensor_type);
+void max31856_process(void);
+float max31856_latest_temp(void);
+float max31856_avg_temp(void);
+
+// Thanks to Adafruit:
+#define MAX31856_CR0_REG           0x00
+#define MAX31856_CR0_AUTOCONVERT   0x80
+#define MAX31856_CR0_1SHOT         0x40
+#define MAX31856_CR0_OCFAULT1      0x20
+#define MAX31856_CR0_OCFAULT0      0x10
+#define MAX31856_CR0_CJ            0x08
+#define MAX31856_CR0_FAULT         0x04
+#define MAX31856_CR0_FAULTCLR      0x02
+
+#define MAX31856_CR1_REG           0x01
+#define MAX31856_MASK_REG          0x02
+#define MAX31856_CJHF_REG          0x03
+#define MAX31856_CJLF_REG          0x04
+#define MAX31856_LTHFTH_REG        0x05
+#define MAX31856_LTHFTL_REG        0x06
+#define MAX31856_LTLFTH_REG        0x07
+#define MAX31856_LTLFTL_REG        0x08
+#define MAX31856_CJTO_REG          0x09
+#define MAX31856_CJTH_REG          0x0A
+#define MAX31856_CJTL_REG          0x0B
+#define MAX31856_LTCBH_REG         0x0C
+#define MAX31856_LTCBM_REG         0x0D
+#define MAX31856_LTCBL_REG         0x0E
+#define MAX31856_SR_REG            0x0F
+
+#define MAX31856_FAULT_CJRANGE     0x80
+#define MAX31856_FAULT_TCRANGE     0x40
+#define MAX31856_FAULT_CJHIGH      0x20
+#define MAX31856_FAULT_CJLOW       0x10
+#define MAX31856_FAULT_TCHIGH      0x08
+#define MAX31856_FAULT_TCLOW       0x04
+#define MAX31856_FAULT_OVUV        0x02
+#define MAX31856_FAULT_OPEN        0x01
+
+
+#define MAX31856_WRITE_BIT		   0x80
+
+typedef enum
+{
+  MAX31856_TCTYPE_B  = 0b0000,
+  MAX31856_TCTYPE_E  = 0b0001,
+  MAX31856_TCTYPE_J  = 0b0010,
+  MAX31856_TCTYPE_K  = 0b0011,
+  MAX31856_TCTYPE_N  = 0b0100,
+  MAX31856_TCTYPE_R  = 0b0101,
+  MAX31856_TCTYPE_S  = 0b0110,
+  MAX31856_TCTYPE_T  = 0b0111,
+  MAX31856_VMODE_G8  = 0b1000,
+  MAX31856_VMODE_G32 = 0b1100,
+} max31856_thermocoupletype_t;
+
 
 #endif
diff --git a/lib/ssd1306/ssd1306.h b/lib/ssd1306/ssd1306.h
--- a/lib/ssd1306/ssd1306.h
+++ b/lib/ssd1306/ssd1306.h
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@
 //#define   SPI_SendByte(data)  SPI_I2S_SendData(SPI1,data)
 //#define   SPI_Wait()       while(!(SPI1->SR&SPI_FLAG_TXE));while(SPI1->SR&SPI_FLAG_BSY);
 
+SPI_HandleTypeDef* spi_get();
+
 void ssd1306_init(void);
 void ssd1306_drawchar(char ascii, unsigned char row, unsigned char xPos);
 void ssd1306_drawcharbig(char ascii, unsigned char row, unsigned char xPos);
diff --git a/src/tempsense.c b/src/tempsense.c
--- a/src/tempsense.c
+++ b/src/tempsense.c
@@ -4,10 +4,16 @@
 
 #include "tempsense.h"
 #include "flash.h"
+#include "ssd1306/ssd1306.h"
+#include "max31856/max31856.h"
 
 
 void tempsense_init(void)
 {
+	// TODO: Rework SPI stuff... init the port in a sharedlib then pass ref to display and tempsense
+
+	max31856_init(spi_get(), TEMPSENSE_MAX_CS_PORT, TEMPSENSE_MAX_CS_PIN, 0);
+
 	// Maybe don't perform temp sensor setup in here, but in readtemp?
 	// what happens if the user changes the tempsense type while running?
 	// we need to re-init...