An ink jet printer including an ink jet printhead and a printhead temperature sensing device including a fusible link circuit with a preview feature and a method for programming or calibrating therefore. The ink jet printhead includes a fusible link circuit including a fusible link, with a threshold above which the fusible link will be forced to an open condition with the application of a threshold condition applied thereto and a circuit, coupled to the fusible link, including an input and an output, generating an output signal on the output in response to a signal being applied to the input, wherein the output signal provides an output state which simulates the open condition of the fusible link as a preview feature. The fusible link circuit includes the preview feature so that the output of the temperature sensing device which must be calibrated, programmed, or have its output set to a predetermined value, can be simulated or previewed to determine whether the correct output has been achieved.