Digital Pressure Gauges

What is a Digital Pressure Gauge?
A digital pressure gauge is an instrument used to accurately measure pressure in a liquid or gas and is an alternative to a mechanical analogue pressure gauge.

How does a Digital Pressure Gauge Work?
Digital pressure gauges use a pressure transducer that converts the pressure to an electronic signal which can then be viewed on a digital display.

Advantages of a Digital Pressure Gauge

A digital pressure gauge remains calibrated a lot longer than an analogue pressure gauge.
They perform well in areas of extreme vibration, pulsation, and corrosion.
The reading is clear and may have the option of a backlight if viewed in areas of low light.
Digital pressure gauges can be easily customised, the gauge can be set-up specifically for use with whatever process is required. For example, units can be displayed as MPa, psi or bar.
A data log can also be made of the highest or lowest pressures which can be referenced directly or via a remote computer using a digital hydraulic gauge.

Disadvantages of a Digital Pressure Gauge

A digital pressure gauge will always require a power source.
They are expensive to buy.
Digital pressure gauges require special certifications in certain industries and environments.
They may need to be replaced and calibrated more frequently than an analogue pressure gauge depending on what it is used for.

Example of a Digital Pressure Gauge
The Budenberg BG200 digital pressure gauge is microprocessor-controlled and offers high precision, functionality, and stability in a robust and compact solution package.

The gauge is powered by an internal Alkaline long-life battery and has an auto-power off function in order to preserve the battery life. The advanced design combined with sensor technology features, results in an highly accurate yet affordable digital pressure gauge.

Supplied as stand-alone the BG200 offers a cost-effective solution for control and accurate process monitoring. A wide range of handheld pressure pumps and kits are also available which offer a complete testing solution for calibration or maintenance routines.

Types of Digital Pressure Gauges
There are a wide range of digital gauges, each suited to a particular application. Some digital gauges use an elastic or flexible element as a mechanical deflection. This allows the gauge to be used as a diaphragm pressure gauge, which allows for monitoring of changes to pressure. Digital diaphragm gauges can also use a bridge circuit which detects changes in capacitance.

Other methods that can be used in digital pressure gauges to sense changes in pressure are:

Micro-electromechanical Systems (MEMS)
Pistons
Vibrating Elements
Thin film

It is now possible to use "Sentinel" digital pressure gauges that can monitor a process pipe wirelessly. This benefits the safety and maintenance of the process pipe in a number of ways. If a gauge detects a fault, a warning is sent to the operator who can accurately locate the fault allowing for improved efficiency and safety for critical processes, in real-time.

Uses for Digital Pressure Gauges
Digital pressure gauges are used in a wide range of industries including pharmaceutical, food processing, petrochemical and water .

Due to their accuracy, digital pressure gauges can be used with hydraulic and pneumatic comparators to calibrate analogue pressure gauges. The calibration is not as accurate as using a deadweight tester but is sufficient to 0.1% FS accuracy. Budenbergs BG200 also offers an optional digital pressure gauge at 0.05% FS accuracy.

Portable pneumatic and hydraulic test kits also benefit from a higher accuracy test by incorporating a digital pressure gauge.

Pneumatic Test Kit (BG100-PC)

BG100-I indicator, range to be selected up to 50 bar
BG40 pump
BG-BSP or BG-NPT set of adaptor, set of seals
Pressure hose with 1/4” BSP F adaptor (1 meter)
Robust ABS transit case with custom foam

More Info

Hydraulic Test Kit(BG100-HC)

BG-700-OEM or BG-1000-OEM pump
BG-BSP or BG-NPT set of adaptor, set of seals
HTH-1000-1 high pressure hose, 1 meter
BG700-A-G14 adaptor for HTH-1000 hose
BG700-TC robust ABS transit case with custom foam

More Info

Types of Pressure Measured
Absolute pressure is a measurement of pressure that is relative to a perfect vacuum. Typically, vacuum pressures are lower than the atmospheric pressure.

Gauge pressure is the most common method of measuring pressure, and is relative to the local atmospheric pressure. Sealed gauge pressure by contrast is relative to one atmosphere of pressure at sea level.

Differential pressure shows the difference between two input pressures. In terms of units, some digital pressure gauges display measurements in pounds per square inch (PSI), kilopascals, bars or millibars, inches or centimetres of mercury, or inches or feet of water.

Other devices display measurements in kilograms per square centimetre.

Technical specifications of a Budenberg BG-200 Digital Pressure Gauge

RANGE CODE	TYPE	RANGE (BAR)	RANGE (PSI)	RESOLUTION
2	G	0-0.16	0-2	0.0001
5	G	0-0.35	0-5	0.0001
10	G	0-0.7	0-10	0.001
15	G or A	-1 to 1	0-15	0.0001
30	G or A	-1 to 2	0-30	0.0001
50	G or A	-1 to 3.5	0-50	0.0001
100	G or A	-1 to 7	0-100	0.0001
150	G to A	-1 to 10	0-150	0.001
300	G	-1 to 20	0-300	0.001
500	G	-1 to 35	0-500	0.001
600	G	-1 to 40	0-600	0.001
870	G	-1 to 60	0-870	0.001
1K	G	0 to 70	0-1000	0.001
2K	G	0-135	0-2000	0.01
3K	G	0-200	0-3000	0.01
5K	G	0-350	0-5000	0.01
10K	G	0-700	0-10000	0.01
15K	G	0-1000	0-15000	0.1
25K	G	0-1400	0-25000	0.1
30K	G	0-2000	0-30000	0.1
36K	G	0-2500	0-36000	0.1
43K	G	0-3000	0-43000	0.1

Pneumatic Test Kit (BG100-PC)

Accuracy:
0.1% FS include linearity and hysteresis 0.05% FS available as an option
Temperature range:
0 to 50°C
Temperature coefficient:
0.002 % rdg/°C
Calibrated temperature:
23 C°
Compensated temperature range:
0 to 50°C
Pressure media:
all gas and liquid compatible with AISI 316 (non corrosive)
Wetted part:
SS Inox 17-4 PH
Pressure unit:
mbar, bar, KG/CM2, KPa, psi

Hydraulic Test Kit(BG100-HC)

Pressure connection:
1/2 “ BSP male for all ranges
Storage temperature:
-10 °C to 60°C
Display:
custom, graphic LCD display, 16 mm height
Sealing:
IP 65
Power supply:
2X AA alkaline battery (1 year autonomy)
Conformity:
89/336/CEE-93/68/CEE-72/23/CE, EN61010(2001)- EN61326-1-EN 61326/A1
Warranty:
1 year (battery not included)