A pressure switch is a control device that senses changes in pressure and mechanically opens and closes an electrical circuit at a pre-determined point. Unlike other pressure instruments like pressure gauges and pressure sensors that measure and monitor pressure, switches are a bit more complicated. Ashcroft is an industry leader in pressure measurement instrumentation and created this article to provide a basic foundation of information about switches for the industry novice. Read on to learn about the different types of pressure switches, common applications, how they operate, key terms, switch accuracy, activation methods and more. When you’re done reading, you will also find additional resources about switches that may interest you.

A pressure transducer, which can also be referred to as a pressure transmitter or pressure sensor, is an electronic device that measures and monitors the air, gas or liquid pressure flowing through industrial systems. Although they appear small, these instruments are built with advanced technology to provide accurate and reliable pressure measurements at different stages of the process. Ashcroft is an industry leader in pressure measurement instrumentation and created this article to provide a basic foundation of information about transducers for the industry novice. Read on to learn how they work and where they are used. You will also get a high-level overview of the different types of sensors, manufacturing standards, sensor accuracy and more. When you are done reading, you will also find additional resources about transducers that may interest you.

A pressure gauge is a mechanical instrument that is used to measure and monitor the pressure of air, gases or fluids in process, commercial and industrial systems. These devices operate using the system’s process, meaning they will give you a reading even when you have no power source. But to understand pressure gauges and how they work, you need to start with the basics. Ashcroft has been making these instruments since 1852 and we wrote this article to give you a foundation of information that you can use as a reference. Read on to learn about the different types of pressure gauges (process, commercial, industrial, digital) and their functional components. Also become knowledgeable of gauge operating principles and construction, manufacturing standards, sensing and scale elements for various applications, dial options, and more. When you are done reading, you will also find additional resources that may interest you.

If you work in an industry with harsh process environments like oil and gas, water and wastewater and others, you know that liquid and gas flow measurement is critical to ensuring your operation runs safely and efficiently. You also know that purchasing a flow meter to perform this function can cost you thousands of dollars. One popular and very effective alternative is to configure a differential pressure (DP) gauge to measure flow. This simple step can deliver the same results and save you money. In this article, you will learn the basic concepts of fluid dynamics and pressure distribution based on Bernoulli’s Principle. You will also see why DP gauges are ideal for monitoring flow in harsh environments and how easy it is to configure these instruments to meet your specific needs. Since 1852, Ashcroft has been an industry leader in measurement instrumentation. As a product marketing leader, I am happy to share information that can help you discover solutions to your complex challenges. When you are finished, you will know how to configure your DP gauge to measure flow and be guided to other helpful resources that can help you find the right DP gauge for the job.

For the industry novice looking to understand the basics of pressure measurement instruments, it can be confusing and overwhelming to search through the seemingly limitless number of available transmitters and transducers.

Your pressure switch can be impacted by many factors when used in an application. Pressure and temperature ranges can interfere with your measurements if you are using the wrong pressure instrument for the job. An appropriate microswitch for your pressure switch can mean the difference between a reliable, repeatable reading or not. How can you ensure you are choosing the right microswitch for your application?