This article was originally published on December 13, 2021, and was updated on February 4, 2024. Different industrial applications require different types of gauges to measure pressure at various points of the process. Mechanical pressure gauges, for example, can be used to measure absolute pressure, vacuum pressure and compound pressure. If you’re not selecting the appropriate kind of pressure to be measured, your gauge may not provide you with the required “readable” pressure scale. Ashcroft has been manufacturing pressure and temperature instrumentation since 1852 and as the senior product manager for process gauges, I have been fielding questions on the subject for the past 15 years. In this article, I will take you through the various types of pressure and review the different gauges and transducers available to meet your specific pressure needs.

Protect your pressure gauge from the effects of overpressure with Ashcroft’s new option XRA for the 1209 pressure gauge. This 4 ½-in. stainless steel, solid front pressure gauge now offers option XRA to accommodate up to 417% overpressure without damaging the gauge. In applications where pressure spikes, surges and water hammer are a possibility, option XRA reduces the need for an external pressure limiting valve while extending gauge capacity. The 1209 is also available with optional liquid fill or the patented PLUS!™ Performance option to dampen shock, vibration and pulsation. This review will look at the new option for this pressure gauge and how it can provide reliable pressure measurements for your high-pressure application.