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This article was originally published on August 16, 2021, and updated on February 12, 2025. Pressure gauge accessories like snubbers, dampeners, capillaries, pressure-limiting valves, and siphons play an important role in keeping your processes running safely and efficiently. However, while these devices help ensure your pressure instruments maintain optimal performance in the most challenging applications, there is an underlying concern about their potential impact on pressure measurement accuracy. As the product manager for pressure gauges and accessories at Ashcroft - a leader in pressure and temperature instrumentation, I am often asked for reassurance that these products don't interfere with gauge performance. In this article, you will learn about the factors that can affect pressure measurement accuracy, and the accessories that help, not hinder, instrument performance.

When it comes to selecting a pressure gauge for your application, understanding the differences between mechanical and digital options can help you make the right choice. Both have unique features and benefits that are best suited to different scenarios. In this Understanding the Basics series, you will get a high-level overview of the features, benefits and uses of these two pressure gauge options, including when to use one over the other and when to use both. Plus, you will receive recommendations for additional resources that can provide a deeper understanding of pressure gauges as a whole. The information in this article is based on more than 40 years of industry experience with temperature and pressure measurement, design, engineering, and product management, which includes 17 years working with Ashcroft - a leader in temperature and pressure instrumentation.

This article was originally published on February 13, 2023, and updated on January 6, 2025. The chemical industry manufactures a wide range of chemical and material products for industries that require durable and reliable measurement and monitoring technology for their production. Accurate and dependable pressure and temperature measurement instruments are necessary to endure harsh chemical environments. However, incorrect use or failure of these instruments can result in serious outcomes such as equipment damage, employee injury, and environmental hazards. These are just a few reasons why it is essential to use instruments engineered to withstand the severe demands of chemical processing operations. Ashcroft is a leader in pressure and temperature instrumentation since 1852. Read this article to learn about the factors to consider when selecting the best instruments for your chemical application. You will also get links to additional information in case you want to learn more.

This article was originally published on February 28, 2022, and updated on December 4, 2024. Pressure switches are important components in many industrial and OEM applications. By monitoring pressure levels in your system and automatically activating or deactivating equipment when pressure reaches a predetermined setpoint, they help ensure a safe and efficient process. Choosing the wrong pressure switch could lead to actuation errors, damaged equipment, worker injury, or other dangerous issues. So, how do you know if you have the right pressure switch? And what factors should you consider if you need a new one? As the Ashcroft Product Manager for Switches, I’ve developed some best practices for things to consider while you’re researching. Read this article to learn about the primary factors to look for when choosing or replacing a pressure switch. You will also find links to additional information that can deepen your knowledge of pressure switches used in different applications.

Pressure gauges, switches and transducers all have important roles in the safe and efficient operation of process piping, skid systems and other applications found in many industries. However, in certain scenarios, these sensitive instruments require protection from a range of challenging conditions, including extreme temperatures, potential clogging from particulates, or corrosive environments that could compromise their ability to function properly. To address these challenges the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) created industry standards and recommends strategies to protect instruments from damage in demanding applications. For example, ASME B40.100 recommends the use of isolation devices - widely recognized as diaphragm seals or isolation rings - as protective barriers that can ensure the longevity and accuracy of your pressure instruments. In this article, you will learn more about the three biggest challenges of these systems and the reasons to use a diaphragm seal or isolation ring. You will also learn about material traceability and certain certifications that may be required for these devices.

Industrial pressure switches have many functions. They are used to regulate water pressure in homes and buildings, maintain water levels in reservoirs and tanks, monitor and control pressure in HVAC systems and pumps, to name a few. However, at Ashcroft, a majority of our customers use pressure switches as a safety mechanism to set off an alarm or trigger a system shutdown when high- or low-pressure limits are reached. Ashcroft is an industry leader in pressure measurement instrumentation. We created this article for new customers like you who want to know how pressure switches can function as an alarm or to shut down their systems. Read on to learn about the different types of pressure switches commonly used in these applications and the additional approvals these switches may need to be used in this capacity. When you’re done reading, you will also find additional resources about switches that may interest you. .