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What is a Pressure Gauge?

Mary McMahon
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Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 33,480
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A pressure gauge is a measurement device which determines the pressure in a compressed gas or liquid. Pressure gauges are widely used all over the world, for tasks ranging from checking the tire pressure in a car before a trip to monitoring the pressure of various systems inside a nuclear power plant. There are a number of different styles of pressure gauge available, designed for various purposes, and like other measurement devices, these gauges can and should be calibrated periodically to confirm that they are working correctly when they are used for sensitive operations.

Some pressure gauges provide a pressure reading when compared to a complete vacuum, while others measure pressure relative to ambient air pressure. In both cases, the device is often mechanical in nature, with an element inside the gauge moving in response to pressure changes and pushing the part of the gauge which provides a metered reading. Some provide readouts in digital form to make them easier to read, while others stick to analog dials which are directly linked to the gauge.

A very common type of pressure gauge is the Bourdon tube, which consists of a flexible tube which moves in response to pressure. Diaphragms which respond to subtle pressure changes can be used as well. In the tire pressure gauge which may be familiar to those who use wheeled vehicles, pressure is determined with the assistance of a piston which pushes a small spring in response to contact with the pressurized air from the tire.

Pressurized systems can be found in use in a huge number of locations. In a car alone, fuel, lubricant, and brake fluid are all pressurized, along with the air in the tires. In factories, pressurized systems are used in manufacturing control systems of all shapes and sizes. Being able to monitor the pressure in these systems can be very important, as it allows people to identify potential safety threats such as dangerously high pressure, along with system failures like low pressure.

Some pressure gauges can be linked to remote indicator panels which will alert people when a problem develops at the gauge. For example, many modern vehicles have pressure gauges inside the tires which alert the driver when there is a pressure problem, eliminating the need to use a hand gauge to check the pressure. Others can be designed to automatically shut off a system if the pressure falls outside an acceptable range. Pressure gauge designs are also constantly advancing to increase reliability and applicability.

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Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a About Mechanics researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Discussion Comments
By lighth0se33 — On Jan 10, 2013

My above ground pool has a water pressure gauge. It measures the pressure in the filter.

I know when it is time to backwash the filter by looking at the pressure gauge. Without it, I would have no idea when to do this.

By JackWhack — On Jan 09, 2013

@healthy4life – I've never used anything but the gas station air pumps. I keep a hand gauge in my glove compartment to check my tires when they look low and to measure the pressure at the station.

The hand gauge can be tricky, because if you're not careful, you'll let out too much air and have to put it back in over and over again. It took awhile for me to learn the proper angle, and I lost quite a bit of air in the process.

It's always good to have one, even if you aren't an expert at using it. My tires tend to look low sometimes when they aren't, but the only way to get an accurate measurement is to use a gauge.

By healthy4life — On Jan 08, 2013

My dad uses an air compressor to fill up his tires. This can quickly cause high pressure, so a gauge is important.

The compressor shoots my tires full of air more quickly than the smaller kind that you find at gas stations. My dad checks the pressure several times before finishing.

I would never attempt to use it, because I'd be afraid of over-inflating my tires and potentially bursting them, if that's even possible! It might not be, but still, I think it's best I leave this to the professionals.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

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