Low Range Pressure Sensors for Pa, mbar, inWC Differential or Gauge Pressures

Explore low range pressure sensors for measuring pressures in Pascals, mbar, or inches H2O. Learn about design challenges, accuracy, and applications like HVAC & cleanrooms.

Low range pressure sensors are essential instruments designed for the precise measurement of small pressures and differential pressures, often encountered in air and gas handling systems. Characterized by highly sensitive diaphragms engineered to detect minute forces, these devices face unique challenges related to environmental influences like temperature and vibration, requiring careful design and application consideration. They are indispensable in fields such as HVAC system control, cleanroom environmental monitoring, filter condition assessment, and specialized industrial processes where accurate low-pressure data is critical for performance and safety.

Air classification system powder duct pressure transmitter with +/-15 kPa range and ATEX/IECEx IS cert - This pressure transmitter with open port design is ideal for monitoring duct pressures in powder air classification systems. It features ATEX/IECEx IS certification and a -15 to +15 kPa range.
100 Pa bi-directional range differential air pressure transmitter - Bi-directional low range 4 to 20 milliamp differential pressure transmitter covering an air pressure range from -100 to +100 pascals, for cleanrooms, isolation rooms, and filter monitoring.

ATEX approved negative 10 mbar vacuum pressure transmitter - ATEX certified intrinsically safe pressure transmitter for measuring from 0 to minus 10 millibar gauge vacuum pressure.
10Pa diff range 0-20mA output air pressure sensor for automotive component testing - A very low range pressure sensor for automotive component testing use to measure pressure of air over a range of 0 to 10 Pa diff from two barbed tube hose connections, and sending the corresponding 0-20mA signal through the DIN plug electrical connection.
Monitoring data center positive pressure with a low-range differential transducer - Low-range differential pressure transducer for verifying and monitoring critical positive air pressure between a data center equipment room and adjacent areas, ensuring compliance with required ≥5 Pa and ≥10 Pa thresholds.
Measuring HVAC plenum and sub-floor air pressure in data centers - Monitoring the critical air pressure gradients in data center sub-floors, server rooms, and ceiling plenums. Low range differential pressure transmitter provides stable gauge pressure readings for optimizing HVAC and cooling efficiency.
Low-range air pressure monitoring in raised floor plenums using a wireless SNMP gateway - This application required a robust method for maintaining constant pressure in a data center's underfloor plenum. The solution combines a sensitive ±25 Pa differential pressure sensor with a wireless transmitter and an Ethernet gateway that provides SNMP protocol support for seamless integration with existing network monitoring systems.
Monitoring hot and cold aisle containment in datacenters using a differential pressure transmitter - Low range differential pressure transmitter with a local display was used to maintain precise room pressurization in a mission-critical datacenter environment for improved thermal management.

Remote cellular monitoring of low-range gas blanketing pressure - Complete wireless sensor solution for monitoring low-range gas blanketing pressure on remote saltwater storage tanks. This system provides cellular data access and automated SMS or email alerts for pressure deviations and vacuum conditions.
Wireless differential pressure monitoring for room overpressure using a modbus gateway - Monitoring room pressure differentials without running new cables by utilising 4-20mA DP sensor converted into a battery-powered wireless node that integrates directly into a local SCADA system via a Modbus RS485 gateway.
Wireless environmental sensors with custom MQTT SCADA system for energy management IoT platform - An energy management specialist required a multi-point wireless sensor network with specific accuracy requirements and a gateway that could output to their own MQTT-based SCADA system. This explains the selection of sensors and the dual gateway solution offered, covering both Modbus RTU and cellular MQTT options.
Bi-directional low pressure sensing for yacht engine room ventilation control - Bi-directional differential pressure transmitter with a range of -100 to +100 Pa provides the core measurement for an automated fan control system on a yacht, ensuring critical engine room pressurisation.
Marine engine crankcase pressure and splash oil temperature with a dual output transmitter - A combined pressure and temperature transmitter provides crucial data on blow-by pressure and oil temperature in a single device for monitoring marine diesel engine crankcase conditions
Measuring negative pressure in hospital construction zones with a low range differential pressure transducer - Low-range differential pressure transmitter provides the resolution needed to verify negative pressure in hospital construction vestibules, ensuring containment of dust and airborne contaminants.

Draft Pressure Sensors - Find low-pressure transducers & transmitters (inWC, mbar, Pa) designed for draft measurement in air handling, combustion control, and ventilation applications.
Low Pressure Transmitters - Low pressure transmitters for measuring gauge, differential, and absolute pressures below 1 bar (15 psi). Ideal for cleanrooms, HVAC, and air contamination control with 4-20mA output.
Low Differential Pressure Transmitters - Select highly sensitive low DP transmitters designed for critical applications like ventilation control, hospital isolation rooms, and laboratory environments. Features include 4-20mA signals, displays, and alarm contacts.
Low Range DP Sensors - Low range differential pressure sensors for measuring very small pressure differences.
Low Range DP Voltage Output Transducers - Low range differential pressure transducers are essential for monitoring and controlling air movement in a variety of applications, including ventilation systems, air extraction systems, and building management systems.
Low Range USB Pressure Sensors - Low range USB pressure sensors are suitable for monitoring pressure in cleanrooms, HVAC systems, and filter monitoring, among other applications.
Low Pressure Range Intrinsically Safe Pressure Transmitters - These intrinsically safe pressure transmitters are designed for precise measurement in hazardous areas where low pressure ranges are critical.
Low Range Voltage Output Pressure Transducers - Low-range pressure transducers with amplified voltage output are precision instruments designed to accurately measure subtle pressure variations in diverse applications.

Find out more about Low Range Pressure Sensors to determine which product options and capabilities will best meet your application requirements.

Low-range pressure sensors are specifically engineered to accurately quantify minute pressure levels, often below 1 psi or extending down into fractions of an inch of water column or pascals. These instruments are critical in applications where subtle pressure variations dictate system performance or safety, frequently involving the management and control of air or other gases. Unlike higher-pressure systems, the pressure differentials needed to induce flow in applications like building HVAC systems, laboratory fume hoods, or industrial dust extraction are deliberately kept small to minimize acoustic noise and prevent operational issues, such as difficulty opening doors due to pressure differences.

The core challenge in designing sensors for these low pressures lies in achieving sufficient sensitivity. Low pressures exert minimal force on the sensing element. To compensate, designers typically employ diaphragms with significantly larger surface areas compared to their higher-pressure counterparts. This increased area allows the faint pressure force to generate a measurable physical displacement or stress within the sensing material. Concurrently, the diaphragm thickness is often reduced to enhance flexibility, although this is constrained by the inherent strength and manufacturing limitations of the chosen sensing technology, whether it be piezoresistive silicon, capacitive ceramic, or another specialized material.

This design necessity of a large, thin diaphragm introduces specific performance trade-offs. While sensitivity is boosted, these sensors inherently exhibit greater susceptibility to external environmental factors. Mechanical vibration, for instance, can more easily induce diaphragm movement, potentially registering as pressure noise or inaccurate readings. Thermal stability is also a key consideration; minute temperature fluctuations can cause expansion or contraction in the sensor assembly, leading to zero shift (changes in output at zero pressure) or span shift (changes in the output range). Consequently, low-range pressure sensors typically have accuracy specifications that are derated compared to higher-range devices operating under ideal conditions, and effective temperature compensation circuitry is vital.

Precise measurement at very low pressures also demands careful attention to installation specifics. The mounting orientation of the sensor can become significant, particularly for differential sensors measuring pressures in the Pascal or low inches-of-water-column range, as gravitational effects on the large, sensitive diaphragm can introduce measurement offsets. Furthermore, ensuring leak-tight pneumatic connections using appropriate tubing is crucial, as even minuscule leaks can significantly skew readings in systems operating so close to ambient pressure. The dynamic response can also be affected by tubing length and diameter, particularly in differential pressure flow measurements derived from Pitot tubes, orifice plates, or Venturi constrictions.

Application areas frequently dictate the preferred units of measurement. While the SI unit Pascal (Pa) is common in scientific contexts and increasingly in cleanroom specifications (e.g., ISO 14644), legacy units remain prevalent in specific industries. Millibar (mbar) or hectopascals (hPa) are often used in meteorology and some industrial processes. In the HVAC industry, particularly in North America, inches of water column (inWC or variants like “WG) is the standard unit for quantifying fan static pressures, filter pressure drops, and duct air pressures. Selecting a sensor often involves matching its range and units to the specific requirements of applications like Variable Air Volume (VAV) box control, cleanroom positive/negative pressure maintenance, hospital isolation room monitoring, filter loading indication, or draft pressure control in combustion appliances. Output signals range from traditional analog voltages (e.g., 0-5V, 0-10V) and current loops (4-20mA) to digital protocols like I2C, Modbus, or BACnet for direct integration into modern control systems.

Product Help

Low pressure inflatable control with atmospheric pressure changes

We use low pressure inflatables, and we would like to be able to know what kinds of atmospheric pressure we are working with, so we can more accurately control the inflation. Could you please help point us in the right direction for what type of sensor we should use?

Typically you would control inflation by measuring the differential pressure between the interior and exterior of the inflatable. This way you can maintain inflation control independently of atomospheric pressure changes.

DMP343 Low Range Pneumatic Pressure Sensor

If the inflatable exterior pressure is atmospheric pressure then you can use a vented gauge reference pressure sensor such as the DMP343 which will measure over the range of 0-10 mbar / 4 inWG or higher.

If the differential pressure is much lower than 10 mbar / 4 inWG then we would suggest the DPS which will measure over a range as low as 0 to 0.1 mbar / 0.04 inWG.

DPS Low Differential Pressure Transmitter

Since the DPS is a differential pressure sensor with two connection ports it can also be used in applications where the inflatable exterior pressure is not atmospheric pressure, and requires a connection point in addition to the inflatable interior pressure.

DMD341 Compact Differential Air Pressure Sensor

For higher pressure ranges requiring two fitting points for inflatable interior & exterior pressure, we would suggest the DMD341 or DPS200 which have pressure ranges starting from 0-6 mbar / 2.4 inWG.