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Measuring negative pressure using a positive differential pressure range

How can you use a differential pressure measurement device to measure a negative pressure if it has been factory configured to measure a positive pressure range without making any adjustments to the electronics or the signal output?

Finding a pressure sensor to read negative pressure can be difficult since the vast majority of pressure measurement devices are only available with positive ranges as standard, since most applications require a positive pressure range, and therefore manufacturers understandably focus on the most popular pressure ranges for their product range.

Although manufacturers will often consider a custom configuration for measuring negative pressure, this could cause a delay to delivery and an extra cost compared to the standard pressure range configuration.

Featured differential pressure measurement products

  • 250″wc Orifice plate flow measurement dp transmitter - This differential pressure (dp) transmitter can be used to measure the difference in upstream and downstream flowing pressure either side of a orifice plate.
  • DPS Low Differential Pressure Transmitter 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.

There is a much simpler and convenient solution to measuring negative pressures. A differential pressure measurement device has two separate pressure connections so that the difference in pressure between the two connections can be measured. One connection will be marked as High (Hi) or Positive (+), and the other as Low (Lo) or Negative (-).

Typically when measuring positive pressures, the Low side connection would be open to ambient air pressure, and the High side connection would be connected to the positive pressure to be measured.

If you want to measure negative or suction pressure instead, you can reverse the connection, so that the High side connection is open to ambient air pressure, and the Low side connection is connected to the vacuum pressure. As the vacuum increases, the greater will be the difference in pressure between the Low and High side.

As an example, a 0 to +100 mbar differential pressure range will become a 0 to -100 mbar differential pressure range simply by reversing the connections.

Featured differential pressure measurement products

  • DPS200 HVAC Differential Pressure Transmitter - Differential air pressure sensor with a 10 volt or a 4-20mA output for building ventilation applications. Ranges from 0 to 6 mbar up to 0 to 1000 mbar.
  • DPT200 High One Side Overload Differential Pressure Sensor - DP transmitter for measuring pressure difference between two pressure points which can tolerate up a very high overload pressure independently on either the positive or negative side port or both together at the same time.

Measuring negative pressure using a positive differential pressure range

Featured differential pressure measurement products

  • Clean Room Monitor for Air Differential Pressure, Temperature and Humidity – PMDS4 - The PMDS4 clean room monitor is designed for positive and negative monitoring of differential air pressure between the inside and outside of a clean room.
  • Intrinsically Safe DP Sensors - Intrinsically safe differential pressure sensors are essential for accurate pressure measurement in hazardous environments where explosive atmospheres may be present.

Related Help Guides

  • Measuring vacuum with negative gauge or absolute ranges
  • Measuring the difference in air pressure between rooms
  • Measuring liquid level in a sealed tank with a hydrostatic pressure sensor
  • What is the difference between vacuum and absolute pressure
  • What does negative and positive gauge pressure mean
  • Measuring vacuum as a negative gauge pressure using a dp sensor
  • Measuring liquid level in a tank using a dp sensor
  • Measuring density of a liquid using a dp sensor

Related Technical Terms

  • Dry/Dry
  • Negative Gauge Pressure
  • Static Line Pressure
  • Wet/Dry
  • Wet/Wet

Related Online Tools

  • DP Flow Transmitter Output Calculator
  • High and Low Side Pressure to Differential Pressure Calculator
  • Suction Pressure to Vacuum Calculator

Related Product and Application Guides

  • Suction Pressure
  • Differential Pressure Sensors

Related Application Questions and Answers

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  • Vacuum drying pressure data logger
  • Low range vacuum pressure logger for 0 to -60 inH2O g
  • High reading rate for measuring dynamic pressures to -200psf
  • Using 25 mbar DP sensor on vacuum below 0.2 bar absolute
  • Low range ATEX approved 100 Pascal range DP transmitter
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  • Leak testing set for checking 1mb/min drop at negative 10 mbar vacuum
  • Vacuum suction sensor & wall mount digital readout with switched contacts
  • Solvent compatible +/-100mWG dp transmitter with PTFE seals

Contact us about this Measuring negative pressure using a positive differential pressure range page to request more information, or to discuss your application requirements.

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  • Measuring vacuum as a negative gauge pressure using a dp sensor
  • Measuring liquid level in a tank using a dp sensor
  • Measuring density of a liquid using a dp sensor
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