Often you will see a measurement of vacuum pressure described as an absolute pressure reading, so is there any difference between the two?
A vacuum pressure is one that is lower than the ambient environment surrounding pressure, and is typically measured relative to a perfect vacuum or full vacuum.
Since the reference pressure is not relative to another pressure and does not change, it is called the absolute reference or absolute pressure reference.
Featured vacuum measurement products
+/- 6 psi / 0.4 bar Low Pressure Calibration Pump – ADT901 - The ADT901 low pressure calibration pump is a hand operated pressure pump designed to generate pressures over +/-6 psi (+/-0.4 bar)
DM01 Multi-Range High Accuracy Pressure Gauge - High precision digital pressure gauge with 0.05% full scale accuracy, exchangeable pressure range modules from 100 mbar (1.5 psi) up to 400 bar (6000 psi).
Any pressure measured relative to a full vacuum, whether above or below the surrounding ambient air pressure, is called an absolute pressure.
A vacuum pressure can always be measured and defined as an absolute pressure, but an absolute pressure can also be used to define pressures outside the vacuum range.
Featured absolute pressure measurement products
DMP457 Marine Approved Pressure Transmitter - Marine approved stainless steel diaphragm pressure transmitter with 4-20mA current loop output for shipbuilding in ranges from 100mb to 600 bar gauge or absolute.
700 to 1100 millibar scaled 4 to 20mA output pressure sensor for barometric pressure measurement - 4-20mA output transmitter for monitoring barometric pressure from 700 to 1100 mbar absolute.
Related Help Guides
- Measuring vacuum with negative gauge or absolute ranges
- What is the difference between gauge and absolute pressure measurement
- Measuring negative pressure using a positive differential pressure range
- Measuring liquid level in a sealed tank with a hydrostatic pressure sensor
- What does negative and positive gauge pressure mean
- Measuring vacuum as a negative gauge pressure using a dp sensor
Related Technical Terms
Related Online Tools
Related Product and Application Guides
Related Application Questions and Answers
- Ex rated ambient pressure sensor with 800-1100 mbar range
- 20 bar absolute steam pressure transducer
- Vacuum drying pressure data logger
- Low range vacuum pressure logger for 0 to -60 inH2O g
- 180 degC pressure sensor for saturated steam up to 10 bar
- High reading rate for measuring dynamic pressures to -200psf
- 1013 to 1400 mbar barometric pressure transmitter & readout
- Using 25 mbar DP sensor on vacuum below 0.2 bar absolute
- Measuring steam pressure up to 10bar with analog/digital output
- Wind turbine USB PC logging pressure & temperature sensor
- Hydrophone array submersible 200 meter seawater depth sensor
- Gas sensors testing barometric pressure sensor with RS485 Modbus RTU interface
Contact us about this What is the difference between vacuum and absolute pressure page to request more information, or to discuss your application requirements.