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What is the difference between vacuum and absolute pressure

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.

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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.

What is the difference between vacuum and absolute pressure

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Related Help Guides

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  • Measuring vacuum with negative gauge or absolute ranges
  • What is the difference between gauge and absolute pressure measurement
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Related Technical Terms

  • Absolute Pressure
  • Barometric Pressure
  • MSL – Mean Sea Level
  • Negative Gauge Pressure
  • Reference Pressure
  • Suction Pressure
  • Vacuum

Related Online Tools

  • Suction Pressure to Vacuum Calculator
  • Gauge + Barometric to Absolute Pressure Calculator

Related Product and Application Guides

  • Barometric Pressure
  • Absolute Pressure
  • Suction Pressure

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Use this battery powered wireless pressure sensor to transmit readings to a receiver connected to USB, RS485, RS232, cellular network or analog output

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