SensorsONE

What is the difference between a pressure transducer and a transmitter

When browsing through pressure measurement products you will notice that some of the products are called pressure transducers and others are called pressure transmitters.

Pressure TransducerA pressure transducer is any device that fundamentally converts an applied pressure into an electrical signal. There have been many different types of pressure transducer developed over the years such as bonded foil, thick film, thin film, variable capacitance, LVDT & semiconductor strain gauge to name just a few. All of these sensing technologies are used to convert a pressure into a measurable electrical signal.

Since the transducer core signal varies significantly from one device to another it is often necessary to add some electronic compensation to trim the zero & span offsets and reduce thermal sensitivity over the operating temperature range.

Featured millivolt output pressure transducer products

  • IMP Low Cost Pressure Sensor - Versatile low price pressure sensor with a wide selection of electrical and mechanical options for customisation.
  • TPS Strain Gauge Pressure Sensor - Strain gauge pressure sensor with a millivolt output direct from a four arm wheatstone bridge strain gauge circuit in pressure ranges from 10 up to 1000 bar gauge.

Some pressure transducers are manufactured without any compensation circuitry which are called pressure transducer capsules, modules or headers. These pressure transducer elements and then integrated with electronics by instrument manufacturers to compensate the pressure transducer, and bring the output signal within the design parameters required by the instrumentation specification.

Due to the weak signal generated by the pressure transducer, it is only used over relatively short distances, such as inside a test laboratory or inside some instrumentation. When you want to run the electrical output signal over greater distances, some additional electronics is required to boost the signal. This is when it is necessary to add an amplifier to a pressure transducer to transmit the signal. A pressure transducer which has been combined with an output signal amplifier is typically called a pressure transmitter.

Featured amplified voltage signal pressure transducer products

  • DPS Low Differential Pressure Transmitter DPS Low Differential Pressure Transmitter - Ultra low differential pressure transmitter for HVAC applications with 4-20mA current loop or amplified voltage output signal in pressure ranges from 0.1 mb up to 1 bar differential.
  • DMP 335 All Welded Stainless Steel Diaphragm Pressure Sensor - All welded stainless steel diaphragm pressure sensor for mobile hydraulics, refrigeration or oxygen applications. This pressure sensor is available in the ranges from 6 bar up to 600 bar gauge with a 4-20mA or 0-10Vdc output signal.

Pressure TransmitterMany types of amplified signals have been developed over the years as electronics have advanced and power considerations have changed, the most common type are 4-20mA current loop pressure transmitters and amplified voltage output pressure transducers.

Despite the distinguishing technical differences between a pressure transducer and a pressure transmitter, both have become synonymous with describing any type of pressure sensor, and are often interchanged by different manufacturers.  So from a marketing and product naming point of view there is no common distinction between the two types of pressure sensor.

Featured amplified current signal pressure transducer products

Related Help Guides

Related Technical Terms

Related Online Tools

Related Product and Application Guides