When browsing through pressure measurement products you will notice that some of the products are called pressure transducers and others are called pressure transmitters.
A 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
Flush Diaphragm Millivolt Output Pressure Transducers - Flush diaphragm pressure sensors with millivolt output signals are designed to measure the pressure of high-viscosity liquids, slurries, and pastes, where a standard pressure connection would become clogged or blocked.
SSPT Subsea Wet-Mateable Electrical Connector Pressure Sensor - This stainless steel ceramic sensing diaphragm based subsea connector pressure sensor provides a unamplified ratiometric millivolt output or an amplified analogue output signal corresponding to ranges from 0…1 bar (14.50 psi) up to 400 bar ( 5800 psi).
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
DS200P Sanitary Low Range Pressure Gauge, Switch and Sensor - All in one electronic switch, gauge and sensor designed specifically for use in the food, drink and biomedical industry for measuring process pressures.
0-10 Volts Output Pressure Transducers - 0 to 10 volts output pressure transducers with amplified signal conditioning electronics and 3 or 4 wire configuration for generating a 0-10Vdc analog signal which corresponds to a specified pressure range.
Many 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
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. 
Dirty water, sludge & sewerage tank level 400 mbar pressure sensor - Flush ceramic diaphragm pressure sensor for measuring level of a dirty water, sludge & sewerage tank.
Related Help Guides
- Pressure Sensor Accuracy Specifications
- Supply voltage and load resistance considerations for pressure transmitters
- How to Connect a 4-20mA Current Loop Pressure Transmitter
- Symptons and Causes of Damage to Pressure Transducer Diaphragms
- What is difference between working, burst and over pressure
- 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
- Pressure Sensor Technology Comparative Guide
Related Technical Terms
- Ceramic Pressure Sensors
- Digital Compensation
- Dry Cell
- Dry/Dry
- HART®
- Isolation Diaphragm
- LVDT – Linear Variable Differential Transformer
- Pressure Sensors
- SOI – Silicon on Insulator
- Stainless Steel Pressure Sensors
- Static Line Pressure
- Wet/Dry
- Wet/Wet
Related Online Tools
- Pressure Transmitter 4-20mA Current Output Calculator
- Pressure Sensor Calculator
- DP Flow Transmitter Output Calculator
- Pressure Transducer Millivolt (mV) Output Calculator
- Pressure Transducer 0-10V Voltage Output Calculator
- Pressure Transducer 0-5V Voltage Output Calculator
- Pressure Transducer 1-5V Voltage Output Calculator
- Pressure Transducer 0.5-4.5V Voltage Output Calculator
- Pressure Sensing Errors Calculator
- Pressure Transmitter 0-20mA Current Output Calculator
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