• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
SensorsONE

SensorsONE

  • Products
  • Contact

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 Ceramic Strain Gauge Pressure Transducer - Ceramic strain gauge pressure transducer with a 2mV/V or 10mV/V output signal in pressure ranges from 1 bar up to 700 bar gauge or absolute.
  • AS Autosport Pressure Transducer AS Autosport Pressure Transducer - Motorsport pressure transducer with 21mm diameter and and 24mm body length for pressure ranges from 0.5 up to 600 bar gauge or absolute. Available with millivolt and amplified voltage output signals.

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

  • TPSADA Digital Auto-Zero High Pressure Sensor TPSADA Digital Auto-Zero High Pressure Sensor - Contactless zero tare & span adjustment high pressure transmitter with 4-20mA current loop or amplified voltage output signal in pressure ranges from 50 bar up to 1000 bar gauge.
  • DMK 331 Ceramic Diaphragm Industrial Pressure Transmitter - This pressure transmitter can be supplied with a PVDF process connector so that it can be used to measure the pressure of acids and other corrosive chemicals.

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

  • Steam Pressure Transmitters - Accurately measure steam pressure in autoclaves, power plants, and food processing. Discover transmitters built to withstand high temperatures with reliable current outputs.
  • 16 bar, 200°C steam pressure transmitter and gauge - Combined pressure transmitter and indicator in one package with the option for use with high temperature media such as steam at 200°C

Related Help Guides

  • Determining the hydrostatic pressure range for a tank level sensor
  • Symptons and Causes of Damage to Pressure Transducer Diaphragms
  • How to Connect a 4-20mA Current Loop Pressure Transmitter
  • What is difference between working, burst and over pressure
  • How to get a 10 volt signal from a 4-20mA output pressure sensor
  • Measuring vacuum as a negative gauge pressure using a dp sensor

Related Technical Terms

  • Ceramic Pressure Sensors
  • Digital Compensation
  • Dry Cell
  • Dry/Dry
  • HART®
  • Isolation Diaphragm
  • LVDT – Linear Variable Differential Transformer
  • Pressure Sensors
  • Pressure Transducers
  • 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

Related Product Types

  • High Resolution Pressure Transducers
  • Silicon Pressure Sensors
  • 0-10 Volts Output Pressure Transducers
  • Underwater Pressure Sensors

Contact us about this What is the difference between a pressure transducer and a transmitter page to request more information, or to discuss your application requirements.

Primary Sidebar

Pressure Sensor Specifier

Specify a pressure sensor

Select your pressure sensor requirements

Pressure Sensor Calculator

Calculate errors and readings for a pressure sensor
Enter your parameters into this pressure sensor calculator to determine calibration errors, expected readings, and error tolerances

Pressure Sensor Technology Guide

Rating table for performance of different pressure sensor technology types

Compare performance of the most popular pressure sensor technology types and how they rate for different application requirements

Measurement Instrument Specifier

Specify a measurement instrument

Select your measurement instrument requirements

Product Enquiry

Send us your enquiry for a product associated with this What is the difference between a pressure transducer and a transmitter page, and get assistance with selecting a product for your application.

Email Your Enquiry

enquiries@sensorsone.com
By clicking "OK" or continuing to use this website you are providing your consent to use cookies as described in our Privacy Policy

© 2026 SensorsONE Ltd, all rights reserved

  • Home
  • Products
  • Tools
  • Legal
  • Contact