What are water pressure gauges made of?

Water pressure gauges are made from a variety of materials due to the unique properties required by each section. Read our complete guide to what water pressure gauges are made of.

Box

The outer flap of the water gauge is usually made of stainless steel. Stainless steel is used for its strength, durability and corrosion-resistant properties.

What are the advantages of stainless steel?

Stainless steel is a steel alloy with a chromium content of at least 10.5%. It is strong, durable and will not corrode, stain or rust, making it ideal for tools that come into frequent contact with water.

lens

The lens (or window) of a water pressure gauge is usually made of hard, clear plastic (polycarbonate) or glass.

What are polycarbonates?

Polycarbonates are a type of plastic polymer that can be easily processed, molded and thermoformed. Polycarbonate products can be impact resistant, heat resistant and durable. However, plastic is much less scratch resistant than glass.More expensive models of higher accuracy water gauges tend to have glass lenses, but again, this is not a sign of quality. Glass can be molded, molded and molded into any shape, it can be very strong and break very slowly.

Glass has the advantages of high scratch resistance, resistance to harsh chemicals, and no pores. However, if broken, the glass may shatter into sharp pieces.

Dialing a number

The dial is most often made of plastic, although on more expensive models it may be made of aluminum.

Needle

The needle (or pointer) is also most often made of plastic, although it may be made of aluminum on more expensive models.

What are the advantages of aluminum?

Aluminum is a soft, lightweight, ductile metal that resists corrosion due to the natural phenomenon of passivation, in which the metal forms a very thin outer corrosion layer that protects it from environmental factors such as air and water.

Connections

Water pressure gauge connections are almost always made from a copper alloy such as brass. Brass and other copper alloys are often used for plumbing connections and fittings due to their corrosion resistant properties.

What are the advantages of brass?

The advantage of using brass, especially in plumbing where water contact is likely, is that when alloyed with aluminum, brass forms a hard, thin, transparent alumina coating that provides corrosion resistance and self-heals to reduce wear. and tear.

Шланг

Some water gauges have a braided hose, which consists of a rubber or plastic inner tube encased in an outer layer of steel braid.

What is braided steel?

Braided steel is a type of steel sheath made up of many different small pieces of thin steel wire woven together. The steel braid construction allows it to be strong and durable while still being flexible.

Internal mechanisms

The internal mechanisms of the water gauge are also made from a copper alloy such as brass. Although water pressure gauges that measure over 100 bar are often made of stainless steel. This is because stainless steel has a much higher tensile strength and does not deform under high pressure.

Fill liquid

Liquid-filled gauges are most commonly filled with viscous silicone oil or glycerin.

What is silicone oil and glycerin?

Silicone oil is a non-flammable viscous liquid, mainly used as a lubricant or hydraulic fluid. Glycerin is a simple sugar-alcohol viscous liquid that is colorless and odorless and is widely used in pharmaceuticals.

What are the advantages of a liquid manometer?

Viscous substances such as silicone oil and glycerin are often used in liquid-filled gauges as a combination of lubricant and vibration-resistant substance. A liquid-filled gauge also reduces the chance of condensation forming inside the lens, which can cause gauge failure. Both silicone oil and glycerin also act as antifreeze.