{"id":15682,"date":"2022-11-28T10:47:41","date_gmt":"2022-11-28T15:47:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.wika.com\/us\/\/?p=15682"},"modified":"2025-06-11T13:58:23","modified_gmt":"2025-06-11T18:58:23","slug":"three-reasons-to-use-a-diaphragm-pressure-gauge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.wika.com\/us\/knowhow\/three-reasons-to-use-a-diaphragm-pressure-gauge\/","title":{"rendered":"Three Reasons to Use a Diaphragm Pressure Gauge"},"content":{"rendered":"

When standard pressure gauges reach their limits, the process industry can use diaphragm pressure gauges to measure low pressures and protect against overload in all types of applications, including ones with aggressive or hygienic media.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thanks to using a flexible yet durable membrane as the sensing element, a diaphragm pressure gauge offers process industries three main advantages over other types of pressure gauges.<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0 Measures Low Pressure<\/h2>\n

Since the slightest pressure causes a diaphragm to deflect, a diaphragm pressure gauge can measure as low as 6″WC (16 mbar). Compare that to a Bourdon tube gauge, which can detect pressures only as low as 10 psi (0.6 bar).<\/p>\n

2. Overload protection<\/h2>\n

Pressure overload, also referred to as overpressure, is one of the common reasons for gauge failure<\/a>. However, a diaphragm pressure gauge can withstand significantly higher maximum pressures than standard pressure gauges.<\/p>\n

WIKA\u2019s diaphragm pressure gauges for process industries have an overload safety of up to five times the full-scale value, with the upper limit at 600 psi for model 43X.50\/43X.30<\/a> (safety version), whereas it is only 1.3 times that in a standard Bourdon tube gauge. The source of the overload safety is the upper housing, which provides a solid surface for the diaphragm to push against. The extent of the overload limit depends on the range. For example, at a range of 0\u2026100″WC, the maximum overload limit is 500″WC \u2013 five times the full-scale range.<\/p>\n\n

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A diaphragm pressure gauge\u2019s overload safety features<\/p><\/div>\n \n

For overload protection greater than five times the full-scale value, WIKA offers a special version of models 43X.56\/43X.36<\/a> (safety version). The overload safety can be increased up to 6000 psi (400 bar), independent of the pressure range, by selecting the high overload safe version model 43X.36, which comes in a solid front safety design. Model 43X.50 is available for maximum overpressure up to 3600 psi (250 bar), independent of the\u00a0 <\/span>pressure range.<\/p>\n

This high overload safety comes from the following design features:<\/strong><\/p>\n