How to Make Sure Pressure Gauges are Always Calibrated

The gas industry uses pressure gauges for calibrating and testing a variety of instruments. Periodic calibration has to be performed on these gauges to ensure their accuracy. Regulatory authorities need routine audits and/or testing of gas systems, which can result in fines for non-compliance. By selecting Crystal Engineering’s XP2i digital pressure gauges, costly fines can be prevented using automatic built-in calibration reminders and alerts.

Keeping Track of Gauge Calibrations Doesn’t Have to be Difficult

Test gauges are used as the standards for testing and calibrating major equipment that are used on a daily basis. The accuracy of these test gauges can reduce over time, and, therefore they should be routinely calibrated to stay accurate.

Maintaining a record of the calibration intervals for all test equipment can be a difficult task in which human error can occur. The technician may fail to notice that the gauge is beyond its calibration dates, or calibration stickers or certificates can be lost or misplaced. Even if a company has a system to maintain a record of these dates, it still needs someone to inform the technicians when re-calibrations are due. It also requires the technicians to remove the gauge from service after they are informed.

Each of these situations needs human intervention to ensure that products are not used beyond their calibration intervals. If errors are made, a company may end up using a gauge to test key equipment when they shouldn’t be. This could result in failed audits and expensive fines.

Never Miss a Calibration Again with XP2i Pressure Gauges

Crystal Engineering provides a solution to substitute manual record maintaining and notifications, with automatic, protected alerts and notifications. The XP2i pressure gauges contain three innovative features:

1. Warning alerts on and after the due date
2. On-screen customizable calibration reminder alerts before the due date
3. An optional feature to lock the gauge from use on the calibration due date

With the help of free software, supervisors, users or labs can set a calibration date in the internal memory of the gauge. The message types, due dates, and reminder times can all be tailored using the software.

Calibration Reminder Alert

For a start-up reminder, users enter the calibration due date and the notification time before that date, which can be set in weeks or days. Once the defined before date is reached, the XP2i flashes “Cal Soon” three times at the time of the start-up process and will do that until the alert dates are updated, or the calibration due date has been reached.

Calibration Due Alert

After the calibration due date is reached, the XP2i has three alert options:

• Gauge Start-up: During the start-up process, “Cal Due” flashes three times and after that, the gauge will operate normally. No more alerts will occur until the power is recycled on the gauge.
• Always: “Cal Due” is displayed until a button is pressed, and afterwards the gauge operates normally. Thereafter, no more warnings will occur until the power is recycled. Password protection can be added to make the gauge non-operational and always display “Cal Due.”
• Alternate with Reading: During the start-up process, “Cal Due” flashes three times and then alternates displaying “Cal Due” with live pressure readings.

With increased attention of environmental problems surrounding the oil and gas sector, pressure on businesses and audits has never been higher. A system that depends on human intervention can always be unintentionally or intentionally avoided. An automatic product-based system, which can easily be set-up by supervisors or managers, is much preferred.

Crystal Engineering’s XP2i gauge is already being used extensively in the oil and gas industry. This innovative feature now makes the new XP2i even more appealing. If it prevents a company from using it post its calibration date even one time, it has already paid for itself. The XP2i has been shipping since January of 2017. Crystal Engineering has in fact worked with one of the largest oil and gas companies in the USA when designing the novel features. This company has already standardized and executed the innovative XP2i throughout.

This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by AMETEK Sensors, Test & Calibration.

For more information on this source, please visit AMETEK Sensors, Test & Calibration.