i UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

. - , BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
USBR 1050-89
PROCEDURE FOR
CALIBRATING PRESSURE TRANSDUCERS
INTRODUCTION
This procedure is under the jurisdiction of the Geotechnical Services Branch, code D-3760, Research and Laboratory Services
Division, Denver Office, Denver, Colorado. The procedure is issued under the fixed designation USBR 1050. The number immediately
following the designation indicates the year of acceptance or the year of last revision.
1. Scope
1.1 This designation outlines the procedure for
calibrating pressure transducers.
1.2 This calibration procedure is used to determine tile
accuracy of pressure transducers over the full pressure range
as set forth in the manufacturer's specifications.
2. Auxiliary Tests
2.1 The pressure gauge used in this procedure must
be calibrated in accordance with USBR 1040 prior to
performing this calibration procedure.
3. Appli cable Documents
3. l USBR Procedures:
USBR 1040 Cali brati ng Pressure Gauges
USBR 3900 Standard Defi ni ti ons of Terms and Symbols
Relati ng toSoi l Mechani cs
4. Summary of Method
4.1 A pressure transducer and a standard pressure
gauge are connected to a pressure source. Pressure is applied
in predetermined increments over the full range of the
pressure transducer. The pressure transducer voltage output
is compared at each increment to a pressure gauge reading.
The percent error of the pressure transducer when
compared to the pressure gauge readi ng is calculated for
each pressurei ncrementover thefull rangecali brated. From
thesepercenterror values, adetermi nati oni s madetoaccept
or reject the pressure transducer for laboratory use.
5. Significance and Use
5.l A calibrated pressure transducer must be used in
the laboratory to ensure reliable test results.
5.2 This calibration procedure is to be performed upon
receipt of the pressure transducer and annually thereafter.
6. Terminology
6.1 Definitions are in accordance with USBR 3900.
6.2 Terms not included in USBR 3900 specific to this
designation are:
6.2.1 Hermetically Sealed.-A process by which a
device is sealed and guaranteed to be airtight.
6.2.2 PressureTransducer.-An electroni c transducer
that translates changes i npressure i ntochanges i nvoltage.
Thi s change i n voltage produces, i n the readout system,
a repeatable si gnal or i ndi cati on that can be calibrated i n
terms of pressure appli ed to the transducer.
6.2.3 Readout System.-An electronic apparatus
which accepts the output signal from a signal conditioner
and converts it into a display and a record of the output
signal.
6.2.4 Signal Cooditioner.-An electroni c apparatus
necessary to make the output si gnal from a transducer
compati ble wi th the readout system. It also provi des the
exci tati on for a passi ve transducer element, such as a
pressure transducer.
6.2.5 Traceability Certificate.-A certi fi cate of
i nspecti oncerti fyi ng that a measurement devi ce meets the
Federal speci fi cati on for i ts parti cular grade or model and
whose accuracy i s traceable to the Nati onal Insti tute of
Standards and Technology (Nati onal Bureauof Standards)
or an Internati onal Standard.
7. Apparatus
7.1 Pressure Transducer (fig. 1).-A transducer which
converts a pressure input into an electrical output.
7.1.1 Components of the pressure transducer must
have the following characteristics:
7.l.1.1 Electrical parts of the transducer must be
hermetically sealed to prevent damage to internal
components in the event of exposure to moisture.
7.1.1.2 The transducer must be threaded with
appropriate threaded fittings to attach the transducer to
standard pipe fittings.
7.1.1.3 Cable connections must be securely
fastened to the body of the transducer.
7.2 PressureGauge.-A bourdontubeai r pressuregauge
whose range equals or exceeds that of the pressure
transducer bei ng cali brated i s to be used. The gauge must
have a current cali brati on accompani ed wi th a certi fi cate
of traceabi li ty.
7.3 Pressure Source.-An ai r pressure source capable
of deli veri ng and mai ntai ni ng pressureuptothemaxi mum
rated pressureof the transducer i s requi red.
7.4 Readout System.-A voltmeter or a computer must
be used to provi de a vi sual di splay of the si gnal bei ng
sent fromthe si gnal condi ti oner.
' 2
USBR 10511,
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USBR 1050
12. Calculations
12.1 Determine pressure transducer error for each
pressure increment.
Error = appliedpressure - readout response
12.2 Determine percent error for each pressure
i ncrement.
( error )
Percent error = 100 appli ed pressure
13. Report
13.1 The report is to consist of a completed andchecked
"Pressure Transducer Calibration" form (fig. 2).
13.2 All calculations are to show a checkmark.
14. BackgroundReferences
Electrical Transducer Nomenclature and Terminology,
ANSI, ISA-$37.1, Research Tri anglePark, North Caroli na,
December 1982.
Specifications and Tests for Strain Gage Pressure
Transducers, ANSI, ISA-$37.3, Research Tri angle Park,
North Caroli na, December 1982.
84
USBR 1050
7-2307 (6-85)
Bureau of Rec lamation
PRESSURE TRANSDUCER CAL IBRATION
Manufac turer ExQmple
Calibrationperformed by
Calibrationc hec kedby
Ser i al No. 14385
Des i g na ti on US BR 1 050- 89
Range 0- 7000kPo
Da te
Da te
T r i a l Number
2
Applied
pressure
( kPo )
0
Readout
response
( kPo )
6890
E rror
( kPo )
0
6882
E rror
%
0
1 72 1 72 0 0
345 345 0 0
51 7 51 7 0 0
689 688 I 0. 1 5
861 860 I 0. 1 2
1 034 1 033 I O. lO
1206 1204 2 0.17
1378 1376 2 0.15
2067 2064 3 0.15
2 756 2 753 3 0.11
3445 3441 4 0.12
4134 4129 5 0.12
4823 4817 6 0,12
5512 5505 7 0.13
6201 6194 7 0,11
8 0.12
0 0 0 0
E MARKS
Figure 2 . - Pressure transducer calibration - example.
GPO847-- 972
85