Pressure Measurement · Glossary

What is Overpressure Limit?

Q: What is Overpressure Limit?

Overpressure limit is the highest pressure a sensor can take without damage or loss of its calibration.

Q: How do I protect a gauge from overpressure?

Choose a range so normal pressure is 30 to 75 % of scale, add a snubber for pulsation, or use an overpressure protector valve.

Q: Does one overpressure event ruin a transmitter?

Not if it stays below the overpressure limit. Check the zero afterwards anyway.

maximum without damagePressure Measurement

Overpressure limit is the highest pressure a sensor can take without damage or loss of its calibration.

Overpressure Limit Explained

Pressure spikes, water hammer or a wrongly opened valve can exceed the measuring range. Up to the overpressure limit, the sensor returns to specification after the pressure falls.

Above it the sensor can shift permanently; far above it is the burst pressure, where the pressure boundary fails.

Overpressure Limit: Typical Values

Order of values	URL < overpressure limit < burst pressure
DP transmitters	often rated for full static pressure on one side

Calculators for Overpressure Limit

CalculatorPressure Gauge Range SelectorFree online calculator with formula and worked example.CalculatorWater Hammer CalculatorFree online calculator with formula and worked example.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Overpressure Limit?

Overpressure limit is the highest pressure a sensor can take without damage or loss of its calibration.

How do I protect a gauge from overpressure?

Choose a range so normal pressure is 30 to 75 % of scale, add a snubber for pulsation, or use an overpressure protector valve.

Does one overpressure event ruin a transmitter?

Not if it stays below the overpressure limit. Check the zero afterwards anyway.

Learn more on the blog

Pressure transmitter installation tips

A practical guide on instrumentationblog.in with more detail on overpressure limit and how it is applied on real plants.

Read Full Article

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