Validating digital IP gauges

[sinidive]

What do you use to validate your IP gauges?

I have a discarded chinese digital tire-gauge that I modified to use a BCD Schrader connection.

Now I am pondering what kind of failure modes do these gauges have and should there be validation/calibration?

I.e. how common would it be for a gauge to become e.g. 10% off?

 

[happy-diver]

I once a few years ago averaged IP out using another two gauges showing all are wrong and it makes
absolutely no difference to breathing or my life and haven't used a gauge since or before for decades

Just like torques it's all done by feel

 

[runsongas]

you can calibrate / verify it against a NIST certified calibrator like the 700G from Fluke, but most don't have access to one

Fluke 700G Precision Pressure Gauge Calibrator

The Fluke 700G Precision Pressure Gauge Calibrator delivers fast, accurate test results with 23 ranges of measurements. Your solution awaits here. Get details.

www.fluke.com

 

[Bigbella]

I usually compare them with a couple of my standard analogue gauges and that of my test bench, which is far more exacting, in terms of parsing a particular number.

I really have not had an issue with significant inaccuracies with either digital or analogue IP equipment . . .

 

[Open Ocean Diver]

Are you going to be using your digital gauge to test IP and/or using it to test cracking effort?

 

[sinidive]

Mostly to test for IP creep (which seems to work fine) which does not need calibration.

But was planning to use it for setting IP after servicing some first stages. But I guess having it producing sensible numbers from working first stages does answer the question with sufficient accuracy, and the rest is useless perfectionism...

 

[tbone1004]

Mostly to test for IP creep (which seems to work fine) which does not need calibration.

But was planning to use it for setting IP after servicing some first stages. But I guess having it producing sensible numbers from working first stages does answer the question with sufficient accuracy, and the rest is useless perfectionism...

I check my cheapies against a good quality one that I have that is actually a fairly high precision dwyer. I have annual calibration at work for all of the rest of the gauges so I just have them calibrate that while they're at it which our cal guy does pro bono for me which is nice, but the ranges for scuba are pretty wide for "what works" especially when you're dealing with balanced second stages. Since I primarily use Poseidons that are fairly picky being unbalanced I do try to get their first stages pretty close.

 

[Open Ocean Diver]

On the boat I use this.

Compact IP Gauge (PSI and BAR)

A compact intermediate pressure (IP) gauge for SCUBA applications

www.divegearexpress.com