digital manometer calibration

[johnnyplumb]

My digital manometer is now 1yr old. I know they are supposed to be calibrated every year but I have checked it against my u gauge and both read the same. So what I'm saying is, if you check readings regularly against your water gauge , then why the need to calibrate.

 

[Puddle]

I do not think digital manometers have to be calibrated every year,maybe some manufacturers recommend it for extra income,as said a simple check if you wish is to test against a water filler manometer

imho

 

[tamz]

They still need calibrating. Saying you checked it against your U gauge would not hold up if anything went wrong. Modern technology is great but comes at a price.
Why do you think SGN (transco) don't give their guys digital manometers? No calibration or false reading ever on the old U gauge's.

 

[johnnyplumb]

On say a cp12, we write down burner pressure but we never write down what type of gauge we used , so if we know both gauges read the same, then who's to know what gauge was used. So when you think about it, calibration only necessary when digi gauge reads different from u gauge.

 

[Pssst]

Cant go wrong with a water guage...

 

[SimonJohns]

Testo offer calibration for their manometer. And if you use the manometer in your analyser then it's all done in one for you

 

[gasmarc]

I have a digital manometer that I bought about a month ago but still use the glass manometer

 

[AWheating]

sparks can use check boxes and result logs to prove there test equipment is in good working order but still need to have them calibrated yearly. But if the equipment is used all the time its a good way of proving your test equipment is working correctly on a daily/weekly basis, which is good if you ever need to prove good working practice to any authority.

 

[kirkgas]

i know a few manufaturers supply them to their guys for commissioning etc, but have always felt that doing a TT on my new work i just trusted the water in the guage to be right, not so sure that an electronic one which is due calibration in a couple of weeks was actually recording a good TT (just old fashioned of me, but cant seem to justify the purchase of electronic when a simple u guage does what it is supposed to)

 

[johnnyplumb]

i know a few manufaturers supply them to their guys for commissioning etc, but have always felt that doing a TT on my new work i just trusted the water in the guage to be right, not so sure that an electronic one which is due calibration in a couple of weeks was actually recording a good TT (just old fashioned of me, but cant seem to justify the purchase of electronic when a simple u guage does what it is supposed to)

once you start using electronic, its hard to go back to u gauge,theres no water spillage problems, it does'nt need to be level to get correct readings & accuracy should be ok if checked regularly against water gauge.

 

[Halesowen1]

and my one has a nice light for those dark meter cupboards, wouldn't ever go back to water manometer.

 

[kirkgas]

once you start using electronic, its hard to go back to u gauge,theres no water spillage problems, it does'nt need to be level to get correct readings & accuracy should be ok if checked regularly against water gauge.

thats my point "SHOULD" isnt good enough for my new installs, i appreciate it will prob be ok and it will be down to me being old fashioned,, but the water in my guage tells me whether i have a leak or not, it is also down to my victor meldrew "what if" mode but if you feel the need to check it periodically against a u guage, why buy and calibrate it, seems like too much bother to me, and TBH, self calibrating against your u guage would never stand up in court if your electronic was found wanting in between official calibrations, and i bet when you send it in for a £50 calibration it is done by checking it against their old u guage haha, but they are certified to do it and give you a nice shiney sticker

 

[CMairiD]

I am officially gadget girl ... love 'em; however, have tried and can't deal with electronic manos. Gimme my Regin Premier any day.

 

[Halesowen1]

No need to try and stand it up, or hang it from something. Torch stuck in your mouth trying to set the thing to zero. I cannot believe there are people out there who are still using water gauge, the only ones I tend to see are the ones still using 110v tranny and leads everywhere for drilling and cutting. Go and spend a little you cant take it with you.

 

[AWheating]

once you start using electronic, its hard to go back to u gauge,theres no water spillage problems, it does'nt need to be level to get correct readings & accuracy should be ok if checked regularly against water gauge.

i used an electronic on for a couple of years, then it broke and i went back to water. Never ever thought about going back to electronic.... i have a mini testo one for gas valve pressures but i only use it a couple of times a year. Each to there own.

 

[johnnyplumb]

i did think about a regin premier , are they totally spill proof, if its not spill proof then could end up costly as fluid is not cheap.

 

[CMairiD]

In 1.5 years, I've not needed to top up. Equally, only minor and very FEW adjustments to zero.

 

[johnnyplumb]

thats my point "SHOULD" isnt good enough for my new installs, i appreciate it will prob be ok and it will be down to me being old fashioned,, but the water in my guage tells me whether i have a leak or not, it is also down to my victor meldrew "what if" mode but if you feel the need to check it periodically against a u guage, why buy and calibrate it, seems like too much bother to me, and TBH, self calibrating against your u guage would never STAND UP IN COURT if your electronic was found wanting in between official calibrations, and i bet when you send it in for a £50 calibration it is done by checking it against their old u guage haha, but they are certified to do it and give you a nice shiney sticker

STAND UP IN COURT I USED MY U GAUGE YOUR HONOUR honest

 

[johnnyplumb]

when i had the gas safe inspection, the inspector used a manometer with an analogue dial. it wasnt a water gauge or electronic type just a pressure gauge with pointer. anyone seen this type before.

 

[gasmarc]

no I have not seen that but I am tempted to start using my digital one now as it is a pain using and carry around the glass manometer, all that balancing agg etc

 

[darking]

probably a tyre pressure gauge who knows

 

[Pssst]

Fact is that with water guages you cant go wrong. Water has a definite SG,its free and when used in a U guage or a J guage in the correct manner,is a more direct means of measuring pressure. It is easy to believe that anything digital is by default better or more accurate but thats like saying that speed on a satnav in a car is more accurate than the speedometer. The more closely the quantity to be measured is geared to the measuring device,the more accurate it is. Digital manometer..? Well the pressure is applied to some kind of transducer. This produces an output which is interpreted by some electronics and is then displayed on a screen. Gauge..pressure is directly applied to the surface of a column of water..erm..and thats it.

In my kit i have 1 30Mb water manometer, A 60mb water guage and a 120mb high Sg J guage..i wouldnt use anything else...i would however use a combustion analyser instead of draegar tubes simply because there is a case and need for greater accuracy..!

 

[darking]

Now that is what I call a reasoned approach a mix of simple physics combined with sophisticated technology for specific needs

 

[Halesowen1]

But many plumbers I have seen cannot see the line on a water gauge, and I doubt many of you older or poor sighted plumbers could see a .5mb drop for let by on a water gauge. It is a dam sight easier with a digital and thats all i am bothered about, why make a job hard??
Dont trust a manometer but do trust flue analyser?? dont make sense to me.

 

[darking]

I doubt many of you older or poor sighted plumbers could see a .5mb drop for let by on a water gauge.

Present company excepted, one hopes? or do you discriminate against older and hopefully wiser blokes that have, where necessary, been to specsavers