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Razor blows several pressure gauges~ why?
- Thread starter Waxman
- Start date
Buckeye Hydro
Active member
Are you using gauges that are almost completely filled with glycerin/silicone? Or are you using dry gauges?
Regardless, it looks like that gauge is leaking and the pressurized water is making its way into the gauge. Most often we see that when people screw the gauge in by hand and use the body of the gauge to twist the threads in. A better way is the twist the gauge in using the body of the gauge just to get the threads started. When you start to feel just a little resistance, put a wrench on the square/hex part just above the threads and tighten it the rest of the way. The threads are typically tapered NPT threads, so using teflon tape is a good stroke.
www.buckeyehydro.com
Russ
Regardless, it looks like that gauge is leaking and the pressurized water is making its way into the gauge. Most often we see that when people screw the gauge in by hand and use the body of the gauge to twist the threads in. A better way is the twist the gauge in using the body of the gauge just to get the threads started. When you start to feel just a little resistance, put a wrench on the square/hex part just above the threads and tighten it the rest of the way. The threads are typically tapered NPT threads, so using teflon tape is a good stroke.
Pressure Gauges
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Russ
Waxman
Super Moderator
thank you for the reply. Yes I definitely used the body of the gauge to tighten it. Should I be using a dry gauge instead? Would that make a difference? I was also planning on installing a ball valve in between the gauge and the high-pressure system. That way I can leave it off most of the time and leave the gauge inactive and when I want to get a idea of the pressure I can open it during a high pressure pass and check and then turn it off again. I know I shouldn't have to do this but like I said I'm really tired of buying gauges. This is like my fourth one…
Buckeye Hydro
Active member
Liquid-filled gauges are nearly always a better choice - much more durable - especially when you have fluctuating pressure that bounces the needle around. I'd try one more gauge w/o going to the trouble of installing a valve... but this time tighten it with a wrench.
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Russ is right you always want to use a liquid filled gauge and you always want to use a gauge that is twice as high as the pressure of the device. If your running at 1500psi you want to use a 3000psi gauge.. I've had problems with the Kleen-rite gauges blowing the rubber plug out of the top of the gauge and blowing water out the hole.
Buckeye Hydro
Active member
Hmm. There should be no water getting into the gauge. The recommendation to use gauges that are about 2x your expected pressure comes from the fact that gauges have their least error near the center of their range.
A couple of years ago when I was a young man I was in charge of the calibration section for the organization that I worked for. If water is getting into the gauge the pressure tube inside the gauge is leaking. This will cause the pressure to build up inside the gauge housing and blow it apart. You are correct when the gauge are used at the center of there range.
