Pressure Calibrators & Deadweight Testers

Pressure calibrators and pressure calibration equipment for generating or controlling pressure and comparing it to a reference: handheld, automated and deadweight, from Additel, Crystal, Mansfield & Green, and related lines, with ISO/IEC 17025 accredited calibration available on most instruments.

What a pressure calibrator does

A pressure calibrator helps you apply known pressure to a gauge, transmitter, or switch and document as-found / as-left performance. Depending on the model, that can mean a hand pump plus a reference gauge, a documenting calibrator, or an automated controller that sets pressure for you.

Handheld vs automated

• Handheld / documenting calibrators — portable for field loops, often combine measure/source and document results.
• Automated pressure controllers / calibrators — set and hold pressure with higher throughput for shop or lab work.
• Reference gauges — sometimes used as the comparison standard with a separate pump or controller (see Pressure Gauges).

Choosing a pressure calibrator

• Range and media — pneumatic vs hydraulic, vacuum through high pressure.
• Accuracy / uncertainty — must support the TUR your procedure requires.
• Portability vs throughput — field kits vs benchtop automation.
• Documentation — onboard documenting, Bluetooth/logging, or paper worksheets.
• Intrinsically safe options when the area classification requires them.

Brands in this category

Additel automated and handheld pressure calibrators, Crystal documenting/reference tools, and complementary generation gear. Matching pumps, hoses, and Quick-test fittings are linked from product pages where OEM pairing is clear.

Handheld pressure calibrators compared

Accuracy and features are as each manufacturer specifies them.

• Additel 760: an automatic handheld with a built-in pump and controller. Key in a setpoint and it generates the pressure. Under 4 lb, 4 channels, accuracy as low as 0.01% FS, with HART and documenting options.
• Additel 673: color touchscreen, mA/V measurement with 24 V loop power, optional full HART, IP67, built-in barometer, ranges to 60,000 psi, and 0.02% / 0.05% FS or 0.1% of reading.
• Additel 273Ex: intrinsically safe multifunction calibrator with a color touchscreen, built-in barometer, dual external module inputs and optional HART.
• Crystal HPC40 / HPC50: 0.035% of reading, with a non-menu color interface and temperature-compensated pressure, mA, voltage and True Ohm temperature measurement from −20 to 50 °C.
• Crystal 30 Series: shirt-pocket size and intrinsically safe, 0.05% of reading from vacuum through 5,000 psi (300 bar), with milliamps indication.
• Ralston FieldLab: intrinsically safe, ±0.02% FS (0–20% FS) and ±0.1% of reading (20–100% FS), with a 3.5 in color display, 2 million-point logging and IP67.

For hazardous areas, look at the 273Ex, 30 Series and FieldLab. To have the calibrator generate pressure itself, the 760 is the one with a built-in pump. For HART work, use the 673, 273Ex or 760 with their HART options.

Pressure gauge calibrators and calibration equipment

Calibration equipment for pressure gauges comes down to three parts: a pressure source, a reference standard, and a way to record the results. Here is how the pressure gauge calibrators on this page fit those roles (figures as each manufacturer states them):

• Primary reference: the Mansfield & Green PK II and Type T deadweight testers, with accuracy to ±0.015% of reading.
• Electronic reference: the Additel 715 precision pressure indicator (0.01% RD option, ranges 2 to 15,000 psi, up to five pressure inputs). It reads pressure but does not generate it.
• Automated calibrators: the Additel 761 (pneumatic, built-in pump, generation to 1,500 psi on the 761A) and the Additel 762 (hydraulic) generate and hold each setpoint.
• Dial gauge automation: the Additel 710 automatic gauge reader is an automated dial and digital gauge calibration system. Paired with an Additel pressure controller and ACal software, it reads the gauge from a camera, taps the pointer, and captures the data.

Hydraulic and high pressure calibrators

For a hydraulic pressure calibrator that generates its own pressure, the Additel 762 uses a built-in electric pump to generate and control to 15,000 psi (1,035 bar) at 0.01% FS, with one-button auto-purge. For a high pressure calibrator that reads above that, the Additel 673 offers ranges to 60,000 psi (4,200 bar); generate the pressure with a hydraulic hand pump.

Digital pressure recorders

For a digital pressure recorder, the Crystal nVision logs gauge and absolute pressure to 15,000 psi and stores up to 500,000 data points. The intrinsically safe Additel 260Ex logs up to 10 million readings and is designed for hydrostatic and air leak testing.

Deadweight testers

A deadweight tester (also called a dead weight calibrator) generates a reference pressure from calibrated weights. AMETEK describes the PK II as a primary-standard, floating-ball pneumatic tester with a self-regulating design that stabilizes the weights without manual adjustment of input pressure. The Type T uses a re-entrant piston/cylinder assembly that reduces fluid leakage and increases float time, and a dual-volume pump that fills the system quickly at low pressure and gives finer control at high pressure. Both are offered in standard- or local-gravity versions.

• Mansfield & Green PK II pneumatic deadweight tester — floating-ball design for low pressure to 30 psi / 2 bar, accuracy to ±0.015% of reading.
• Mansfield & Green Type T hydraulic deadweight tester — piston deadweight tester to 15,000 psi / 1,000 bar, single or dual column, accuracy to ±0.015% of reading.

Popular pressure calibrators

• Handheld — Crystal HPC40 / HPC50, Crystal 30 Series, Additel 760 automatic handheld, Additel 673 and the intrinsically safe Additel 273Ex.
• Automated / benchtop — Additel 761, Additel 762 hydraulic, Additel 715 precision indicator and Additel 710 automated gauge reader.
• Reference recorders — Crystal nVision and Additel 260Ex.

Deadweight tester buying guide

A deadweight tester generates pressure from the known force of calibrated weights acting on a known piston or ball area. Use these points to choose between the two Mansfield & Green (AMETEK) testers we carry.

Pneumatic or hydraulic

• Low-pressure pneumatic work (to 30 psi / 2 bar): the PK II floats a ceramic ball on gas. Ranges are offered in psi, g/cm², mbar, bar, kPa, inH₂O, cmH₂O and mmHg.
• Hydraulic work (to 15,000 psi / 1,000 bar): the Type T uses a re-entrant piston/cylinder. Leakage drops and float time rises as pressure increases.

Accuracy class

• PK II: ±0.050% of reading as standard, with ±0.025% (-1B) and ±0.015% (-1A) options. "/C" adds calibration data.
• Type T: accuracies to ±0.015% of reading.
• Choose the class your calibration procedure's test uncertainty ratio requires.

Columns, units and weights

• Type T configurations: single-column single-piston, single-column dual-piston, and dual-column dual-piston, in imperial and metric ranges (psi, kg/cm², bar, kPa).
• Weights: small incremental weight sets are available for both testers. For example, the PK II's KWS-PK-.1PSI adds 0.1 psi increments.

Gravity

Both testers come in standard-gravity (980.665 gals) or local-gravity versions. Order local gravity if your site's gravity differs enough to matter for your uncertainty budget.

Field setup

• PK II: quick-leveling system and an optional K-1562 tripod. Its self-regulating design stabilizes the weights without manual adjustment of input pressure.
• Type T: 3-leg design with a bull's-eye level, over-pressure protection for the piston, and a dual-volume pump (fast fill at low pressure, fine control at high pressure).

When an automated calibrator fits better

For throughput rather than primary-standard work, the Additel 762 generates and controls hydraulic pressure to 15,000 psi at 0.01% FS. The Additel 715 is a benchtop reference indicator (0.01% RD option, 2 to 15,000 psi ranges).

Frequently asked questions

What is a pressure calibrator?

A pressure calibrator applies or measures a known pressure so you can check a gauge, transmitter or switch against a reference and record as-found / as-left results. Handheld models such as the Crystal HPC40 / HPC50 and Additel 673 measure pressure along with mA and voltage. The Additel 760 also generates pressure with a built-in pump.

What pressure calibration equipment do I need to calibrate a pressure gauge?

You need a pressure source, a reference standard and a way to record the results. Common setups: - Hand pump plus reference: a hand pump with a reference such as the Additel 715 precision pressure indicator, or a deadweight tester. - Automated calibrator: the Additel 761 (pneumatic) or 762 (hydraulic) generates and holds each setpoint. - Dial gauges: the Additel 710 automatic gauge reader, paired with an Additel pressure controller and ACal software, reads the gauge from a camera and captures the data.

Which pressure calibrators generate their own pressure?

• Additel 760: handheld, with a built-in pump and controller.
• Additel 761: pneumatic, with a built-in pump (generation to 1,500 psi on the 761A).
• Additel 762: hydraulic, with a built-in electric pump to 15,000 psi (1,035 bar).

Which pressure calibrators are intrinsically safe?

The Additel 273Ex, the Crystal 30 Series and the Ralston FieldLab.

What is a deadweight tester?

A deadweight tester generates a reference pressure from calibrated weights on a piston or floating ball of known area. AMETEK describes the Mansfield & Green PK II as a primary standard, and the Type T is built for field and laboratory use.

What is the difference between the PK II and the Type T?

The PK II is pneumatic, using a floating ceramic ball, for low pressure to 30 psi / 2 bar. The Type T is hydraulic, using a re-entrant piston/cylinder, for pressure to 15,000 psi / 1,000 bar.

How accurate are Mansfield & Green deadweight testers?

The PK II is ±0.050% of reading as standard, with ±0.025% and ±0.015% options. The Type T offers accuracies to ±0.015% of reading.

Do I need a local-gravity deadweight tester?

Both testers are offered in standard-gravity (980.665 gals) and local-gravity versions. Local gravity removes the correction you would otherwise apply for your site's gravity.

Which Type T configurations are available?

Single-column single-piston, single-column dual-piston, and dual-column dual-piston, in imperial and metric ranges. Small incremental weight sets are available for both the Type T and the PK II.

Calibration

Most calibrators here can ship with ISO/IEC 17025 accredited calibration from Total Calibration Solutions. Tell us if you need specific test points, as-found data, or alignment to your due dates.