Digital Gauge Blog

Tire Pressure Gauge Reviews and Buying Guide

Tire Pressure Gauge Reviews
Tire pressure is something that has recently come into the spotlight again as gas prices continue to rise and consumers are more aware of ways in which they can stretch their gas mileage on a gallon of gas. Tire pressure ultimately decides things like handling, tire tread wear, and gas mileage for your automobile. The first thing you need to know is what tire pressure your car tires should be at. In surveys, the vast majority of car owners have no idea what their tires pressure should be set to. Many just let the guys at the oil change shop inflate the tires when needed and others never even consider checking. Almost all gas stations have inflators so you can add air and many of these also have a simplistic gauge for tire pressure. Ideally you want to know the exact PSI (pounds per square inch) for each tire so it’s a good idea to invest in a decent tire pressure gauge of your own. From reports that we read from reputable sources, keeping your tires properly inflated can improve gas mileage from 3 to 5 %. The longevity of the tire will also be increased by maintaining the tire pressure on your tires.

To find the rated tire pressure for your car and tires, check on the inside of the driver’s side door (along the doorframe). If it’s not listed there, check the owners manual and lastly if you still can’t locate the information, check with the store or shop where you bought the tires. Experts recommend checking the tire pressure every month to make sure your tires are staying properly inflated. The one # many people say is misleading are the ones you find on the side of the tires. These PSI recommendations from the manufacturer are for the maximum allowable tire pressure, so always go a few pounds underneath that #, especially in the summer when tires heat up and expand. The # you find usually relates to “cold” tire pressure which means check the pressure in the morning before you drive the car. You will get the most accurate reading this way. There are lots of different kinds of tire pressure gauges you can buy. The old fashioned sliding gauge that resembles a pen is still sold, but they are less accurate than other types. The digital tire pressure gauges are the most accurate and the most expensive, but your cost savings on gas will easily make up for the purchase. The dial type pressure gauges are around $15 to $25 and work reasonably easy. The newer digital tire pressure gauges from Accutire are the best on the market and give you exact and accurate readings every time. They cost about $15, are lightweight, and some are even programmable so you can input your tire pressure specifications and not have to remember each time you check your tires. Some newer cars are being built with tire pressure monitor systems which tell the driver when tire pressure has dropped below a certain level. You can buy these systems for around $250 if you want. A much cheaper way to go is the Tire Safety Monitors sold HERE. They cost $20 (for a set of 4) and they attach to your tires where your valve stem caps used to be. They start off green and when the tires have lost 2-3 psi (or more), you will see a red flag pop out. It’s a great way to monitor your car tire pressure at a glance. No matter how you decide to check your air pressure in your tires, make sure you do it once a month and keep healthy tires on the road for the safest driving conditions. Beyond getting better gas mileage, your car will handle better and you will have less chance of things like a tire “blowout”. Ultimately, your tires will wear more even and last much longer. I used to never check my tire air pressure and it cost me $100’s as I had to replace all 4 tires due to uneven tire wear (somewhat related to balanced tires and alignment issues). We tried looking for reviews on tire pressure gauges and found some excellent customer feedback and opinions on Amazon.com and in car forums. RECOMMENDED – We suggest shopping online at Amazon.com since they carry all the leading brands and often have the lowest prices.

Best Basic Tire Pressure Gauge:
For a basic tire gauge with the dial readout, consider the Accu-gage Tire Guage for around $15. Reviews on Amazon were favorable in terms of accuracy and preciseness. Not all tire valves are eacy to access, but with the “swiveling, angled chuck”, it’s no problem. If the tires are slightly over inflated, simply use the push button valve which will slowly let out air to your desired psi. The #’s on the gauge are quite large and easy to read. They sell a slightly different version for bikes and cars (0 to 100 psi) on the same website listed above. The pencil style pressure gauges, like the Draper Tire Pressure Gauge are about $20 as well and sell in most automotive parts stores. Most car owners prefer the dial gauges or the digital ones we have listed below. BEST – The #1 selling Moroso 89560 Tire Pressure Gauge, Dial Type, 0-60 psi – designed for racers but still very accurate for those at home or in the shop. Owners say it is easy to read and very durable.

With technology has come the new digital tire pressure gauge which reads your tire air pressure accurately and quickly. The Accutire MS-4350B Programmable Digital Tire Gauge ($13) is perhaps the most popular of all. This programmable pressure gauge lets you record the factory recommended tire pressure for both the front and rear tires so you can easily determine if your psi reading is too high or too low. The MS-4350B reads 5-99 PSI in .5 pound units. The backlit LCD screen allows you to see the actual reading in all light conditions. The comments on Amazon are almost all very positive but some owners make note that some valve stems are hard to reach with this product. Some of the basic dial pressure gauges will work on wheels where the stem is harder to access. The Accutire MS-4000 gets reasonable reviews as well as the MS-4652B which is a key chaing digital tire gauge.

Digital Gauge Kit suits hand-operated press models

 January 6, 2010 – Battery-powered Digital Gauge Kit offers user selectable readout in lb force, tons, metric tons, kilonewtons, or kilograms. Readings are generated in 100 lb increments, but optional increment settings of 1 lb or 10 lb are available. Each gauge features LCD face and is configured to individual press model.

Digital Pressure Gauge suits outdoor applications

Leveraging MEMS-based sensing technology, IP67 rated Model PG7 features full 5-digit display with 0.4 in. characters. Unit is available with ranges from vacuum to 500 psi and from 0-10,000 psi, with ±0.25% full scale accuracy and .01 digit resolution through 100 psi. Equipped with all stainless steel sensor that is resistant to vibration and shock, gauge includes microprocessor-based circuit with Tare, Peak Hold, and Max-Min capability. Lockout feature prevents unauthorized access.

Classification of Digital Pressure Gauge

Based on MCS Control Design and Implementation of Digital Pressure Gauges

Abstract: This paper introduces a precise digital pressure gauge of hardware and software implementations.  The method with atmospheric pressure through the pressure sensors, the corresponding analog voltage value, and after V / F transform input to the microcontroller for processing to real-time display the corresponding pressure values. Using the method described in this article digital pressure gauge made and easy to carry, simple operation, high accuracy, full compliance with design requirements.

1. Introduction

Pressure Gauge is the use of pressure-sensitive device under test pressure will be directly transformed into easy detection, transmission of current or voltage signal, and then through the subsequent processing circuitry and real-time display of a device. The core component of which is the air pressure sensor, which monitors the pressure in the size, control pressure changes and physical parameters of the measurements plays an important role. Digital pressure gauge of the pressure sensors used are basically relying on the pressure changes of different heights to get the pressure value.

Meteorology studies have shown that in the vertical direction, atmospheric pressure decreases with height increase.  For example, in low-rise, each rising 100m  pressure to lower 10hPa; in 5 ~ 6km of high-altitude, height for each additional 100m, pressure will be reduced 7hPa; and when a high degree of further increases, that is 9 ~ 10km altitude, the height of each additional 100m, pressure will be reduced 5hPa; Similarly, if there was a downward air flow, the pressure will increase; if there is an upward air flow, the role of the air column at the bottom of the air pressure is reduced. General to act on the unit area on the weight of the air column is called atmospheric pressure

2. The Structure of Digital Pressure Gauge

One pressure sensor is used to convert the measured pressure voltage signal; with the V / F converter can put pressure sensor output voltage signals into a certain frequency pulse signal; in order to use microcontroller to receive the pulse signal and in accordance with per unit time within the pulse number, voltage and frequency based on a linear relationship to calculate the pressure corresponding to the value, in the end MCU controlled by the LED display.

The digital pressure gauge of pressure sensor can be accurately measured within the linear range of the corresponding pressure values. Be explained is that its measured value is the absolute pressure values. Digital pressure gauge of this study the technical indicators are as follows:

● measuring range: 300hPa ~ 1050hPa;

● Accuracy: 0.1% FS (20 ℃);

● Display accuracy: 0.1%, from four 8-segment LED display of;

● Operating temperature range: 0 ~ 85 ℃;

● Supply voltage: 9V.

3.  System Implementation

In the system building process, the need to consider the stability, complexity, cost and ease of debugging and other factors. Modules there is no complex signal transmission, and interference with very little, so overall system more stable.

Pressure Sensors

 Digital pressure gauge of pressure sensor in the central position occupied. Designed according to measurement accuracy, measuring range, temperature compensation for measuring absolute pressure values, and several other performance indicators to select the air pressure sensor.

 As the digital pressure gauge shows the absolute pressure values, and therefore need to select the value of the pressure measuring absolute pressure sensor. Meanwhile, in order to simplify the circuit, improving stability and anti-jamming capability, requested that the air pressure sensor with temperature compensation should be.

 To this end, I use Motorola’s MAX4100A pressure sensor to measure the absolute pressure values. The sensor temperature compensation range of -40 ~ +125 ℃; pressure range of 20kPa ~ 1050kPa; output voltage signal (Vs = 5.0V) range of 0.3 ~ 4.65V; measurement accuracy of 0.1% VFSS, at the same time In the 20kPa ~ 1050kPa good linearity when the specific output relationship is as follows:

Ｖｏｕｔ＝Ｖｓ(０．０１０５９ Ｐ－０．１５２８) Vout = Vs (0.01059 P-0.1528)

Japan launched a long-term stability of the Vaisala excellent Digital Pressure Gauge

Vaisala (Vaisala, Headquarters: Tokyo)  launched in April 2008 Digital Pressure Gauges “PTB330″. Determination of the range of 50 ~ 1100hPa, or 500 ~ 1100hPa. High-precision models can ± 0.15hPa accuracy determination. A year’s average error of ± 0.10hPa. Request for determination of accuracy and long-term stability of the industrial and aviation use. Specifically, high-precision measurement can be used to want to pressure of the occasion, such as using laser interferometer for measurement, as well as the engine testing in the exhaust gas analysis.

Products that can be embedded in a ~ 3 silicon capacitive absolute pressure sensor “BAROCAP”. If you use multiple sensors, pressure gauges, the determination of the value of the sensor can be compared with each other to determine whether the differences in the set of its range. In this way, can improve the reliability of measured values to easily grasp the pressure gauge to maintain and re-calibration date.

Measurement data not only to a numerical display, but also in order to observe trends in the charts. Chart in the observation process can be automatically updated. The use of special software, you can achieve data transfer to the PC.