Fluke Calibration 3990 is a precise manual pressure control pack designed for accurate pneumatic pressure generation and adjustment in professional pressure calibration systems. It provides a convenient method for manually controlling gas pressure simultaneously to a device under test and a calibration reference such as a gas piston gauge or digital reference pressure indicator.

The Fluke Calibration 3990 is available in two pressure configurations. The 3990-801 provides manual pressure control from vacuum to 1,000 psi (7 MPa / 70 bar), while the 3990-803 extends the range from vacuum to 3,000 psi (20 MPa / approximately 200 bar).

A high-resolution precision pressure adjuster enables exceptionally fine pressure changes with increments as small as 0.00025 psi. Combined with a metering valve for fine control and an integrated vent valve for controlled pressure release to atmosphere, the 3990 provides the precise manual control required for demanding pressure calibration.

The self-contained pneumatic design makes the Fluke 3990 particularly suitable for use with high-accuracy pressure references such as Fluke Calibration gas piston gauges and reference pressure monitors. Both models support gauge pressure applications as well as absolute and negative gauge pressure configurations when used with the appropriate external equipment.

At europascal, we provide complete solutions for professional pressure calibration, ranging from manual pressure generation and adjustment to high-accuracy pressure standards and fully automated pressure controllers.

For professional calibration and metrological traceability of pressure measuring equipment and reference standards, use the europascal Calibration Service.

Your Benefits at a Glance

• Precision manual pneumatic pressure control
• Two pressure range configurations
• 3990-801 from vacuum to 1,000 psi
• 3990-803 from vacuum to 3,000 psi
• Maximum pressure up to 20 MPa
• Maximum pressure approximately 200 bar
• Precision pressure adjustment
• Adjustment increments as small as 0.00025 psi
• Integrated metering valve for fine pressure control
• Integrated vent valve
• Easy venting to atmosphere
• Gauge pressure operation
• Absolute pressure applications possible
• Negative gauge pressure applications possible
• Self-contained design
• Designed for gas pressure applications
• Suitable for gas piston gauges
• Suitable for digital reference pressure indicators
• Suitable for reference pressure monitors
• Simultaneous connection of reference and device under test
• Convenient 1/4-inch NPT female connections
• Suitable for professional calibration laboratories
• Ideal for precision pressure comparison measurements
• Designed for high-accuracy pressure metrology

Ideal for Demanding Calibration Applications

The Fluke Calibration 3990 is designed for calibration applications that require extremely precise manual control of pneumatic pressure.

Unlike an electronic pressure controller, the 3990 provides direct manual pressure adjustment. This gives experienced calibration technicians precise control over the pressure applied to the reference standard and device under test.

Typical applications include:

• Calibration laboratories
• Accredited pressure laboratories
• Gas piston gauge systems
• Reference pressure monitor systems
• Pressure comparison measurements
• Digital pressure indicator calibration
• Pressure gauge calibration
• Pressure sensor calibration
• Pressure transmitter calibration
• Research and development
• Primary and secondary pressure standards
• Quality assurance
• Pressure metrology

The 3990 is particularly useful when a highly accurate pressure reference is already available and a separate system is required to generate and finely control the pneumatic test pressure.

Two Pressure Ranges

The Fluke Calibration 3990 is available in two main versions.

Fluke Calibration 3990-801

The 3990-801 provides manual pneumatic pressure control from:

Vacuum to 1,000 psi

This corresponds to approximately:

Vacuum to 7 MPa

or:

Vacuum to 70 bar

The 3990-801 is particularly suitable for calibration systems operating in low and medium pneumatic pressure ranges.

Fluke Calibration 3990-803

The 3990-803 extends the operating range to:

Vacuum to 3,000 psi

This corresponds to approximately:

Vacuum to 20 MPa

or approximately:

Vacuum to 200 bar

The higher pressure capability makes the 3990-803 particularly suitable for high-pressure gas piston gauges and precision digital pressure indicators.

Precise Manual Pressure Control

The key function of the Fluke Calibration 3990 is precise manual pressure control.

During a pressure comparison measurement, both the reference standard and the device under test must be exposed to the same pressure.

The 3990 provides the pneumatic control mechanism required to establish and adjust this pressure.

Instead of measuring pressure itself, the control pack works together with an external reference standard.

This separation between pressure control and pressure measurement provides considerable flexibility when configuring a professional calibration system.

Users can combine the 3990 with the pressure reference that best matches the required range, accuracy and measurement uncertainty.

Fine Adjustment Down to 0.00025 psi

One of the outstanding features of the Fluke Calibration 3990 is its precision adjuster.

Fluke specifies pressure adjustment increments as small as:

0.00025 psi

This extremely fine adjustment capability is particularly valuable when working with high-accuracy reference pressure standards.

Small changes in pressure can be made manually, enabling the operator to approach the desired calibration point with a high degree of control.

The precision adjuster is complemented by a metering valve that provides additional fine pressure control.

Integrated Metering Valve

The Fluke Calibration 3990 incorporates a metering valve for controlled pneumatic pressure adjustment.

The metering valve allows gas flow to be regulated precisely during pressure generation and adjustment.

This is especially important when working with sensitive piston gauges or high-resolution digital pressure indicators.

Controlled gas flow helps the operator approach the required pressure gradually instead of introducing excessive pressure changes into the calibration system.

Integrated Vent Valve

Pressure must not only be increased during calibration. It must also be reduced in a controlled manner.

The Fluke Calibration 3990 therefore includes an integrated vent valve.

The vent valve provides a convenient method for releasing pressure to atmosphere.

This simplifies decreasing-pressure calibration sequences and allows the pressure system to be safely returned toward atmospheric pressure after measurements are completed.

The combination of pressure adjustment, metering and venting functions provides the operator with comprehensive manual control over the pneumatic calibration pressure.

Gauge Pressure Calibration

The Fluke Calibration 3990 can be used for conventional gauge pressure calibration.

In this configuration, the pressure reference is atmospheric pressure.

A suitable pressure supply provides the gas required to generate positive pressure, while the 3990 enables the operator to regulate the pressure applied to the calibration standard and device under test.

Typical devices under test include:

• Digital pressure gauges
• Mechanical pressure gauges
• Pressure transmitters
• Pressure transducers
• Pressure sensors
• Reference pressure indicators

The exact calibration capability depends on the reference standard connected to the pressure control system.

Absolute Pressure Applications

The Fluke Calibration 3990 can also support absolute pressure applications when combined with suitable reference equipment and vacuum hardware.

In absolute pressure calibration, pressure is referenced to vacuum rather than atmospheric pressure.

Fluke Calibration gas piston gauges can be configured for absolute pressure measurement using the appropriate vacuum reference equipment.

The 3990 provides the manual pneumatic pressure control required for these systems.

This makes it useful for laboratories requiring both gauge and absolute pressure calibration capability.

Negative Gauge Pressure

Both 3990 models can also support negative gauge pressure applications when configured with the appropriate external vacuum equipment.

Negative gauge pressure occurs when the test pressure is below atmospheric pressure.

Applications can include:

• Vacuum gauges
• Compound pressure gauges
• Pressure transmitters
• Low-pressure sensors
• Reference pressure instruments

The ability to work from vacuum through positive pressure makes the 3990 a flexible manual pressure control solution.

Ideal for Gas Piston Gauges

One of the primary applications of the Fluke Calibration 3990 is pressure control for gas piston gauges.

Gas piston gauges generate highly accurate reference pressures based on the relationship between applied force and effective piston area.

For correct operation, the pressure must be carefully adjusted until the piston reaches and maintains its appropriate operating position.

The 3990 provides the precise manual control needed for this process.

Fluke lists the 3990 as a pressure control option for high-accuracy piston gauge systems such as the PG9602 and PG9607.

Combination with Reference Pressure Monitors

The Fluke Calibration 3990 can also be used with electronic reference pressure monitors.

In this configuration, the 3990 generates and adjusts the pneumatic pressure while the reference pressure monitor provides the accurate measurement value.

The device under test is connected to the same pressure system.

This creates a pressure comparison system consisting of:

• Pressure source
• Fluke Calibration 3990
• Reference pressure monitor
• Device under test

The 3990 controls the pressure while the reference instrument determines its actual value.

Pressure Comparison Calibration

Pressure comparison is one of the most common methods used to calibrate pressure measuring instruments.

The device under test and reference standard are connected to the same pressure circuit.

The Fluke Calibration 3990 is then used to adjust the pressure to the required calibration points.

Once the pressure has stabilized, the indication of the device under test is compared with the reference value.

Several increasing and decreasing pressure points can be generated according to the calibration procedure.

Depending on the device and procedure, this allows characteristics such as:

• Indication deviation
• Repeatability
• Hysteresis
• Zero behavior

to be evaluated.

1/4-Inch NPT Connections

Both versions of the Fluke Calibration 3990 use:

1/4-inch NPT female connections

These standardized connections simplify integration into existing pneumatic pressure calibration systems.

Suitable adapters and pressure hoses can be used to connect:

• Pressure supply
• Reference standard
• Device under test
• Vacuum equipment
• Additional pressure system components

At europascal, we can assist with selecting suitable pressure adapters and connections for the required calibration setup.

Self-Contained Design

The Fluke 3990 is designed as a self-contained pressure control pack.

The required manual pressure adjustment components are integrated into one compact system.

This simplifies the construction of a calibration workstation compared with assembling individual valves and pressure control components.

The result is a clean and professional solution for manual pneumatic pressure control.

Manual Control or Automatic Pressure Controller?

The Fluke Calibration 3990 is intended for manual pressure control.

This provides several advantages for applications where full automation is not required.

Manual pressure control can be particularly useful for:

• Individual calibration measurements
• Research applications
• Piston gauge operation
• Reference pressure comparisons
• Laboratory measurements requiring direct operator control

For applications involving large numbers of repetitive calibrations, an automatic pressure controller may provide additional productivity.

The 3990 is therefore particularly attractive when precision manual control, flexibility and direct operator interaction are more important than fully automated pressure sequences.

Important Difference Between Pressure Control and Pressure Measurement

The Fluke Calibration 3990 should not be confused with a pressure calibrator or reference pressure indicator.

The 3990 is primarily a:

Manual Pressure Control Pack

It generates, adjusts and vents pneumatic pressure within a calibration system.

The actual reference pressure is determined by a separate calibration standard such as:

• Gas piston gauge
• Digital reference pressure indicator
• Reference pressure monitor

This distinction is important when configuring a complete pressure calibration workstation.

The 3990 provides the pressure control function, while the connected reference standard provides the metrological pressure measurement.

Technical Highlights

The Fluke Calibration 3990 provides precise manual pneumatic pressure control for professional calibration systems:

• Manual pneumatic pressure control
• Two available models
• 3990-801 from vacuum to 1,000 psi
• 3990-803 from vacuum to 3,000 psi
• Maximum pressure up to 20 MPa
• Maximum pressure approximately 200 bar
• Precision pressure adjuster
• Adjustment increments down to 0.00025 psi
• Integrated metering valve
• Integrated vent valve
• Gauge pressure capability
• Absolute pressure applications
• Negative gauge pressure applications
• Self-contained design
• 1/4-inch NPT female connections
• Suitable for gas piston gauges
• Suitable for reference pressure monitors
• Suitable for digital pressure indicators
• Ideal for pressure comparison calibration

Technical Specifications

Why Choose the Fluke Calibration 3990?

The Fluke Calibration 3990 provides a precise and straightforward solution for manually controlling pneumatic pressure in professional calibration systems.

Two configurations allow users to select the pressure range required for their application. The 3990-801 covers pressures from vacuum to 1,000 psi (7 MPa / 70 bar), while the 3990-803 extends the range to 3,000 psi (20 MPa / approximately 200 bar).

A precision adjuster capable of increments as small as 0.00025 psi provides the fine pressure control required when working with high-resolution pressure standards.

The integrated metering valve allows controlled gas flow, while the vent valve simplifies pressure reduction and venting to atmosphere.

Compatibility with gas piston gauges and reference pressure monitors makes the 3990 particularly useful for laboratories that already use a high-accuracy pressure reference and require a dedicated manual pressure control system.

Its ability to support gauge, absolute and negative gauge pressure applications further increases its flexibility.

The self-contained design and standardized 1/4-inch NPT connections simplify integration into professional calibration workstations.

For calibration laboratories, research facilities and pressure metrology applications requiring direct and precise manual control, the Fluke Calibration 3990 provides an effective solution without the complexity of a fully automated pressure controller.

At europascal, we can assist you in selecting the appropriate Fluke Calibration 3990 version, pressure reference, adapters, pressure connections and additional components for your individual calibration application.

For professional calibration and metrological traceability of pressure standards, piston gauges and pressure measuring instruments, use the europascal Calibration Service.

Discover more Fluke Calibration products here.

Manufacturer information about the Fluke Calibration 3990 is available on the official Fluke 3990 product page.

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