Additel ADT 161Ex is a precise intrinsically safe digital pressure module designed for reliable pressure measurement and calibration in hazardous environments. As an external pressure module, it expands compatible Additel intrinsically safe calibrators and reference instruments with additional pressure ranges and provides a flexible solution for professional field and process calibration.
The Additel ADT 161Ex combines advanced microprocessor technology with carefully selected silicon pressure sensors. Each sensor is specially aged, tested and screened before assembly to provide reliable measurement performance and long-term stability. Advanced temperature compensation further supports accurate pressure measurements under changing environmental conditions.
Depending on the selected module, the Additel ADT 161Ex covers gauge, compound and differential pressure applications. The overall ADT 161 family extends to extremely high pressures, while the intrinsically safe ADT 161Ex variants provide range-dependent accuracy for demanding field calibration applications.
The Additel ADT 161Ex is specifically designed for use with compatible intrinsically safe Additel instruments such as the Additel ADT 226Ex, Additel ADT 227Ex, Additel ADT 260Ex and Additel ADT 273Ex. This modular concept enables users to select the pressure range required for each calibration task without replacing the complete calibration instrument.
At europascal, the Additel ADT 161Ex complements a comprehensive portfolio of pressure calibration equipment for laboratory, industrial and hazardous-area applications. europascal also provides professional calibration services for pressure measuring equipment. More information is available from the europascal Calibration Service.
Your Benefits at a Glance
The Additel ADT 161Ex provides a flexible combination of intrinsically safe pressure measurement, modular design and professional measurement performance.
Key benefits include:
- Intrinsically safe external digital pressure module
- Designed for hazardous environments
- ATEX certified intrinsically safe
- Gauge pressure measurement
- Compound pressure measurement
- Differential pressure measurement
- Wide selection of pressure ranges
- Accuracy down to 0.02% FS for suitable Ex ranges
- Advanced temperature compensation
- Temperature-compensated performance from -10 °C to 50 °C
- Suitable for gas and liquid media depending on the selected range
- Robust stainless-steel enclosure
- Compact external module
- Multiple pressure connection options
- Compatible with Additel ADT 226Ex
- Compatible with Additel ADT 227Ex
- Compatible with Additel ADT 260Ex
- Compatible with Additel ADT 273Ex
- Ideal for field pressure calibration
- Suitable for process instrumentation
- ISO/IEC 17025 accredited calibration certificate and calibration data included
- Professional support and calibration services from europascal
Intrinsically Safe Pressure Measurement
The Additel ADT 161Ex has been specifically developed for applications where intrinsic safety is required.
The module is ATEX certified as:
II 1G Ex ia IIC T4 Ga
when used in the approved configuration with compatible intrinsically safe Additel equipment.
This makes the ADT 161Ex particularly suitable for pressure measurement and calibration in potentially explosive atmospheres.
Typical applications include:
- Oil and gas industry
- Petrochemical plants
- Chemical processing
- Refineries
- Natural gas installations
- Process plants
- Energy industry
- Pharmaceutical production
- Industrial maintenance
- Field calibration
The intrinsically safe design allows pressure calibration equipment specifically designed for hazardous areas to be used directly in demanding process environments.
External Digital Pressure Module
The Additel ADT 161Ex is designed as an external pressure module.
This concept provides significant flexibility compared with permanently installed pressure sensors.
A compatible Additel calibrator can be connected to different ADT 161Ex modules depending on the required pressure range.
For example, a technician can use separate modules for:
- Low pressure
- Medium pressure
- High pressure
- Compound pressure
- Differential pressure
The calibrator itself remains unchanged.
This modular approach can reduce the number of complete calibration instruments required while increasing the pressure ranges that can be covered by one handheld platform.
Wide Selection of Pressure Ranges
The Additel ADT 161 product family offers a very broad selection of pressure ranges.
Available configurations include vacuum, gauge, compound and differential pressure modules.
The standard ADT 161 family extends to:
60,000 psi / 4,200 bar.
The exact pressure ranges available for an intrinsically safe Additel ADT 161Ex configuration must be selected together with the corresponding Ex-compatible accuracy and connection options.
This broad modular concept enables the pressure module to be matched closely to the device under test.
Using a pressure module with an appropriate measuring range can provide better measurement performance than using one very high-range sensor for every calibration task.
Accuracy for Ex Applications
An important distinction must be made between the standard Additel ADT 161 and the intrinsically safe Additel ADT 161Ex.
The complete ADT 161 family includes standard non-Ex sensors with accuracy specifications as low as 0.01% FS and precision sensors with specifications based on the measured value.
However, these highest-accuracy sensor options are not available as ADT 161Ex versions.
For intrinsically safe ADT 161Ex configurations, available accuracy classes depend on the selected pressure range and include:
0.02% FS
0.05% FS
and:
0.1% FS.
This distinction is important when selecting the correct pressure module for a hazardous-area calibration application.
The exact specification of the selected module should always be used when calculating measurement uncertainty or evaluating the required test uncertainty ratio.
Advanced Temperature Compensation
Pressure sensors can be influenced by changes in ambient temperature.
The Additel ADT 161Ex therefore incorporates advanced temperature compensation.
The standard accuracy specifications apply across an operating temperature range of:
-10 °C to 50 °C
or:
14 °F to 122 °F.
This wide compensated temperature range is particularly beneficial for field calibration.
Unlike a controlled calibration laboratory, ambient temperatures in industrial plants and outdoor installations can vary significantly during a working day.
Temperature compensation helps maintain reliable measurement performance under these changing conditions.
Gauge Pressure Measurement
The Additel ADT 161Ex is available for a broad selection of gauge pressure applications.
Depending on the selected range, modules are suitable for gas or for gas and liquid pressure media.
Gauge pressure modules are particularly useful for calibration of:
- Pressure gauges
- Pressure transmitters
- Pressure sensors
- Pressure transducers
- Pressure switches
- Process instrumentation
For pressure ranges above 1,000 psi, the ADT 161 platform uses sealed gauge pressure measurement for the corresponding configurations.
The appropriate module can be selected according to the required pressure range, accuracy and pressure medium.
Compound Pressure Measurement
Compound pressure configurations are also available within the ADT 161 platform.
These modules cover both negative and positive gauge pressure.
A compound pressure module is particularly useful when an instrument operates below and above atmospheric pressure.
Typical applications include:
- Compound pressure gauges
- Vacuum and pressure transmitters
- Process pressure sensors
- Industrial process equipment
Using a compound module can reduce the need to change pressure sensors when moving between vacuum and positive pressure calibration points.
Differential Pressure Measurement
The Additel ADT 161 platform also provides differential pressure ranges.
Differential pressure measurement is commonly required for applications such as:
- Differential pressure transmitters
- Filter monitoring
- Flow measurement
- Ventilation systems
- Process instrumentation
- Low-pressure measurement
Available differential modules cover ranges from very low differential pressures upward.
Depending on the selected range, accuracy classes of 0.05% FS or 0.02% FS are available within the ADT 161 platform.
High Static Differential Pressure
A particularly useful capability is the combination of two compatible external pressure modules for high-static differential pressure measurements.
When two modules with the same pressure range are connected to a compatible Additel instrument, their measurements can be combined to calculate the differential pressure.
With two 0.02% FS external modules, Additel specifies a typical synthesized differential pressure accuracy of:
0.002% FS or 0.02% of reading, whichever is greater.
This concept is particularly valuable when calibrating differential pressure transmitters that operate under significant static line pressure.
The actual configuration must be selected in accordance with the capabilities and intrinsic-safety requirements of the connected Additel instrument.
Compatible with Additel ADT 226Ex
The Additel ADT 161Ex can be combined with the Additel ADT 226Ex Multifunction Process Calibrator.
This creates a flexible intrinsically safe calibration system for pressure and process instrumentation.
The ADT 161Ex provides the pressure reference measurement while the ADT 226Ex can provide the corresponding process calibration functions.
This combination is particularly useful for pressure transmitter calibration.
A suitable pressure generator applies pressure to the transmitter and ADT 161Ex.
The pressure module measures the applied reference pressure while the process calibrator measures the electrical output of the transmitter.
Compatible with Additel ADT 227Ex
The Additel ADT 227Ex can also be used with ADT 161Ex pressure modules.
The combination provides a powerful platform for documenting pressure and process calibration in hazardous environments.
Depending on the configuration, technicians can perform calibration tasks involving:
- Pressure
- Current
- Voltage
- Resistance
- RTDs
- Thermocouples
- Pressure switches
- Process transmitters
The external ADT 161Ex adds the required pressure measurement range to the multifunction calibrator.
Compatible with Additel ADT 260Ex
The Additel ADT 161Ex is also supported by the Additel ADT 260Ex handheld multichannel reference recorder.
The ADT 260Ex can use external ADT 161Ex pressure modules in addition to its other measurement capabilities.
This enables multiple measurement quantities to be incorporated into one portable reference system.
The combination is particularly useful for measurement and calibration tasks where pressure, temperature and electrical signals need to be monitored simultaneously.
Compatible with Additel ADT 273Ex
The Additel ADT 161Ex can also be connected as an external pressure module to the Additel ADT 273Ex handheld pressure calibrator.
The ADT 273Ex supports an internal field-switchable Additel ADT 158Ex module and external Additel ADT 161Ex modules.
This provides an extremely flexible pressure calibration architecture.
Different pressure ranges can be combined within one portable calibration system, making the solution suitable for technicians who regularly work with instruments covering several pressure ranges.
Pressure Transmitter Calibration
One of the primary applications for the Additel ADT 161Ex is pressure transmitter calibration.
A typical calibration configuration consists of:
Pressure generator → Additel ADT 161Ex → Pressure transmitter
The ADT 161Ex measures the applied pressure.
A compatible Additel process calibrator simultaneously measures the electrical transmitter output.
For a conventional process transmitter, this is commonly:
4 to 20 mA.
The technician can therefore directly compare the applied reference pressure with the electrical output of the transmitter.
This is particularly valuable for field calibration in hazardous process environments.
Pressure Gauge Calibration
The Additel ADT 161Ex can also be used as a reference pressure module for pressure gauge calibration.
A suitable pressure generator applies the same pressure to the ADT 161Ex and the device under test.
The indication of the pressure gauge is compared with the reference value measured by the ADT 161Ex.
The deviation can be determined as:
Deviation = DUT indication − Reference pressure
Calibration points can be generated throughout the measuring range with increasing and decreasing pressure according to the required calibration procedure.
Pressure Sensor Calibration
Pressure sensors and transducers can also be calibrated using the Additel ADT 161Ex.
The reference module and device under test are exposed to the same pressure.
A suitable electrical measuring instrument records the output of the sensor.
Depending on the sensor design, typical outputs can include:
- mV/V
- Voltage
- Current
- Digital signals
The relationship between reference pressure and electrical output can then be evaluated across the complete calibration range.
Pressure Switch Testing
When combined with a compatible Additel calibrator, the Additel ADT 161Ex can support pressure switch testing.
Pressure is increased until the switch changes state.
The corresponding pressure is recorded.
The pressure is then reduced until the switch resets.
This allows determination of:
- Switching pressure
- Reset pressure
- Switching hysteresis
These tests are commonly required during commissioning, maintenance and verification of process instrumentation.
Gas and Liquid Pressure Media
Pressure medium compatibility depends on the selected Additel ADT 161Ex module.
Depending on the range, modules are suitable for:
Gas
or:
Gas and liquid.
This enables the platform to support both pneumatic and hydraulic calibration applications.
Before use, the pressure medium must be checked for compatibility with the selected module and all other wetted components in the calibration system.
Multiple Pressure Connections
The Additel ADT 161 platform offers several pressure connection options.
Depending on the selected module, available connections include:
- 1/4 NPT male
- 1/2 NPT male
- 1/4 BSP male
- 1/2 BSP male
- M20 × 1.5 male
- High-pressure connection options for appropriate ranges
This flexibility simplifies integration into existing pressure calibration systems.
The selected fitting, adapters and pressure lines must always be rated for the maximum operating pressure.
Compact Stainless-Steel Construction
The Additel ADT 161Ex uses a robust stainless-steel enclosure for external applications.
Typical dimensions are approximately:
33 mm diameter × 123 mm height
with a weight of approximately:
0.4 kg.
The compact design makes the module easy to transport together with a handheld calibrator.
Despite its small dimensions, the modular platform covers a broad selection of pressure ranges and is therefore well suited to professional field calibration.
Environmental Specifications
The Additel ADT 161Ex is designed for professional industrial environments.
General specifications include:
Operating temperature: -10 °C to 50 °C
Storage temperature: -30 °C to 70 °C
Relative humidity: up to 95% RH
The broad operating temperature range and advanced temperature compensation make the module suitable for both controlled laboratory environments and demanding field applications.
ISO/IEC 17025 Accredited Calibration Included
The Additel ADT 161Ex is supplied with an:
ISO/IEC 17025 accredited calibration certificate
including:
calibration data.
This is particularly valuable for professional calibration laboratories and industrial quality management systems.
The calibration documentation supports metrological traceability and allows the pressure module to be incorporated into an organization’s calibration and measurement equipment management system.
Additel ADT 161Ex vs. Additel ADT 161
The standard Additel ADT 161 and intrinsically safe Additel ADT 161Ex share the same modular concept, but they are designed for different operating environments.
The standard ADT 161 provides the widest choice of accuracy classes, including selected 0.01% FS and precision 0.01% of reading versions.
The Additel ADT 161Ex is designed specifically for intrinsically safe applications.
The highest-accuracy 0.01% FS and precision 0.01% of reading sensors cannot be configured as Ex modules.
The ADT 161Ex therefore uses the appropriate Ex-compatible accuracy class for the selected pressure range.
For conventional laboratory and industrial environments, the standard ADT 161 may provide additional accuracy options.
For hazardous areas where intrinsic safety is essential, the Additel ADT 161Ex provides the appropriate solution.
Additel ADT 161Ex vs. Additel ADT 158Ex
The Additel ADT 161Ex and Additel ADT 158Ex provide complementary functions within Additel’s intrinsically safe pressure calibration platform.
The Additel ADT 158Ex is designed as a:
field-switchable internal pressure module
for compatible handheld instruments.
The Additel ADT 161Ex is designed as an:
external pressure module.
For example, a compatible Additel handheld system can use an internal ADT 158Ex while additional ADT 161Ex modules provide external pressure measurement ranges.
This modular architecture enables several pressure ranges to be combined within one calibration platform.
Technical Highlights
| Feature | Additel ADT 161Ex |
|---|---|
| Device type | Intrinsically safe digital pressure module |
| Module type | External |
| Intrinsic safety | ATEX certified |
| Ex marking | II 1G Ex ia IIC T4 Ga |
| Best Ex accuracy | Down to 0.02% FS depending on range |
| Gauge pressure | Yes |
| Compound pressure | Yes |
| Differential pressure | Yes |
| Temperature compensation | Advanced |
| Operating temperature | -10 °C to 50 °C |
| Storage temperature | -30 °C to 70 °C |
| Relative humidity | Up to 95% RH |
| Pressure media | Gas / liquid depending on range |
| Enclosure | Stainless steel |
| Dimensions | Approx. Ø33 × 123 mm |
| Weight | Approx. 0.4 kg |
| Compatible Ex instruments | ADT 226Ex, ADT 227Ex, ADT 260Ex, ADT 273Ex |
| Calibration certificate | ISO/IEC 17025 accredited |
| Calibration data | Included |
Why Choose the Additel ADT 161Ex?
The Additel ADT 161Ex provides a flexible and reliable solution for pressure calibration in hazardous environments.
Its external modular design allows compatible Additel intrinsically safe calibrators to be adapted to different pressure ranges without replacing the complete instrument.
Depending on the selected range, Ex-compatible modules provide accuracy down to 0.02% FS, while advanced temperature compensation maintains specified performance across a broad operating temperature range from -10 °C to 50 °C.
Gauge, compound and differential pressure configurations allow the system to be adapted to many different calibration tasks.
Compatibility with instruments such as the Additel ADT 226Ex, ADT 227Ex, ADT 260Ex and ADT 273Ex creates a scalable calibration platform for pressure gauges, transmitters, sensors and switches.
The compact stainless-steel construction is designed for professional field applications, while the included ISO/IEC 17025 accredited calibration certificate with calibration data supports metrological traceability.
At europascal, we provide Additel pressure and process calibration solutions for laboratory, field and hazardous-area applications. In addition to calibration equipment, europascal provides accredited calibration services and support for professional pressure measurement systems.
For professional calibration and metrological traceability of the Additel ADT 161Ex and other pressure measuring equipment, visit the europascal Calibration Service.
Further Additel products are available from europascal.
Manufacturer information about the Additel ADT 161Ex is available on the official Additel website.
