AMETEK Crystal GaugeCal-HP is a powerful, portable and self-contained pressure comparator designed for professional calibration of pressure gauges, transmitters, sensors and pressure safety valves. With hydraulic pressure generation up to 15,000 psi / 1,000 bar / 100 MPa, the GaugeCal-HP provides a practical manual solution for high-pressure calibration in laboratories, workshops and field applications.
Unlike an electronic pressure calibrator, the GaugeCal-HP does not measure pressure itself. It is a precision pressure generator and comparator. A suitable reference pressure gauge, such as an AMETEK Crystal XP3i or XP2i, is connected to the comparator together with the device under test.
The GaugeCal-HP then generates and finely adjusts the common pressure applied to both instruments.
This creates a classic comparison calibration system:
GaugeCal-HP + Reference Pressure Gauge + Device Under Test
AMETEK designed the GaugeCal-HP to provide significantly faster operation than traditional deadweight testers and many automated pressure controllers. Its portable, self-contained design makes it particularly useful for calibrating pressure gauges that would otherwise be impractical or uneconomical to calibrate using a large laboratory pressure system.
The GaugeCal-HP can be operated hydraulically with water or oil. AMETEK offers dedicated complete System G configurations for both media: the GOX system for hydraulic oil and the GWX system for water.
An unusual additional capability is pneumatic low-pressure generation. When operated without hydraulic fluid, the GaugeCal-HP can generate pressure up to approximately 400 inH₂O / 995 mbar, with fine adjustment sensitivity down to 0.01 inH₂O / 0.025 mbar.
At europascal, the AMETEK Crystal GaugeCal-HP can be combined with precision digital pressure references to create complete pressure comparison and calibration systems. For professional calibration and metrological traceability, visit the europascal Calibration Service.
Your Benefits at a Glance
The AMETEK Crystal GaugeCal-HP combines high-pressure generation, portability and convenient manual operation in one pressure comparator.
Key advantages include:
- Hydraulic pressure generation up to 15,000 psi / 1,000 bar / 100 MPa
- Self-contained pressure comparator
- Portable bench-top design
- Suitable for pressure gauge calibration
- Suitable for pressure transmitter calibration
- Suitable for pressure sensor calibration
- Suitable for pressure safety valve testing
- Can be operated with water
- Can be operated with hydraulic oil
- Pneumatic operation possible without fluid
- Pneumatic pressure generation up to 400 inH₂O / 995 mbar
- Vacuum generation down to approximately -0.86 bar
- Fine adjustment sensitivity down to 0.025 mbar in pneumatic operation
- Pivoting two-port manifold
- Suitable for large pressure gauges
- Integral gauge-safe venting system
- Integrated fluid reservoir
- Integrated drip tray
- CPF high-pressure connections
- Faster operation than conventional deadweight testers for many routine calibration tasks
- Compatible with AMETEK Crystal digital pressure references
- Suitable for laboratory, workshop and field applications
Pressure Generation up to 1,000 bar
The AMETEK Crystal GaugeCal-HP provides a maximum hydraulic pressure of:
15,000 psi / 1,000 bar / 100 MPa.
This high maximum pressure allows the comparator to cover a broad range of industrial pressure calibration applications.
Suitable devices under test include:
- Analog pressure gauges
- Digital pressure gauges
- Pressure transmitters
- Pressure transducers
- Pressure sensors
- Pressure switches
- Pressure safety valves
- Pressure relief valves
The pressure range extends from routine hydraulic applications to demanding high-pressure calibration.
A Pressure Comparator – Not a Pressure Reference
It is important to distinguish the AMETEK Crystal GaugeCal-HP from instruments such as the Crystal XP3i.
The GaugeCal-HP:
generates and adjusts pressure.
A Crystal XP3i or another suitable reference instrument:
measures the generated pressure.
The complete calibration setup therefore consists of:
Pressure Comparator → Reference + Device Under Test
The reference and DUT are exposed to the same pressure.
Their indications can then be compared at defined calibration points.
This comparison principle provides a simple and highly flexible method for calibrating pressure instruments.
Hydraulic Operation
The primary application of the AMETEK Crystal GaugeCal-HP is hydraulic pressure generation.
The integrated pressure generation mechanism allows pressure to be generated manually without an external hydraulic pressure supply.
This makes the unit self-contained and suitable for portable use.
The hydraulic operating range extends to:
15,000 psi / 1,000 bar.
All connected gauges, adapters, tubing and devices under test must be appropriately rated for the required pressure.
Water as Pressure Medium
The GaugeCal-HP can be operated with:
water.
AMETEK offers the dedicated:
GWX Pump System
for water applications.
The current AMETEK system overview specifies:
distilled water
as the medium for the GWX configuration.
Water is particularly useful for applications where contamination with hydraulic oil must be avoided.
Oil as Pressure Medium
The GaugeCal-HP can alternatively be operated with:
hydraulic oil.
AMETEK offers the:
GOX Pump System
for this purpose.
The current complete pressure system specification identifies:
Rando HDZ32
as the hydraulic oil for the GOX system.
Oil operation is suitable for many conventional hydraulic pressure gauges, transmitters and sensors.
Water or Oil – Flexible Configuration
The availability of both water and oil configurations makes the AMETEK Crystal GaugeCal-HP suitable for different calibration environments.
The appropriate medium should be selected according to:
- Device under test
- Process compatibility
- Contamination requirements
- Pressure range
- Laboratory procedures
- Manufacturer specifications
Cross-contamination between different pressure media should be avoided.
Pneumatic Pressure Generation
Although primarily a hydraulic high-pressure comparator, the GaugeCal-HP has an additional low-pressure capability.
When operated:
without hydraulic fluid
the comparator can generate pneumatic pressure up to:
400 inH₂O / 995 mbar / 29 inHg.
This significantly expands the possible application range.
The same pressure generator can therefore be used for selected low-pressure pneumatic measurements as well as high-pressure hydraulic applications.
Fine Adjustment Down to 0.025 mbar
During pneumatic operation, AMETEK specifies a fine adjustment sensitivity of:
0.01 inH₂O
or approximately:
0.025 mbar.
This enables precise setting of low differential pressure values.
AMETEK specifically highlights this capability for calibration of differential pressure transmitters.
Vacuum Generation
The AMETEK Crystal GaugeCal-HP can also generate vacuum.
AMETEK specifies a vacuum capability down to approximately:
-12.5 psi
or:
-0.86 bar / -86.2 kPa.
This provides additional flexibility for pressure instruments that must be tested below atmospheric pressure.
Pivoting Two-Port Manifold
A distinctive feature of the GaugeCal-HP is its:
pivoting two-port manifold.
This design makes it easier to install pressure gauges of different sizes.
Large analog gauges can be difficult to mount on conventional compact pressure pumps because the instrument housing can interfere with the pressure generator.
The pivoting manifold provides additional positioning flexibility.
Two Instruments at the Same Pressure
The manifold allows the reference pressure gauge and the device under test to be connected to the same pressure system.
A typical configuration is:
Reference Gauge ↔ GaugeCal-HP ↔ Device Under Test
Pressure generated by the comparator acts on both instruments.
The indication of the DUT is then compared with the value from the reference instrument.
Gauge-Safe Venting
AMETEK equips the GaugeCal-HP with an:
integral gauge-safe venting system.
This is particularly useful when calibrating mechanical pressure gauges.
Sudden pressure release can damage sensitive mechanical gauges or create undesirable pressure transients.
The controlled venting system helps protect connected instruments during pressure release.
Integrated Drip Tray
Hydraulic pressure calibration inevitably involves the possibility of small amounts of test fluid being released during connection and disconnection.
The GaugeCal-HP incorporates a:
no-mess drip tray.
This helps capture test fluid and keeps the calibration work area cleaner.
The feature is particularly useful when multiple pressure gauges are calibrated in succession.
Integrated Reservoir
The AMETEK Crystal GaugeCal-HP contains an integrated fluid reservoir with a volume of approximately:
176.9 cm³.
This provides the hydraulic medium required for pressure generation.
The piston stroke volume is approximately:
13.1 cm³.
The self-contained reservoir eliminates the need for a separate external hydraulic fluid supply during normal operation.
CPF High-Pressure Connections
The GaugeCal-HP uses AMETEK Crystal:
CPF pressure connections.
The installed CPF male connections have a maximum allowable working pressure of:
15,000 psi / 1,000 bar / 100 MPa.
The CPF system is designed for professional high-pressure applications and simplifies connection of compatible gauges and adapters.
Medium-Pressure Tube Compatibility
The GaugeCal-HP connection system is based on a:
1/4-inch medium-pressure tube system.
According to AMETEK, it is compatible with systems including:
- HiP LM4 Series
- HiP LF4 Series
- Autoclave Engineers SF250CX Male Series
- Autoclave Engineers SF250CX Female Series
This provides flexibility when integrating the comparator into existing high-pressure systems.
Combine GaugeCal-HP with XP3i
A modern calibration system can combine the:
AMETEK Crystal GaugeCal-HP
with the:
AMETEK Crystal XP3i.
In this configuration:
GaugeCal-HP = Pressure Generator
XP3i = Reference Pressure Gauge
DUT = Device Under Test
The GaugeCal-HP generates and controls the pressure while the XP3i provides the reference measurement.
This creates a portable high-pressure comparison system.
Combine GaugeCal-HP with XP2i
The GaugeCal-HP can also be used with the established:
AMETEK Crystal XP2i.
With appropriate XP2i reference ranges, these systems provide measurement capability extending to:
15,000 psi / 1,000 bar.
This combination remains useful for laboratories already operating XP2i reference gauges.
Fast Pressure Gauge Calibration
AMETEK developed the GaugeCal-HP to make routine pressure gauge calibration faster and easier.
Traditional deadweight testers can provide excellent measurement performance but may require more setup time and operator effort.
The GaugeCal-HP instead uses a reference pressure gauge together with a manually operated pressure comparator.
This allows pressure points to be approached and adjusted rapidly.
Pressure Transmitter Calibration
The AMETEK Crystal GaugeCal-HP can also generate pressure for transmitter calibration.
The transmitter is connected to one pressure port while a suitable pressure reference is connected to the other.
The GaugeCal-HP generates the required calibration pressure.
An electrical calibrator or multimeter can then measure the transmitter output.
Pressure Safety Valve Testing
AMETEK also specifies the GaugeCal-HP for testing:
pressure safety valves.
The comparator generates the required hydraulic pressure while a suitable reference gauge monitors the applied pressure.
When used with an AMETEK Crystal digital pressure gauge equipped with a PSV function, the opening pressure of the valve can be determined conveniently.
Technical Highlights
| Feature | AMETEK Crystal GaugeCal-HP |
|---|---|
| Product type | Pressure Comparator / Pressure Generator |
| Maximum hydraulic pressure | 15,000 psi / 1,000 bar / 100 MPa |
| Vacuum capability | -12.5 psi / -0.86 bar / -86.2 kPa |
| Maximum pneumatic pressure | 400 inH₂O / 995 mbar |
| Pneumatic fine adjustment | 0.01 inH₂O / 0.025 mbar |
| Hydraulic media | Water or oil |
| GOX configuration | Hydraulic oil |
| GWX configuration | Distilled water |
| Number of manifold ports | 2 |
| Manifold | Pivoting |
| Venting | Integral gauge-safe venting |
| Fluid reservoir | Integrated |
| Reservoir volume | 176.9 cm³ |
| Piston stroke volume | 13.1 cm³ |
| Connections | CPF high-pressure system |
| Maximum CPF working pressure | 15,000 psi / 1,000 bar |
| Burst pressure | >25,000 psi / 1,700 bar |
| Enclosure | Anodized aluminum |
| Width | Approx. 210 mm |
| Length | Approx. 520 mm |
| Height with handles | Approx. 280 mm |
| Weight | Approx. 9 kg |
| Reference measurement | External pressure reference required |
GaugeCal-HP vs. XP3i
The AMETEK Crystal GaugeCal-HP and XP3i perform completely different functions.
The:
GaugeCal-HP generates pressure.
The:
XP3i measures pressure.
Used together, they create a complete manual pressure comparison system.
This modular arrangement allows the pressure generator and reference instrument to be selected independently according to the calibration requirement.
GaugeCal-HP vs. Deadweight Tester
A deadweight tester generates reference pressure based on calibrated masses, effective piston area and relevant correction factors.
The GaugeCal-HP follows a different principle.
It generates pressure mechanically but relies on a separate reference instrument to determine the actual pressure.
The GaugeCal-HP therefore does not replace the metrological function of a deadweight tester by itself.
Its major advantages are speed, convenience and portability when combined with a suitable digital reference pressure instrument.
Typical Applications
The AMETEK Crystal GaugeCal-HP is suitable for:
- Pressure gauge calibration
- Digital pressure gauge calibration
- Pressure transmitter calibration
- Pressure sensor calibration
- Pressure transducer calibration
- Pressure switch testing
- Pressure safety valve testing
- Relief valve testing
- Hydraulic pressure generation
- Pneumatic low-pressure generation
- High-pressure comparison measurements
- Workshop calibration
- Field calibration
- Laboratory calibration
- Maintenance departments
- Oil and gas applications
- Energy applications
- Process industries
- Hydraulic service
- Quality assurance
Why Choose the AMETEK Crystal GaugeCal-HP?
The AMETEK Crystal GaugeCal-HP provides a practical solution for generating and adjusting pressure across an exceptionally broad range.
Hydraulic pressure can be generated up to 15,000 psi / 1,000 bar / 100 MPa, making the comparator suitable for demanding high-pressure calibration.
Water and oil can be used as hydraulic test media, while dedicated GOX and GWX configurations simplify selection for oil- or water-based applications.
Without hydraulic fluid, the GaugeCal-HP can also generate pneumatic pressure up to approximately 995 mbar, with fine adjustment sensitivity down to 0.025 mbar.
A pivoting two-port manifold simplifies connection of a reference instrument and device under test, including large pressure gauges.
The integral gauge-safe venting system helps protect mechanical gauges during pressure release, while the integrated drip tray simplifies hydraulic operation.
Combined with a precision reference such as the AMETEK Crystal XP3i or XP2i, the GaugeCal-HP forms a flexible manual pressure comparison system.
At europascal, we provide AMETEK Calibration and Crystal pressure measurement and pressure generation equipment for professional laboratory, workshop and field applications.
For professional calibration and metrological traceability, visit the europascal Calibration Service.
Further products from AMETEK Calibration are available from europascal.
Manufacturer information about the AMETEK Crystal GaugeCal-HP is available on the official AMETEK Calibration website.
