The europascal BH2-400B Single Piston Deadweight Tester is a high-performance hydraulic pressure standard designed for precise calibration from 1 to 400 bar. With its robust single-piston design, excellent long-term stability and an accuracy of 0.01 % of reading, the BH2-400B is an ideal reference instrument for professional calibration laboratories, industrial metrology, quality assurance and pressure instrument manufacturers.
For particularly demanding calibration applications, enhanced accuracy of up to 0.006 % of reading is available on request.
The manufacturer reference for this configuration is BH2-400B SP, where SP identifies the single-piston version. Unlike the BH2-400B DP dual-piston model, the BH2-400B described here uses only one precision piston-cylinder assembly across its complete measuring range.
At the heart of the system is a tungsten carbide piston with a typical piston area of 7.84875 mm², operating in a treated steel cylinder. Pressure is generated hydraulically using H40 oil with a density of approximately 860 kg/m³.
The BH2-400B is based on the robust CH2-1250B pressure generator and weighs approximately 22 kg without the calibration masses.
europascal provides professional support for pressure calibration equipment, including system selection, configuration, maintenance and calibration. The europascal calibration service provides calibration solutions for deadweight testers, pressure balances, pressure gauges, pressure sensors, transmitters and other pressure measuring equipment.
Your Benefits at a Glance
The europascal BH2-400B Single Piston Deadweight Tester combines a broad hydraulic pressure range with high accuracy and straightforward operation.
Key benefits include:
- High-performance hydraulic deadweight tester
- Single precision piston-cylinder system
- Measuring range from 1 to 400 bar
- Measuring range from 100 to 40,000 kPa
- Measuring range from approximately 15 to 5,800 psi
- Accuracy of 0.01 % of reading
- Enhanced accuracy up to 0.006 % on request
- Typical piston area of 7.84875 mm²
- Tungsten carbide piston
- Treated steel cylinder
- CH2-1250B pressure generator
- H40 oil as pressure medium
- Fluid density approximately 860 kg/m³
- Approx. 22 kg device weight without calibration masses
- Stainless steel calibration masses
- Standard or customer-specific gravity configuration
- Optional motorized weight rotation
- Optional piston position visualization
- Optional automatic pressure calculation
- Optional environmental compensation
- Optional computer data transfer
- Optional accredited calibration certificate
- Professional calibration and service from europascal
Pressure Range from 1 to 400 bar
The europascal BH2-400B covers a hydraulic pressure range from:
1 to 400 bar
This corresponds to:
100 to 40,000 kPa
or approximately:
15 to 5,800 psi
The maximum pressure is therefore:
400 bar / 40 MPa
The complete measuring range is covered using a single precision piston-cylinder assembly.
This single-piston concept makes the BH2-400B particularly attractive for laboratories that prefer straightforward operation without changing between different low-pressure and high-pressure piston systems.
Accuracy of 0.01 % of Reading
The europascal BH2-400B provides a standard accuracy of:
0.01 % of reading
For applications with particularly demanding metrological requirements, an enhanced accuracy of:
up to 0.006 % of reading
is available on request.
This performance makes the BH2-400B suitable for calibration of high-quality pressure gauges, reference instruments, sensors, transmitters and other hydraulic pressure measuring instruments.
The complete measurement uncertainty of a calibration additionally depends on relevant influence quantities such as:
- Calibration of the masses
- Effective piston area
- Local gravitational acceleration
- Air buoyancy
- Piston-cylinder temperature
- Pressure deformation
- Hydraulic fluid density
- Hydrostatic head difference
- Repeatability
- Resolution of the device under test
- Environmental conditions
These quantities should be considered when establishing the measurement uncertainty budget for high-accuracy pressure calibration.
Fundamental Piston Gauge Measurement Principle
The europascal BH2-400B Single Piston Deadweight Tester operates according to the fundamental physical principle of a piston gauge.
Pressure is generated by applying a precisely defined force to a characterized effective piston area.
The basic relationship is:
p = F / A
where:
p = generated pressure
F = force acting on the piston
A = effective piston area
The force generated by the calibrated masses is primarily determined by:
F = m × g
where:
m = applied mass
g = gravitational acceleration
The simplified pressure relationship therefore becomes:
p = (m × g) / A
For high-accuracy pressure measurements, additional corrections can be applied for local gravity, air buoyancy, piston temperature, pressure deformation and hydrostatic head.
Because pressure is derived from fundamental physical quantities, the piston gauge principle provides excellent long-term stability and traceability.
Precision Single-Piston Design
The defining characteristic of the europascal BH2-400B is its:
single-piston configuration
The complete measuring range from 1 to 400 bar is generated using one precision piston-cylinder system.
The typical piston area is:
7.84875 mm²
The piston is manufactured from:
tungsten carbide
while the cylinder is manufactured from:
treated steel
Tungsten carbide provides excellent hardness, wear resistance and dimensional stability. These characteristics make it particularly suitable for precision piston components used in high-pressure metrology.
The single-piston design also simplifies everyday operation because no change between low-pressure and high-pressure piston-cylinder systems is required.
CH2-1250B Pressure Generator
The europascal BH2-400B uses the:
CH2-1250B pressure generator
The generator provides the hydraulic pressure required to bring the piston and applied mass system into equilibrium.
The operator uses the pressure generator to increase or decrease the hydraulic pressure until the piston reaches its correct working position.
The pressure generated by the hydraulic system is then balanced by the force produced by the calibrated masses acting on the precision piston.
The CH2-1250B generator, precision piston-cylinder assembly and calibrated mass set together form the complete physical pressure reference.
Hydraulic Operation with H40 Oil
The europascal BH2-400B is a hydraulic deadweight tester.
The specified pressure medium is:
H40 oil
with an approximate density of:
860 kg/m³
The hydraulic fluid transfers the generated pressure between the pressure generator, piston-cylinder system and connected device under test.
The density of the pressure medium becomes particularly important when there is a vertical height difference between the reference level of the deadweight tester and the reference level of the device under test.
The corresponding hydrostatic head correction can then be considered in the calibration calculation.
Careful filling and venting of the hydraulic system are also important for stable and efficient pressure generation.
Ideal for Pressure Calibration
The europascal BH2-400B is designed for testing, adjusting and calibrating mechanical and electronic pressure measuring instruments by comparison.
Typical devices under test include:
- Precision pressure gauges
- Digital pressure gauges
- Hydraulic pressure gauges
- Reference pressure indicators
- Pressure sensors
- Pressure transmitters
- Pressure transducers
- Pressure switches
- Industrial process instruments
- Secondary pressure standards
Its measuring range makes the BH2-400B suitable for many common industrial nominal pressure ranges, including 10 bar, 16 bar, 25 bar, 40 bar, 60 bar, 100 bar, 160 bar, 250 bar and 400 bar.
Stainless Steel Calibration Masses
The calibrated masses are an essential part of the BH2-400B measurement system.
The BH2 series uses:
stainless steel calibration masses
The masses are designed for convenient handling and are marked according to the selected pressure unit.
The principal weight set can be configured in different pressure units, including:
bar
kPa
psi
and other available engineering units.
Intermediate weight sets and additional principal weight sets for different pressure units are also available.
This allows the BH2-400B to be configured according to the specific requirements of the calibration laboratory.
Standard Gravity and Local Gravity
The pressure generated by a deadweight tester depends directly on gravitational acceleration.
The conventional standard value is:
g = 9.80665 m/s²
However, actual gravitational acceleration varies according to geographical location.
The europascal BH2-400B can therefore be supplied for:
standard gravity
or:
a specified local gravity value
Correct consideration of gravitational acceleration is important for high-accuracy calibration because the force generated by the calibrated masses is directly proportional to gravity.
Optional Motorization – OP0004
The europascal BH2-400B can be equipped with:
Option OP0004
This option provides:
- Motorized rotation of the calibration masses
- Piston position visualization by indicator lights
- Improved operator convenience
- Support during repetitive calibration procedures
Rotation of the piston and mass system helps minimize friction effects between the piston and cylinder and supports stable operation.
The visual piston position indication assists the operator in maintaining the correct working position.
With OP0004 installed, the instrument weight without the calibration masses increases from approximately 22 kg to approximately 24 kg.
Optional Calculator Module – OP0301
For laboratories requiring a higher degree of automation, the BH2-400B can be equipped with:
Option OP0301
The calculator module provides:
- Dynamic visualization of piston position
- Automatic display of generated pressure
- Consideration of temperature
- Consideration of atmospheric pressure
- Consideration of humidity
- Computer data transfer
- Improved calibration data traceability
- Support for calibration certificate generation
This option combines the fundamental physical measurement principle of the deadweight tester with modern electronic calculation and documentation functions.
It can significantly reduce manual calculation effort during repetitive calibration work.
Technical Highlights
Model: europascal BH2-400B
Manufacturer reference: BH2-400B SP
Device type: Single Piston Hydraulic Deadweight Tester
Product family: BH2 High Performance
Configuration: Single piston
Number of pistons: 1
Measuring range: 1 to 400 bar
Measuring range: 100 to 40,000 kPa
Measuring range: Approx. 15 to 5,800 psi
Maximum pressure: 400 bar / 40 MPa
Accuracy: 0.01 % of reading
Enhanced accuracy: Up to 0.006 % on request
Measurement principle: Piston gauge / deadweight tester
Pressure medium: H40 oil
Fluid density: Approx. 860 kg/m³
Generator base: CH2-1250B
Typical piston area: 7.84875 mm²
Piston material: Tungsten carbide
Cylinder material: Treated steel
Device weight without masses: Approx. 22 kg
Standard gravity: 9.80665 m/s²
Operating temperature: 18 to 28 °C
Technical Data
| Feature | europascal BH2-400B |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | europascal Aremeca |
| Manufacturer reference | BH2-400B SP |
| Device type | Hydraulic Deadweight Tester |
| Product family | BH2 High Performance |
| Configuration | Single piston |
| Number of pistons | 1 |
| Measuring range | 1–400 bar |
| Measuring range | 100–40,000 kPa |
| Measuring range | Approx. 15–5,800 psi |
| Maximum pressure | 400 bar / 40 MPa |
| Accuracy | 0.01 % of reading |
| Enhanced accuracy | Up to 0.006 % on request |
| Measurement principle | Piston gauge |
| Pressure medium | H40 oil |
| Fluid density | Approx. 860 kg/m³ |
| Generator base | CH2-1250B |
| Typical piston area | 7.84875 mm² |
| Piston material | Tungsten carbide |
| Cylinder material | Treated steel |
| Device weight without masses | Approx. 22 kg |
| Operating temperature | 18–28 °C |
| Standard gravity | 9.80665 m/s² |
| Local gravity | Customer-specific value available |
| Motorization | Optional – OP0004 |
| Piston position visualization | Optional |
| Automatic pressure calculation | Optional – OP0301 |
| PC data transfer | Optional – OP0301 |
BH2-400B Single Piston vs. BH2-400B DP Dual Piston
The europascal Aremeca BH2-400B is available in two different configurations:
BH2-400B SP – Single Piston
and:
BH2-400B DP – Dual Piston
The product described on this page is the single-piston version.
The BH2-400B SP uses one piston-cylinder system for the complete measuring range from 1 to 400 bar.
The BH2-400B DP, in contrast, uses two different piston-cylinder systems to provide optimized low-pressure and high-pressure ranges.
| Feature | BH2-400B SP | BH2-400B DP |
|---|---|---|
| Configuration | Single piston | Dual piston |
| Number of pistons | 1 | 2 |
| Overall range | 1–400 bar | 1–400 bar |
| Number of pressure ranges | 1 | 2 |
| Accuracy | 0.01 % | 0.01 % |
| Main advantage | Simple single-piston operation | Optimized dual-piston operation |
The BH2-400B SP is particularly attractive when straightforward operation with only one piston-cylinder assembly is preferred.
The BH2-400B DP is particularly useful when optimized low-pressure operation is required in addition to the high-pressure range.
BH2 High Performance Series
The europascal Aremeca BH2 series provides a broad selection of hydraulic deadweight testers for professional pressure calibration.
The product family includes both single-piston and dual-piston configurations.
Single-piston models provide straightforward operation using one precision piston-cylinder assembly, while dual-piston models provide two optimized pressure ranges from one calibration system.
This allows the pressure standard to be selected according to the required measuring range, calibration workload and preferred operating concept.
Further europascal Aremeca products can be found here.
Calibration Certificate and Traceability
The europascal BH2-400B is supplied with a:
factory calibration certificate traceable to national standards
For applications requiring accredited calibration, an optional:
COFRAC or DKD/DAkkS calibration certificate
is available.
The standard delivery also includes operating instructions, the detailed product data sheet and 0.5 liter of mineral oil with its safety data sheet.
Regular calibration of the piston-cylinder assembly and mass set is important for maintaining reliable metrological traceability and long-term performance.
The manufacturer recommends calibration at intervals of approximately 2 to 5 years depending on use.
The europascal calibration service provides professional calibration solutions for deadweight testers, pressure balances, pressure gauges, pressure sensors, pressure transmitters and other pressure measuring equipment.
Why Choose the europascal BH2-400B?
The europascal BH2-400B Precise Single Piston Deadweight Tester combines a broad hydraulic measuring range from 1 to 400 bar with straightforward single-piston operation.
Its standard accuracy of 0.01 % of reading makes it suitable for demanding professional pressure calibration, while enhanced accuracy up to 0.006 % is available on request.
The tungsten carbide piston with a typical area of 7.84875 mm², treated steel cylinder, H40 hydraulic oil and CH2-1250B pressure generator provide a robust foundation for professional pressure metrology.
Optional motorization, piston position visualization and automatic pressure calculation enable the instrument to be adapted to advanced calibration workflows.
Combined with professional advice, calibration and service from europascal, the BH2-400B provides an excellent physical pressure reference for calibration laboratories and industrial metrology.
Typical Calibration Applications with the europascal BH2-400B
The europascal BH2-400B is particularly suitable for calibrating precision pressure gauges, digital pressure gauges, hydraulic pressure gauges, reference pressure instruments, pressure sensors, pressure transmitters, pressure transducers, pressure switches and industrial process instruments.
Typical application areas include professional calibration laboratories, pressure instrument manufacturers, industrial quality assurance, mechanical engineering, hydraulic systems, research and development and process instrumentation.
Looking for the europascal BH2-400B or a precise single-piston hydraulic pressure calibration solution from 1 to 400 bar? Contact europascal for expert advice, product configuration and professional calibration services tailored to your requirements.
