europascal CA2 is a powerful pneumatic pressure comparator designed for accurate comparison calibration of pressure gauges, sensors, transmitters and pressure switches. The high-performance comparator combines robust construction, precise manual pressure adjustment and a measuring range up to 200 bar / 3000 psi / 20,000 kPa, making it an excellent solution for professional pressure calibration laboratories, service departments and industrial metrology applications.
The CA2 is based on the proven europascal Aremeca high-performance comparator concept. The current CA2-200B provides a pneumatic pressure range from 0 to 200 bar and operates with clean, dry compressed air or nitrogen. Unlike a simple hand pump, the CA2 is designed as a professional calibration bench and requires connection to an external pressure source, such as a regulated compressed-air supply or nitrogen cylinder.
Two pressure connections allow a reference instrument and the device under test to be connected simultaneously. The pressure supplied to the bench is precisely adjusted using the integrated piston and capstan mechanism. The system expels up to 15 cm³ of gas, providing controlled pressure adjustment during calibration.
One of the major advantages of the europascal CA2 is its upgrade capability. The comparator can later be converted into a BA2 deadweight tester by adding the appropriate piston-cylinder unit and mass set. This makes the CA2 an attractive long-term investment for laboratories whose metrological requirements may increase in the future.
At europascal, we provide professional pressure calibration solutions ranging from pressure comparators and reference pressure gauges to deadweight testers and complete calibration workstations.
For professional calibration and metrological traceability of pressure measuring equipment, visit the europascal Calibration Service.
Your Benefits at a Glance
The europascal CA2 combines high-performance pneumatic pressure generation with robust mechanical construction and flexible expansion options.
Key benefits include:
- High-performance pneumatic pressure comparator
- Pressure range from 0 to 200 bar
- Equivalent range up to 3000 psi
- Pressure medium: clean, dry air or nitrogen
- Designed for comparison calibration
- Two instrument connections
- Suitable for reference and device under test
- Precise piston and capstan pressure adjustment
- 15 cm³ displaced gas volume
- High sensitivity throughout the pressure range
- G1/2 swivel instrument connections
- Additional fittings available
- Integrated leveling bubble
- Adjustable feet
- Robust aluminum housing
- Removable capstan for transport
- Suitable for regular calibration work
- Optional reference pressure gauge
- Wide range of accessories
- Can be upgraded to a BA2 deadweight tester
- Suitable for laboratory and industrial pressure calibration
High-Performance Pressure Comparator
The europascal CA2 belongs to the high-performance range of pressure comparison benches.
The current pressure catalog classifies the CA2 together with the CH2 and CO series as High Performance comparison test pumps. The CA1, by comparison, belongs to the simpler standard range.
This positioning makes the CA2 particularly suitable for regular professional calibration work where robust construction, fine pressure adjustment and future expandability are important.
The pneumatic design also provides an advantage for applications where contamination of the device under test with hydraulic oil should be avoided.
Pressure Range up to 200 bar
The CA2-200B covers a pressure range of:
0 to 200 bar
which corresponds to approximately:
0 to 3000 psi
or:
0 to 20,000 kPa.
This broad pneumatic range allows the comparator to cover many industrial pressure calibration applications.
The maximum permissible pressure of the system must always be observed, and all connected reference instruments, devices under test, hoses and adapters must be rated for the applied pressure.
Pneumatic Operation with Air or Nitrogen
The europascal CA2 uses:
clean and dry compressed air
or:
nitrogen
as its pressure medium.
Pneumatic operation is particularly attractive for pressure instruments that must remain free from hydraulic oil.
Typical applications include calibration of:
- Pneumatic pressure gauges
- Digital pressure gauges
- Pressure sensors
- Pressure transmitters
- Pressure switches
- Reference pressure gauges
The medium must always be compatible with the device under test and the complete pressure system.
External Pressure Supply
The europascal CA2 requires an external pressure source.
For the CA2-200B, the manufacturer specifies connection to a pressure source such as:
a nitrogen supply up to 200 bar
or:
a suitable compressed-air network.
The external source provides the basic system pressure.
The integrated comparator mechanism is then used for controlled and precise pressure adjustment.
This concept combines a high available pneumatic pressure with convenient manual control at the calibration bench.
Piston and Capstan Pressure Adjustment
The CA2 uses a mechanical piston and capstan system for pressure adjustment.
Turning the capstan moves the piston and changes the internal gas volume.
This allows the operator to increase or decrease the pressure precisely and approach the required calibration points.
The CA2-200B provides a displaced gas volume of:
15 cm³.
This provides sufficient adjustment capability for many conventional pressure gauges, sensors and transmitters.
High Pressure Sensitivity
The europascal CA2 provides fine pressure adjustment throughout its range.
For the CA2-200B, the manufacturer specifies pressure sensitivity values of approximately:
0.001 bar at 10% of maximum pressure
0.002 bar at 50% of maximum pressure
and:
0.005 bar at 100% of maximum pressure.
This corresponds to pressure increments of approximately 1 mbar, 2 mbar and 5 mbar at the respective points.
The fine adjustment capability helps the operator approach predefined calibration points accurately.
Comparison Calibration Principle
The europascal CA2 is designed for calibration by comparison.
A suitable reference pressure measuring instrument and the device under test are connected to the same pressure system.
Both instruments are therefore subjected to the same generated pressure.
The indication of the device under test is then compared with the value indicated by the calibrated reference instrument.
This allows the deviation of the device under test to be determined at different pressure points.
Two Instrument Connections
The CA2 provides two connections for the instruments being compared.
A typical configuration consists of:
Connection 1: Reference pressure gauge
Connection 2: Device under test
This provides a straightforward and clearly arranged calibration setup.
The standard instrument connection is a swivel:
G1/2 connection.
Additional connection adapters are available for instruments with other pressure threads.
Calibration of Pressure Gauges
One of the primary applications of the europascal CA2 is the calibration of analog and digital pressure gauges.
The device under test and the calibrated reference gauge are connected to the comparator.
The operator then approaches defined calibration points throughout the pressure range.
At each point, the reference value and indication of the device under test can be recorded.
The deviation can then be calculated as:
Deviation = Indication of DUT – Reference pressure
Depending on the calibration procedure, measurements can be performed with increasing and decreasing pressure.
This allows effects such as hysteresis to be evaluated.
Calibration of Pressure Transmitters
The CA2 can also form part of a pressure transmitter calibration workstation.
The comparator provides the pneumatic pressure input.
A calibrated reference instrument measures the applied pressure, while an electrical calibrator or precision multimeter measures the transmitter output.
For a conventional industrial transmitter, the output is frequently:
4 to 20 mA.
This configuration allows the relationship between applied pressure and electrical transmitter output to be evaluated.
Pressure Sensor Calibration
Pressure sensors without a local display can also be calibrated using the europascal CA2.
The sensor is connected to one pressure port, while the reference pressure instrument is connected to the other.
The electrical output of the sensor is measured using suitable instrumentation.
Depending on the sensor, this may include:
- Voltage
- Current
- mV/V
- Digital output
The CA2 therefore provides the pressure generation component of a flexible sensor calibration workstation.
Pressure Switch Testing
The europascal CA2 is also suitable for pressure switch testing when combined with appropriate electrical measurement equipment.
The pressure is increased until the switching point is reached.
The corresponding pressure is determined using the reference pressure gauge.
The pressure can then be reduced until the switch returns to its original state.
This allows both:
switching pressure
and:
switching hysteresis
to be evaluated.
Reference Pressure Gauge
The pressure comparator itself generates and adjusts the pressure but does not define the metrological reference value.
A suitable calibrated reference pressure gauge is therefore required for comparison calibration.
The CA2 can be supplied with an optional reference pressure gauge.
The reference should be selected according to:
- Required pressure range
- Required measurement uncertainty
- Resolution
- Pressure medium
- Environmental conditions
- Calibration procedure
europascal can assist in selecting a suitable reference pressure instrument for the required calibration workload.
Upgradeable to a Deadweight Tester
A particularly important feature of the europascal CA2 is its upgrade capability.
The CA2 can be converted into a:
BA2 deadweight tester
by adding the appropriate piston-cylinder unit and mass set.
This allows a laboratory to initially purchase the CA2 as a high-performance comparison bench and later expand the system into a primary pressure calibration instrument based on the pressure balance principle.
The current BA2 range confirms that the CA2-200B is used as the generator base for BA2 pressure balances.
Flexible BA2 Expansion
Different piston-cylinder units can be used with the CA2 platform to create BA2 pressure balances for different pressure ranges.
Current manufacturer information lists BA2 configurations including ranges such as:
- 15 to 1000 mbar
- 0.15 to 10 bar
- 0.1 to 30 bar
- Up to 200 bar
depending on the selected BA2 configuration.
This modularity is a major advantage for laboratories planning to expand their pressure calibration capabilities.
Robust Construction
The europascal CA2 is designed for regular professional calibration work.
The housing is manufactured from:
light-alloy aluminum AG3
with:
high-resistance paint.
The robust mechanical design makes the comparator suitable for laboratory and industrial environments.
The capstan can also be removed for transport.
Integrated Leveling
Correct positioning is important for precision pressure calibration equipment.
The CA2 therefore incorporates:
a leveling bubble
and:
adjustable feet.
These allow the calibration bench to be correctly aligned before use.
The leveling system becomes particularly important if the CA2 is later converted into a BA2 deadweight tester because pressure balances rely on correct piston-cylinder alignment.
Operating Temperature
The specified operating temperature range for the CA2 is:
18 °C to 28 °C
or:
64 °F to 82 °F.
The manufacturer states that its pressure benches are controlled under defined reference conditions including approximately:
20 °C temperature
1013.25 hPa atmospheric pressure
50% relative humidity
and:
9.80665 m/s² gravitational acceleration.
For demanding calibration work, environmental conditions should always be considered as part of the measurement uncertainty evaluation.
Accessories
The europascal CA2 can be expanded with accessories to create a complete pressure calibration workstation.
Available additions include:
- Carrying case
- Protective cover
- Reference pressure gauge
- Fine adjustment valve
- Additional adapters
- Cleaning tools
- O-rings
- Spare parts
Additional fitting cases, calibration manifolds and other pressure calibration accessories are also available for the Aremeca pressure platform.
CA2 Compared with CA1
The europascal CA1 and europascal CA2 are both pneumatic pressure comparators.
Both are available in a version covering:
0 to 200 bar.
The main difference is their positioning and construction concept.
The manufacturer classifies the:
CA1 as an Eco and Standard comparator
and the:
CA2 as a High Performance comparator.
The CA1 is designed as a simple and robust solution for occasional calibration.
The CA2 is positioned for regular calibration work, offers more expansion possibilities and can be upgraded into a BA2 deadweight tester.
This makes the CA2 particularly attractive for professional calibration laboratories and users who may want to expand their pressure calibration capability in the future.
Typical Applications
The europascal CA2 is suitable for:
- Pressure gauge calibration
- Digital pressure gauge calibration
- Pressure sensor calibration
- Pressure transmitter calibration
- Pressure switch testing
- Comparison calibration
- Reference gauge comparison
- Laboratory pressure calibration
- Industrial pressure calibration
- Quality assurance
- Service and maintenance
- Calibration workstation development
- Future conversion into a deadweight tester
Technical Highlights
| Feature | europascal CA2-200B |
|---|---|
| Device type | High-performance pressure comparator |
| Operating principle | Pneumatic comparison |
| Pressure range | 0 to 200 bar |
| Pressure range | 0 to 3000 psi |
| Pressure range | 0 to 20,000 kPa |
| Pressure medium | Clean, dry air or nitrogen |
| External pressure source | Required |
| Displaced gas volume | 15 cm³ |
| Sensitivity at 10% Pmax | 0.001 bar |
| Sensitivity at 50% Pmax | 0.002 bar |
| Sensitivity at 100% Pmax | 0.005 bar |
| Instrument connections | 2 |
| Standard DUT connection | Swivel G1/2 |
| Leveling | Bubble level and adjustable feet |
| Housing | AG3 aluminum |
| Capstan | Removable |
| Operating temperature | 18 to 28 °C |
| Comparator weight | Approx. 18 kg |
| Pressure balance upgrade | Yes |
| Upgrade platform | BA2 |
Why Choose the europascal CA2?
The europascal CA2 combines robust pneumatic pressure generation, precise manual adjustment and professional high-performance construction in one calibration bench.
With a range up to 200 bar, the CA2-200B covers a wide variety of pneumatic pressure calibration applications while avoiding contamination of the device under test with hydraulic pressure media.
Two instrument connections allow a reference and device under test to be installed simultaneously, while the piston and capstan system provides fine manual control of the applied pressure.
The comparator’s high sensitivity enables pressure changes down to approximately 0.001 bar in the lower part of the range.
The most important long-term advantage is its modular design. Unlike the simpler CA1 platform, the CA2 can be upgraded into a BA2 deadweight tester by adding the appropriate piston-cylinder and mass system.
This makes the europascal CA2 particularly suitable for calibration laboratories that initially need a high-performance comparison bench but want to retain the option of expanding their pressure calibration capabilities later.
At europascal, we provide complete solutions for pressure calibration, including pressure comparators, reference pressure gauges, deadweight testers, fittings, accessories and professional calibration services.
For professional calibration and metrological traceability of pressure measuring equipment, visit the europascal Calibration Service.
Manufacturer information about the europascal CA2 and suitable accessories is available from europascal.
