PASCO PS-2181 User Manual

Dual Pressure Sensor

PS-2181

Quick Start

1. Connect the Dual Pressure Sensor to your PASPORT inter-

face.

2. If you are using a computer, connect the PASPORT interface

to it and start DataStudio.

3. Use the included tubing and quick-release connectors to con-

nect a device to one or both or the sensor’s pressure ports.

Instruction Sheet

012-09969A

Included Equipment Part Number

Dual Pressure Sensor

Quick-release Connectors (4 pieces)

Tubing Connectors (4 pieces)

Polyurethane Tubing (length 2.4 m)

Required Equipment

PASPORT Interface

PS-2181

640-021

640-030

640-023

See PASCO catalog

or www.pasco.com

4. Press or click the start button to begin recording data.

Introduction

The Dual Pressure Sensor is capable of reading up to two abso­lute pressures, one differential pressure, or one gauge pressure.
Dynamic variable over-sampling automatically reduces measure­ment noise at low sampling rates. Sample rates up to 1000 Hz
make studies of both transient and steady-state pressure possible.
The sensor measures pressure in units of kPa, N/m
per square inch (psi).

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, and pounds

Setup

Types of Pressure Measurements

To measure pressure in an apparatus, connect one or both of the
pressure ports using the included tubing and connectors. The way
that you connect the Dual Pressure Sensor depends on whether
you will measure absolute pressure, differential pressure, or
gauge pressure.

Absolute Pressure The sensor can measure up to two abso­lute pressures simultaneously. One connection is required for
each measurement, and either of the pressure ports may be used.

Differential Pressure The sensor measures differential pres­sure by determining the pressure difference between ports 1
and 2. Differential Pressure is positive when the pressure in port
1 is higher than port 2. (See “DataStudio Setup” on page 2 for
instructions on making this measurement available.)

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Dual Pressure Sensor PS-2181

Gauge Pressure Gauge pressure is a special case of differ­ential pressure in which port 2 is left unconnected. The sensor
measures the pressure difference between port 1 (connected to
the apparatus) and port 2 (left open to the atmosphere).

Sensor Setup

measure. For more instructions on using DataStudio, press F1 to
open DataStudio’s on-line help.

Xplorer GLX Setup

If you are using an Xplorer GLX in standalone mode, press
to start data collection. By default, the GLX displays the absolute
pressure from port 1 (“Absolute Pressure 1”) in units of kPa, but
you can select the other absolute measurement or the differential
measurement for display. For more instructions on using the
Xplorer GLX, refer to the GLX Users’ Guide.

Multiple-measurement Alignment

When you are using both pressure ports, you may find that their
readings differ slightly when they are measuring the same thing.
In the example illustrated below, measurements from both ports
open to the atmosphere differ by about 0.02 kPa. The multi­ple-measurement alignment procedure adjusts the calibrations of
the measurements so they agree more closely.

1. Cut a piece (or pieces) of tubing to the desired length.

2. Insert a quick-release connector into each piece of tubing.

3. Connect each piece of tubing to the sensor by inserting the

quick-release connector into one of the pressure ports and
twisting clockwise.

4. Connect the free ends of the tubing to the apparatus using

connectors supplied with the apparatus or the tubing connec­tors include with the Dual Pressure Sensor.

You can use the included tubing connectors to connect to a 5 mm (
inch) hole in a rubber stopper.

5. Connect the sensor to your PASPORT interface.

DataStudio Setup

If you are using a computer, connect the PASPORT interface to
the computer and start DataStudio. (Refer to the documentation
that came with your PASPORT interface for instructions on con­necting it to your computer.) In DataStudio, click Star t to begin
data collection; click Stop to stop data collection.

By default, DataStudio displays the absolute pressures (in units
of kPa) measured by both ports in a Graph display. To make the
differential measurement available for display, click Setup to
open the Experiment Setup window; in that window, select the
1-2 Differential Pressure check box. There you can also change
the sampling rate (up to 1000 Hz) and select different units of

The procedure described here for DataStudio can also be performed on
the Xplorer GLX. See the Xplorer GLX Users’ Guide for detailed instruc­tions.

1. Click Setup to open the Experiment Setup window. Click
Calibrate Sensors to open the calibration dialog box.

2. From the Sensor field, select the Dual Pressure Sensor.

(See screenshot on page 3.)

3. Select the Calibrate all similar measurements simulta-
neously check box.

4. From the Calibration Type menu, select 1 Point (Adjust
Offset Only).

5. Apply the same pressure to both ports (for instance by open-

ing them to the atmosphere).

6. Click the Read From Sensor button for Point 1.

7. Click OK to accept the new calibration.

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