Gas Pressure Sensor Troubleshooting and FAQs

Gas Pressure Sensor, order code GPS-BTA, $83
Specifications and User Guide

TROUBLESHOOTING

-Primary Test: Plug the sensor into a LabPro and run the data-collection program on computer, calculator, or Palm. The units for the default readings are kPa and they should be resonable for the altitude at which the sensor is being used.
-Secondary Test: Connect a 20 cc syringe, from the Accessories Kit, to the sensor. Move the plunger of the syringe and check the pressure readings.

RELATED TIL ENTRIES

-TIL 703: I am using the Respiration Monitor Belt with Logger Pro. Why does the program always report the respiration rate as zero?
-TIL 582: What is the internal volume of the Gas Pressure Sensor?

Public List of TIL Entries for GPS-BTA

SPECIFICATIONS

-Pressure Range: 0 to 210 kPa (0 to 2.1 atm or 0 to 1600 mmHg)
-Maximum Pressure that the sensor can tolerate without permanent damage: 4 atm
-Resolution, 12-bit (LabPro, Go! Link, ULI II, Serial Box): 0.05 kPa (0.0005 atm or 0.40 mmHg)
-Resolution, 10-bit (CBL, CBL 2, original ULI): 0.002 atm or 1.6 mmHg
-Sensing Element: SenSym SDX30A4
-Combined Linearity and Hystersis: typical +/-0.2% at full scale
-Response Time: 100 microseconds

CALIBRATION

-Calibrate? No. The sensor is set to match the stored calibration before shipping.

-If you wish to calibrate the sensor, you will conduct a two-point calibration. The first calibration point is set at the atmospheric pressure of the room with nothing attached to the sensor. After the voltage has stabilized, enter the atmospheric pressure, as recorded by a barometer. To set the second calibration point, take a 20cc syringe and move the plunger to the 10 mL mark and then attach the syringe to the sensor. Move the plunger so that the voltage reads 3.0 V. Enter a value of 139.4 kPa (or 1.376 atm or 1045.9 mmHg) as the value for the second point.

For calibration information on Gas Pressure Sensors produced earlier than October 2011, see: TIL 2583: What is the calibration information for the Gas Pressure Sensor?

RELATED VERNIER PRODUCTS

Gas Pressure Sensor Replacement Parts, order code PS-ACC, $10
#1 1-hole Rubber Stopper, order code PS-STOP1, $1
#5 2-hole Rubber Stopper, order code PS-STOP5, $2
Luer-Lock Connector, order code PS-LUER, $1
Plastic 2-Way Valve, order code PS-2WAY, $2
Plastic Tubing, order code PS-TUBING, $1
Stopper Stem, order code PS-STEM, $1
Plastic Syringe, order code PS-SYR, $1
Plastic Tubing Clamps (Pack of 100), order code PTC, $32 (pkg. of 100)