How Low Can Your Gauge Go? Kappius Offers Incredibly Accurate Pressure Gauges

Oh wait. He photoshopped the label out on his site. Someone done goofed!

Save yourself a little coin

http://www.dwyer-inst.com/Product/Pressure/SinglePressure/Gages-Digital/SeriesDPGA-DPGW/Ordering?gclid=CjwKEAiAk8qkBRDOqYediILQ5BMSJAB40A5UXvjVGrjJHxh2e56Phh98nUHpEGVexj410_L6MKsWHBoCHpTw_wcB

And one day soon Google will be able to resolve the distance from my house to my work to within a tenth of a millimeter.

That Dwyer gauge is listed at $70 on their website, $90 seems a little steep for some basic brass fittings, perhaps they’re gold plated. I’ve been using Accu-gauge low pressure (15 and 30psi) analogue gauges for awhile with great success. I doubt that they’re as accurate as the Dwyer, but QBP stocks them and they can be had for <$20… if you're using the same gauge to check your tires every time the importance of .01 psi accuracy is debatable.

Great idea, but seems like a lot for a pressure gauge. Especially one that looks like a college-rigged pot pipe. Nice try chaps

That gauge is $70 direct from Dwyer and that same chock with bleeder is available from most online bike shops for $15. With a 1/4 npt-1/8 npt adapter and some teflon tape your up to $88 bucks.

“Slightly different than the gauge above” would I’m sure imply that the production model will be cleaned up from the prototype shown above. I can assure you prototypes usually look a lot less consumer ready than that.

Doesn’t matter how accurate your gauge is. What is needed is the repeatability. The actual pressure you put in your tire is completely subjective (ride feel, no pinch flats etc). Once you establish what you want all you need is that the gauge tells you the same thing each time you use it.

Digital gauges are obviously easier since there is no interpretation (is the needle half way between two lines or 2/3 of the way?).

This digital gauge – http://www.harborfreight.com/digital-air-flow-regulator-68245.html – does pretty darn well with repeatability and accuracy at less than 100 psi when I checked them against super fancy lab standard pressure gauges. It is 1/8″ NPT threaded and is a direct fit replacement for many gauges used in bike pumps and the chuck used in the gauge in the article. Got one on my 18 year old Silca floor pump. Works great and eliminates needing a separate gauge.

re: PTFE tape. Most importantly, it looks ridiculous on a $160 tool that is never going to see high pressures. I’d expect it to be brazed up all fancy like for that kind of money.

presta only ?
psi only ?
—> big (deleted)

“PTFE is junk, stuff loosens just as easy as it seals…”
First it’s not “junk”, it a very reliable and durable seal. Second, the ability to loosen and disassemble the fitting when you want to is a plus, not a defect.

Thanks for the comments everyone. Here are some answers to a lot of the questions posed above.

Yes, it’s a Dwyer gauge. If you want to make your own, go for it! I’m not stopping anyone from doing that. I love tinkering and support anyone who want’s to give it their own shot. For those that don’t want to tinker, feel free to buy it from us.

The image above is a very early prototype. The production versions will be much more refined and have custom fittings. And it will have our logo. And no PTFE tape…

Yes, presta only, units are listed on our website and include psi, bar, kPa among others.

Man, theres a lot of people out there with some goofy ideas about using a lubricant to seal. If you lube something together, you’re lubing it apart. Nice to hear the guy manufacturing this premium tool recognizes that PTFE is bush league. Try some Loctite 5452, it works amazing on small parts like that and won’t foul the gauge.