1. What is Current to Pressure Conversion?

The milliamp to PSI conversion is used in industrial instrumentation to convert a 4-20 mA current signal to a pressure value. This is commonly used with pressure transmitters and other process control instruments.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard current to pressure formula:

Where:

• \( mA \) — Current signal in milliamps (4-20 mA range)
• \( Span \) — The pressure range of the instrument (in PSI)

Explanation: The formula converts the proportional current signal (4-20 mA) to the corresponding pressure value based on the instrument's calibrated range.

3. Importance of Current to Pressure Conversion

Details: Accurate conversion is crucial for process monitoring and control in industries like oil & gas, chemical processing, and water treatment where pressure measurements are critical.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter current value between 4-20 mA and the span (pressure range) of your instrument. The calculator will compute the corresponding pressure value.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is 4-20 mA standard?
A: 4-20 mA is used because it allows for "live zero" (4 mA) detection, is less susceptible to noise, and can power devices over long cable runs.

Q2: What if my instrument has a different range?
A: The span value should be set to the difference between the upper and lower range values of your specific instrument.

Q3: Can this be used for other process variables?
A: Yes, the same formula applies to any 4-20 mA signal representing a linear process variable (temperature, level, flow, etc.).

Q4: What about 3-15 PSI signals?
A: This calculator is for current to pressure conversion. For pneumatic signals, a different calculator would be needed.

Q5: How accurate is this conversion?
A: The calculation is mathematically precise, but actual accuracy depends on your instrument's calibration and measurement conditions.