Box Mount or Panel Mount Pressure Gauge - Which is Right for You?

Posted on Jun 28, 2016 by Kathy DeGlandon


Box Mount or Panel Mount Pressure Gauge — Which Is Right for You? Crown gauges come in two configurations, box mount or panel mount. Each one has its benefits to produce the most accurate pressure readings for your application. But knowing which is best for your application and/or which one you are currently using is very important for several reasons. What’s the Difference? Box Moun ...


Box Mount or Panel Mount Pressure Gauge — Which Is Right for You?

Crown gauges come in two configurations, box mount or panel mount.  Each one has its benefits to produce the most accurate pressure readings for your application.  But knowing which is best for your application and/or which one you are currently using is very important for several reasons.

What’s the Difference?

 

Box Mount Gauge — A box mount gauge can be mounted in a box, but more often than not it is mounted on a bracket (CB100). This bracket can be mounted anywhere  a gauge is needed,  in remote locations or even on a driller’s console.  The biggest, most notable difference between a box mount and panel mount gauge is where the dampener block assembly is located.  On a box mount gauge, the dampener block assembly is located on the top of the gauge.  It is a half-moon shaped brass block with a dial that allows the user to dampen the fluctuations that occur  in hydraulic pressure assemblies.  By dampening the fluctuations down, the gauge can provide the user more accurate readings. As you can see from the picture on the right, the dampener block is located at the top of the gauge and is attached to the gauge. They are built and sold as one unit.

 

Panel Mount Gauge — A panel mount gauge is mounted in a driller’s console or panel.  These gauges will have a dampener assembly that is remotely mounted and will not be attached to the gauge. This gauge is connected to the dampener block by a length of copper tubing. The dampener assembly offers the same functionality as on a box mount, but when installed, it can be far away from the gauge. The remote damper in the picture to the left is fairly close to the gauge, but you will note that they are two separate pieces of equipment.  Also, even though these are close together, the gauge and dampener assembly can be much farther away, depending on the application and the build-out specifications.

 

Which One is Right for Your Application?

Most of the gauges we sell are box mount gauges.  Because they can be mounted pretty much anywhere needed, the are the go-to gauge for most applications.  The all-in-one design makes these gauges easy to mount, especially with bracket shown on the right. However, a panel mount gauge is perfect for a console where an operator will need to monitor several gauges as once. For example, many driller’s consoles come with a weight indicator, torque gauge, and possibly several pressure gauges.  He will need all of these measurements to monitor the rig operations, so a group of panel mount gauges will be needed for his application.

 

When you need to reorder a gauge or buy a new one, and you’re asked the question, box or panel mount, just take a look at the top of the gauge.  If you see the half-moon shape dampener block on top of the gauge, then you’ll know the exact, right answer to that question.  But, as always, if you have a questions for our staff, we are always happy to help.