You may know that electronic devices undergo basic quality control checks before going to market, but you may not be aware of the extensive testing that top companies like WIKA Instrument perform on their electronic pressure-measuring equipment. Unlike some manufacturers who only perform a single quality control check on their products, WIKA believes that all its pressure sensors and pressure transmitters should be thoroughly tested under the actual conditions in which they will be used. Pressure measuring devices are used in industrial applications and need to be exhaustively tested to ensure they are waterproof, impact-resistant and capable of operating in a wide range of environments and temperatures, from tundra to the scorching sands of the Sahara Desert. Pressure transmitters and sensors need to withstand extreme conditions to provide reliable performance.
WIKA Mobile hydraulic pressure transmitter quality control test procedure
WIKA performed 80 separate quality control tests on its [mobile Hydraulic Pressure Instrument](https://www.wika.com/en-us/mobile %5Fworking%5Fmachines.WIKA). Here's the summary:
Initial functional tests: These tests include zero functional tests and initial temperature stress tests. The initial temperature stress test included storage at 110˚C for 48 hours and at -40˚C for 24 hours.
Life test at rated pressure: This test involves load cycling at different temperatures. Each pressure transmitter was tested 8 million times at 20˚C, 1 million times at -40˚C, and then another 1 million times at 120˚C.
Temperature tests: WIKA performs a series of six temperature tests on most pressure transmitters, including ice water, dry heat, condensation, humidity, freezing and rapid temperature cycle tests.
Dust and water rating test: Devices designed to meet the dust and water rating IP69K must withstand 2100 psi (150 bar) high-pressure water injection for 10 seconds, while devices designed to meet IP67 are tested after being immersed in water up to 1 meter deep for 30 minutes.
Chemical Tolerance Testing: WIKA has a three-step chemical tolerance testing process. The first step is the salt spray test, in which a 5% salt solution at 35˚C is sprayed on a pressure transmitter for 96 hours. The second step is the ozone tolerance test, where the device is exposed to dry and wet ozone at 50˚C for six hours. The third step is a chemical tolerance test where hydraulic fluid, brake fluid, gasoline and other chemicals are applied to the industrial pressure transmitter.
Shock and vibration test: Shock test includes single shock test, continuous shock test and drop test. Vibration test includes short-term vibration, long-term vibration and broadband noise including temperature superposition tests.
Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) testing: WIKA's EMC quality control checks include electrostatic discharge testing and anti-noise testing.
Electrical testing: All equipment must also pass a series of electrical tests, including overvoltage resistance, reset behavior, load backdown and slow load backdown tests.
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