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

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Kappius pressure gauge fat bike cross ultra low bicycle

A lot has been made recently about bicycle pumps and the ability of their gauges to be accurate at low pressures. Most tend to maintain the highest level of precision at pressures well above where the average fat bike, cyclocross bike, or even mountain bike is run. One or two psi off might not seem like much, but when you’re only running 10 psi, up to 20% variance is a big deal.

Apparently, when Brady Kappius isn’t busy rethinking bicycle hubs and designing complete wheels, there is enough time to come up with gems like his new Digitial Pressure Gauge. Available in 3 varieties, the Gauge will be sold in Fat Bike, Cyclocross/Low MTB, and Cyclocross/MTB pressure ranges. The Fat Bike model will measure from 0-15 psi with 0.01 psi resolution, then 0-30 psi also with 0.01 psi resolution for the Cyclocross/Low MTB option, and finally 0-50 psi with 0.02 resolution for the Cyclocross/MTB gauge all with a +/- 1% accuracy.

Each gauge is for presta valves only and includes a bleeder valve so you can pump up the tire past the desired pressure, then bleed it down to the precise number. Powered by an included 9v battery, the gauge has a 20 minute auto off feature, and each model has a pressure limit that is twice the intended pressure range (so don’t use the fat bike model on your road bike!). Available for pre-order currently on the Kappius store, each gauge will run $159.99 with your choice of units and will look slightly different than the early prototype gauge above.

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Brandon
Brandon
9 years ago

Please tell me you didn’t just post a picture of a $70 Dwyer pressure gauge with a presta fitting and tell me I’m going to be charged $170 for it. Shouldn’t Kappius at least put his name on it?

Also, if the 15 and 30 psi versions have the same resolution and accuracy, and it is digital so visibility isn’t an issue, why would I buy the 15 psi version?

Brandon
Brandon
9 years ago

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

Brandon
Brandon
9 years ago

I see now (on his site) that the accuracy percentage is at full scale, explaining the 15 psi version.

groghunter
groghunter
9 years ago

Tires: not the only thing that costs twice as much for a fatbike.

Poncho
9 years ago

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.

Collin
Collin
9 years ago

I was actually just thinking of marketing something like this, but as this shows you, a quality gauge (like Dwyer) are extremely expensive. For example, the dywer gauge shown above is $93 from Granger without any of the extra connections.

boosh
boosh
9 years ago

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.

bart
bart
9 years ago

I will stick with my SKS airchecker… seems accurate down to 4.5 psi and that is good enough for me.

TJ
TJ
9 years ago

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

Derek
Derek
9 years ago

@bart How do you know it’s accurate? Do we really need something that’s accurate as long as it’s precise?

http://climatica.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Accuracy-vs-precision1.jpg

Ryan
Ryan
9 years ago

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.

Todd
Todd
9 years ago

Amazing to see that a premium gauge is sealed up using PTFE tape. Anyone charging north of $100 for a gauge ought to use something that will stand up to the daily use of the tool, something like Loctite. PTFE is junk, stuff loosens just as easy as it seals…

Sam
Sam
9 years ago

“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.

Collin
Collin
9 years ago

Todd, I do testing on plumbing products which means testing them way higher then they would ever see in standard operating conditions, and PTFE tape is all we ever use. If you rap it properly, it will hold up forever. The taper on the threads (IE NPT) makes it so it won’t loosen up. I do testing at 2,000 PSI all day long and we’ve never had metal joints loosen up because of teflon tape. I’m pretty sure it can handle the 6 psi of a fat tire bike or 28 of a 29er.

josh
josh
9 years ago

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.

COLIN
COLIN
9 years ago

Ryan makes a excellent point. I just went to Kappius site and they have the same picture of the guage with the Dwyer logo taken out. Who ever buys this from Kappius is getting fleeced.

pdxfixed
pdxfixed
9 years ago

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.

Dave
Dave
9 years ago

Collin’s right. I use the stuff on 1100psi connections and it’s never failed me in all these years.

However, Pdxfixed is also right. It should be brazed, or at the very least use a nice o-ring seal. If I’m paying $50-70 more than if I made it myself, I want it to look like I bought it. Not as if I pieced it together at Home Depot.

sf
sf
9 years ago

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

pelichio
pelichio
9 years ago

They could charge some extra from a Enduro pressure range version.

Dave B
Dave B
9 years ago

“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.

M1K3Y
M1K3Y
9 years ago

Hmm…. I work for a Dwyer distributor… Maybe I should buy a bulk box of fittings and sell these on Ebay.

Brady Kappius
9 years ago

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.

Brady Kappius
9 years ago

Also, the gauge will be fitted with a Silca head

Todd
Todd
9 years ago

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.

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