Vishay P-3500

The Vishay Model P-3500 Strain Indicator is a portable, battery powered instrument with unique features for use in stress analysis testing and for use with strain gauge based transducers. The P-3500 offers a choice of LCD or LED readouts and incorporates many unique operating features that make it the most advanced and easy-to-use instrument of its kind. In use, the operator follows a logical sequence of setup steps by activating color-coded push-button controls to prepare the instrument for making accurate and reliable measurements.

The P-3500 also incorporates a highly stable DC amplifier, precisely regulated bridge excitation supply and precisely settable gauge factor controls. Static measurements are displayed directly on the indicator’s readout with 1 microstrain resolution. An analog output with a -3 dB bandwidth of 4 kHz is provided to drive an external oscilloscope or recorder for dynamic measurements.

The instrument will accept full-, half-, or quarter-bridge strain gauge inputs and all required bridge completion components for 120, 350 and 1,000 Ohm gauges are built -in. Bridge excitation is 2 Vdc, resulting in low gauge power and negligible drift due to gauge self-heating. The P-3500 operates in fully ratiometric mode. Minute changes in bridge excitation due to drift or battery deterioration do not affect accuracy of reading.

Gauge factor is precisely settable (to a resolution of 0.001) by a front-panel 10-turn potentiometer and is displayed on the digital readout when the gauge factor push button is depressed. The P-3500 operates from an internal battery pack consisting of 6 “D” cells, which arereadily available worldwide when replacement is required. Battery life is approximately 250 to 300 hours of continuous use (approx. 200 hours with LED readout). Battery condition is monitored by a miniature front-panel meter while the instrument is on. An external line voltage adapter is also available (115 or 230 Vac, 50 to 60 Hz).