Does the age of a strain gauge effect its accuracy?
No, gauges either work or not. They do not lose accuracy with age. As a gauge ages, the copper electrodes at the ends are dissolved into the mercury. This shows up as a darkening of the mercury which begins at the ends of the gauge and progresses toward to middle. This process causes the pressure in the gauge to go down and eventually the gauge will lose electrical continuity when it is stretched. Hokanson gauges are guaranteed for 1 year, and working gauges over five years old are not uncommon. © 2008 D. E. Hokanson, Inc.
