Jerguson® Magnicator®: Schedule 80/160 Magnetic Indicators - Robust Construction Inside and Out

Mar 19, 2024

3 min read

Updated: Aug 17

The Magnicator Indicator connects to a process vessel. The chamber, or "column," contains a sealed float with a permanent magnet assembly which rises and falls as liquid level changes in the process vessel. The permanent magnet assembly in the float is magnetically coupled to an indicator, mounted externally to the gage column but completely isolated from the process liquid. Indicator flags are rotated by the float magnet assembly as it moves up and down in the chamber, providing highly visible indication of where the level is inside the vessel.

Why Magnetic Indicators Are an Attractive Sight Glass Alternative

Magnetic liquid level indicators are an attractive alternative to sight glasses for many applications. They provide improved visibility, reduced maintenance, and eliminate leak paths associated with sealing glass. Reducing leak paths is critical for many users working with flammable or toxic service, where every sealing point represents a potential release location.

Robust Construction Inside and Out

In addition to complying with ASME B31.1 for power piping and ASME B31.3 for process piping, all Magnicator Magnetic Level Indicators incorporate additional design and construction benefits not found on comparable products.

Schedule 40 Chamber Construction is Standard

For even higher pressures, Schedule 80 and Schedule 160 chambers are available. This capability is directly related to the strength of Jerguson's patented float magnet assembly - no other magnetic level indicator can function as reliably with such robust piping.

This connection between chamber schedule and float magnet strength is worth understanding: a heavier-schedule chamber has thicker walls, which puts more distance between the float's magnet and the external indicator it needs to magnetically couple with. A weaker magnet simply couldn't maintain reliable indication through a Schedule 80 or 160 wall thickness - which is why offering these heavier schedules as standard options depends on having a magnet assembly strong enough to still couple reliably through them.

Smooth Autogenous Welds

All standard cylindrical Magnicator floats have full penetration autogenous welds. Autogenous welding uses no filler metal - the weld is formed by fusing the base material itself. This process produces an ultra-smooth weld without a bead that could interfere with the float's motion inside the chamber.

A weld bead might seem like a minor detail, but for a float that needs to travel smoothly through the full length of a chamber, any protrusion along the weld seam creates a physical obstruction risk - autogenous welding removes that risk at the source rather than requiring the float to work around it.

Why This Level of Construction Detail Matters

Chamber schedule and weld quality aren't features most people think to ask about when specifying a level indicator, but they're exactly the kind of construction details that determine whether a unit performs reliably in genuinely demanding, high-pressure service versus struggling at the edges of its rated capability. A Magnicator built to these standards is engineered for extreme service from the inside out, not just rated for it on paper.

Applications

Robust Schedule 80/160 Magnicator construction is especially valuable for:

High-Pressure Process Applications: Where standard Schedule 40 construction isn't sufficient for the operating pressure
Flammable or Toxic Service: Where leak path reduction is a genuine safety priority
Any Application Requiring Long-Term Float Reliability: Where weld quality directly affects smooth, consistent float movement