[Es2] boost question...

[Ben Klumper]

Last night I temporarily hooked up a boost gauge to a tee fitting in the line to the ECU. The boost gauge is from Autometer and ranges from 0-35 psi. The ECU has been upgraded with a 2.5bar pressure tranducer and chip set from MIhnea Cotet, good for about 275 hp according to him. At idle and at low rpm normal city driving, the needle doesn't move off zero. Once I punch it, the gauge climbs to a max of 21 psi. Does this sound normal? The other thing I'm trying to figure out is my maximum boost. Calgary is at about 3500 ft. ASL which means atmospheric pressure is about 13.5 psi (.92 bar). Is my gauge showing relative or absolute boost pressure (I always get the two meanings mixed up). The way I see it, my total boost is either 21 psi (1.43 bar) which seems too low (ie: isn't that lower than stock?) or 34.5 psi (21 psi boost + 13.5 psi atmospheric) which is equivalent to 2.35 bar. That almost sounds too high. What do you guys think? The car goes pretty good when boost kicks in, so I'm not really complaining. I'd just like to know if everything is the way it should be.