How do I 

select the right capacity load cell?

Before choosing load cells for a specific application, the user should verify it is possible to achieve sensible results from the planned weighing system. It is not
possible for a typical weighing system with a total capacity of 80,000 pounds to weigh in increments of 1 pound (1/80,000). Strain gauge load cells should not
be expected to work beyond a minimum stable/repeatable weight increment of 1/10,000th of the load point capacity.  With newer technology found in the
HI4050, HI6300 sereis and HI6500 series this minimum has been expanded to 1:40,000.

The final choice of load cells for your system will be somewhat of a compromise based on the standard capacities of Hardy’s load sensors and your application
requirements. Hardy load sensors have outputs from 0.9 to 3 Milli Volts per volt (mV/V). With 5 volts excitation, the full scale output for your Hardy load cell will
be anywhere from 0 Millivolts to a maximum 15 Millivolts. This output is the full scale output from no load to full capacity load. Full scale capacity takes into
account the weight of any vessel or platform on the load cells, usually referred to as the “Dead Load”. This dead load will use up a portion of the load cell
output, and as a result should be as low as possible compared to the “Live Load” (active weighing range). In practice this is not always easy to do, and it will
depend on the overall resolution or accuracy required of your weighing system. If multiple load cells are connected in parallel, then the total output will be
the summed average of the outputs from the individual load cells.

When the range of your system has been calculated, this information can be related to electrical output in Millivolts (mV). This should then be related to the
minimum weight increment or scale division which is required by the user.

EXAMPLE:
4 – number of load cells (at 2 mV/V)
75 kg – capacity of each load cell
300 kg – total capacity of system (4 X 75 kg = 300 kg)
5 VOLTS EXCITATION * 2 mV/V per load cell = 10 mV full scale output
1 mV = 30 kg (300 kg/10mV) 
100 kg – dead load 
3.33 mV – Electrical output for dead load weight
200 kg – available live weight capacity applied equals 
6.66 mV – total electrical range for live weight, starting at a base of 3.33 mV

Using your specifications rather than the example above, you can determine the electrical output per division on your system and compare that to the
specification of your Hardy controller to ensure you are not expecting more than your system can deliver. If the signal is too low, then your system may need to
be redesigned with respect to the live load weight and dead load, or load cell capacity.

The calculation of load cell capacities for vessels will usually be different from that of floor scales. It is unlikely that an individual load cell on a weigh vessel will
be overloaded under normal working conditions (if calculations are correct). But on a floor scale it is possible for one corner to carry a high percentage of any
load cell placed on the weigh deck, so the calculation to determine correct capacity is doubled to prevent load cell damage. One method for determining the
required load cell capacity for a particular application is outlined below:

VESSEL/SCALE USING LOAD CELLS

Load cell capacity = (live weight + dead weight) / # of load cells

PLATFORM FLOOR SCALE

Scale capacity = (live weight + dead weight) * 2

Hardy standard load cell capacities will then dictate which load cells should be used. When calculating capacities for platforms floor scales remember to double
the normal capacity for safety. When calculating the capacity consideration must also be given to:
a) Any adverse vibration within the system which may produce cyclic loading patterns on the cells. If using Hardy Instrument controllers you can use
WAVERSAVER® to reduce or eliminate the effects of vibration. This will not alleviate any over loading due to harmonic vibrations, just ignore the vibration.
b) Unequal loading on the load cells due to fixed structures or irregular material distribution within the vessel or on the platform.
c) Any mass that will be picked or dropped onto the scale will require a calculation of this additional force.
NOTE: When calculating load cell capacity requirements the following guidelines may be useful: Advantage load cell series are certified to work at a 100% duty
cycle at 100% of rated output. This means you can use the total rated capacity and not worry about including overload protection by ordering oversized load
cells. In some cases where the vessel does not expect large impact or uneven loading you can use 115% of the rated load cell capacity. This will reduce the
overload protection but will function.

Please check with Hardy Tech Support and review any applications where you are considering 100% + loading.

Generally it is safe to say that modern load sensor ranges have been extended to show a duty cycle that covers the complete capacity.
a) The live weight on any cell should fall between 20-100% of the capacity of the load cell.
b) The dead load weight on any load cell can fall between 1-70% of the capacity of the load cell.

For platform scales the capacity is usually twice what you would normally expect, because forklifts regularly drive over the platform scale, and if the capacity
was not doubled the scale would be damaged due to overloading.

If you need additional information please click on the "Ask A Question" tab using Hardy's online WebTech knowledgebase. If you need on-site assistance call
Hardy Technical Support at 800-821-5831 option #4 or 858-278-2900 option #4. We offer Local Field Service in the continental U.S. and Canada for system
installation, startup, inspection, verification, calibration and certification, emergency troubleshooting, on-site training and routine preventative maintenance for
your Process Weighing instrumentation (even for non-Hardy equipment). We can have someone at your facility when you need us!

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