Load cells are found in just about every laboratory – we always need to weigh something or monitor the force change in some process. Load cells are available in ranges from grams to tonnes, but this single board can work with them all!The output from a load cell is generally of the order of millivolts, which is just too small to be sent over any distance or to be of much use without a very high bit depth and expensive analog to digital converter. The load cell signal conditioner module makes it fast and easy to amplify and offset the output of your load cell to match your data collection system.Amplification is the main requirement for signal conditioning a load cell. The very small output voltages need to be increased to better utilize the range of the data acquisition system they are being connected to. Often your DAQ system may be able to read /- 10 VDC, so why send it a signal only a thousandth of the range you paid for?Offsetting is another handy feature. Offsets allow you to shift the output of the amplifier up and down by a fixed DC voltage. This can be useful if you need 0 VDC out to be a zero load with some rare weight on the load cell. This function can also be used to better utilize the full range of your Data Acquisition Device. Why only use 0 to 10 VDC when your system can measure -10 to 10? It’s like doubling your resolution at no extra cost.Loads cells work best when we provide them very clean and stable power. If the load cell’s excitation voltage is messy, the output signal will reflect that. Each signal conditioner is equipped with an on-board precision voltage supply, providing clean excitation power to the load cell.Finally, the load board offers a way to apply an input filter to clean up your signal. The unpopulated components allow you to build a differential and common mode low pass filter in which you decide and set the cutoff frequency. This is great for removing noise from the power supply, adding an anti-alias filter, or just cleaning up a slow signal. Use our free filter calculator to determine the component values you should use.
