load cells (1-2 tons)

Other Hardware Sensors
1

Hi,
We plan to include robust load cells in our Arduino project. The load cells should weight cement (1 to 2 tons) and it should be outdoor in the dirt :slight_smile:

Can somebody recommend good load cells for our project? I guess we should include 4 cells each with the max capacity of 1-2 tons due to the weight of the iron bucket and the loading process or what would be a good solution? The load cells should have a maximum variance of +/- 1 kg (is this possible)?
Is there a load cell conversion module which can be recommended?
The goal of the project is to show the actual weight on a lcd display and stop the process when the load has reached X kg.

Thank you very much for your advisories.

Marco

2

Without seeing how you have designed the rest of the weighing mechanism, it's difficult to even consider recommending a load cell.

Paul

3

Hi Paul

Thank you for your response. It should be very simple but robust. We haven't set up anything. We have a cement auger which should be switched off when X kg are loaded (for example with a relay).

I tried to draw a draft.

Thank you very much! Every advice is very welcome!

plan.PNG
plan.PNG994×754 35.4 KB

4

Good start. Now do you expect the load cells to return to zero when the load is removed? What mechanism? Will your load cells actually return to zero or will you need to re calibrate after each load is removed? In other words, what is the required recovery time for the load cells?

Paul

5

Yes should return to zero every time. The start of a new load would be manually when the cement is put out.

6

OK, now we can begin to look. Start looking here.

Paul

7

Looks great. Thank you very much. Is the maximum 500 kg for each cell? We had to install 6 to 8 units to reach the 4 tons? Is it possible to connect the cells with an arduino?

Thank you!

8

MT19:
Looks great. Thank you very much. Is the maximum 500 kg for each cell? We had to install 6 to 8 units to reach the 4 tons? Is it possible to connect the cells with an arduino?

1. Because your target is 4 ton, you need at least 2x4 tons capacity of load cell.

2. Choose the appropriate load cell. Find its complete Technical Specification (Excitation Voltage, Response in mV for Full Load, and etc) and post this information or its link.

3. You can easily interface your load cell with a LCD via HX711 Module (amplifier + ADC) and the Arduino UNO.

4. You just want to measure the load only or you want to enter the price from a Keypad and compute the cost as well?

9

Can we use HX711 for any load cell and Arduino UNO combination or only for some specific load cells with specific Arduinos only it will work? Because in many videos I have seen Hx711 using for measuring only small weights can it be used for heavy (load cells) weights?

10

Nataraj18:
Can we use HX711 for any load cell and Arduino UNO combination or only for some specific load cells with specific Arduinos only it will work? Because in many videos I have seen Hx711 using for measuring only small weights can it be used for heavy (load cells) weights?

1. This is the data sheets of HX711 and have a look into it.

2. The data sheet says --
Any load cell whose differential output is either 0 to 20 mV or 0 to 40 mV can be connected with Channel-A of the HX711 Module; the bias voltage of the Module is 5V.

11

Hello MT19

thank you for creating this thread.

Hello GolamMostafa
Hello Paul_KD7HB

thank you for pointing us, do you have schematic /wiring diagram for:
2 load cells (each 4 ton) connected to HX711 then to Arduino.

i would like to use one piece of Arduino.
how many HX711 we need to make it working ?
please share wiring diagram for this.

thank you very much.
regards,
panji