A load cell converts force into electrical energy through a strain gauge, which changes shape depending on the amount of force applied. Load cells are used in weighing applications and typically contain multiple strain gauges arranged in a Wheatstone bridge formation.
A load cell is a type of transducer that converts force into electrical energy. This transformation occurs in two phases; the force is first sensed by a strain gauge and then converted into an electrical signal by altering the electrical resistance of a connected wire. Load cells are typically used in a number of common scenarios including electronic weighing of trucks and rail cars and even in smaller home electronic scales.
When force is applied to a load cell, it deforms the strain gauge or strain gauges installed within the cell. A strain gauge is a device that changes shape depending on the amount of force applied. As more force is applied to the strain gauge, it deforms more and more. Through its deformation, it changes the amount of electricity flowing through the connected line; this results in the production of a higher level of electric current, generating electricity from the initial mechanical force applied to the load cell.
An electronic scale can provide a good example of how a load cell works. When an individual steps on the scale, their body weight interrupts the strain gauges mounted on the scale. This, in turn, disrupts the electrical signals flowing through the scale. By measuring the break, i.e. the change from the baseline value, the scale is able to determine how much weight is being applied to it, providing an accurate reading of how much the user weighs.
A load cell typically contains more than one strain gauge. This allows force to be accurately sensed and converted even if the application of force is not consistently located at the center of a particular gauge. In a load cell with multiple strain gauges, these gauges are normally arranged in a diamond formation known as a Wheatstone bridge formation, which looks like a two-dimensional square that has been tilted 45 degrees to one side. There are four strain gauges in a Wheatstone bridge configuration, with one of the strain gauges located in the center of each side of the square.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
