Types of Load Cell Trimming

Load cell trimming is a crucial process that ensures accurate and reliable weight measurements in various applications. There are two main types of load cell trimming: excitation trimming and signal trimming. Each type serves a specific purpose in fine-tuning the load cell's performance and maintaining measurement accuracy. Let's explore these types in more detail.

Excitation Trimming of The Load Cell

Excitation trimming focuses on adjusting the excitation voltage or current supplied to the load cell. The strain gauges within the load cell transducer require a specific excitation voltage to operate effectively. Excitation trimming involves adding a series resistor to the load cell circuit to modify the excitation voltage passing through the load cell.

During the trimming process, a known fixed weight is applied to each load cell, and the output readings are individually adjusted until they are equal. This is typically achieved by using a trimmer potentiometer (trim pot) to modify the resistance in the circuit. By adjusting the trim pot resistance, the excitation supply to the load cell can be increased or decreased, fine-tuning the indicated weight.

Once the trimming is complete and the system is operational, the load cell with the lowest signal output receives the full excitation, while the remaining load cells receive proportionally smaller excitation. This ensures that the total load measurement is equivalent for all load cells in the system, providing accurate and consistent weight readings.

Excitation trimming not only tunes the load cells but also compensates for any variance in the measurement output. By adjusting the excitation voltage, the load cell's sensitivity and response can be calibrated, minimizing errors and ensuring reliable weight measurements.

Signal Trimming of The Load Cell

Signal trimming, on the other hand, focuses on adjusting the load cell signals rather than the excitation voltage. This type of trimming is often preferred as it offers ease of troubleshooting and is less susceptible to temperature changes or vibrations.

Signal trimming involves placing isolation resistors in parallel between the +/- terminals of each load cell. These resistors create a path for the load cell signal to "leak" before it reaches the junction. By connecting a trim pot, individual load cell signals can be adjusted to achieve a standard value.

The parallel resistors in signal trimming provide enough separation to prevent individual load cell measurements from interfering with each other. This allows for precise adjustment of each load cell's reading, ensuring that the weight measurements remain consistent and accurate.

Signal trimming is compatible with most load cell indicators or displays and can work with limited or gated power supplies. It offers the advantage of maintaining corner adjustments even if a load cell is replaced, making it a practical choice in situations where load cell replacements may occur.

In conclusion, load cell trimming plays a vital role in achieving accurate and reliable weight measurements. Excitation trimming focuses on adjusting the excitation voltage to ensure equal load measurement, while signal trimming fine-tunes the load cell signals for consistency. By utilizing these trimming methods, the performance of load cells can be optimized, and measurement errors can be minimized, ensuring precise and trustworthy weight readings in various applications.