industrial instrumentation basics

Load Cell Basics: Working Principle and How to Test One What Is a Load Cell? A load cell is a force-sensing device used to measure weight or mechanical load. It can respond to force applied in tension (pulling) or compression (pushing), and its job is to translate that mechanical force into an electrical signal — typically in the millivolt range. That raw millivolt signal isn't useful on its own, so supporting electronics amplify and condition it, converting it into a readable weight value (kilograms or tons) on a display, or into a standardized industrial signal such as 4–20 mA or 0–5 V for transmission to a control system.   How Load Cells Work Most load cells are built around a strain gauge. When force is applied to the strain gauge, its electrical resistance shifts slightly. This tiny resistance change is measured using a Wheatstone bridge circuit, which converts it into a proportional electrical output representing the applied force.   While strain-gauge load cells are...