Category Archives: Truck Scale Load Cells

Load Cell Pocket Makes A Difference

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Load cell openings that are welded or bolted to exterior I-beams make it possible for too much bending and flexing, leading to damage to the weighbridge. Bumper bolts ease and crack. Check rods bind. Rice Lake’s SURVIVOR® series truck scales are made with the load cell pocket incorporated into the steel framework of the scale. The pocket is built within the outer I-beam, offering a far more durable, long-lasting load cell pocket. Load cell pockets are made out of heavy-duty steel plates incorporated into the design of the scale. Large wide-flange I-beams encompass the pocket integrating it into the weighbridge structure. This adds extraordinary strength and dependability to a extremely critical section of the weighbridge.

Numerous competitive models implement either bumper bolts or check rods for centering the scale. Check rods will add to the initial price of the scale and bumper bolts require Continue reading →

Load Cell Cable

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Most truck scales have multiple load cells inside the weighing platform. Those load cells have cables. The load cell cable usually connects to the junction box. Then, Load Cell Cable runs from the Junction Box to the Digital Weight Indicator.  As you can see, there are a lot of parts inside the scale that require load cell cable.  Below are some different types of cable available.

EL146 Standard Load Cell Cable, 4 Wire
* 20 AWG tinned copper wire stranded for flexibility
* Braided shielding is encased in red PVC
* All conductors are industry-standard color coded
* Diameter – EL146: 0.25″ (6.4 mm); EL147: 0.29″ (7.4 mm)
* Use the 4-wire cable for repairing or extending existing cable
* Temperature rating -30º C to 80º C (-22º F to 176º F)

EL147 Standard Load Cell Cable, 6 Wire
* 20 AWG tinned copper wire stranded for flexibility
* Braided shielding is encased in red PVC
* All conductors are industry-standard color coded
* Diameter – EL146: 0.25″ (6.4 mm); EL147: 0.29″ (7.4 mm)
* The 6-wire cable is best suited for longer runs where remote sense lines can be used
* Temperature rating -30º C to 80º C (-22º F to 176º F) Continue reading →

It is Important To Learn As Much As You Can During The Initial Buying Stage

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Built to Withstand Extreme Use
Weighbridge design and the overall weight of structural steel used directly affect the performance life of a truck scale. Many “economical” truck scale designs incorporate low grade, non-certified steel and an inferior design to reduce the cost and decrease production time. These reductions also reduce the life of the scale. Rice Lake SURVIVOR® OTR truck scales utilize up to 30% more steel than most competitive models and incorporate a longitudinal highway bridge design. More I-beams are strategically placed longitudinally with the traffic flow to ensure tire support regardless of truck position. Continue reading →

Summer is almost here, Truck Scale Maintenance Ideas

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We’re just about ready to head into the busy summer months. In a lot of cases, it is also a busy time for your truck scales. Spring is the best time to get the following maintenace done, because all the melting snow (in some areas) creating running water, mud and muck can wreak havoc on your truck scale operations; washing debris into pits and foundations, and damaging equipment. Not to mention the critters who have taken up residence over the long winter. We recommend completing the following steps in late spring to ensure you are up and running in time for the busy summer season. Continue reading →

New Truck Scales versus Used Truck Scales

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You don’t have to look at too many truck scale brochures to become thoroughly confused about what’s available and what is and isn’t important to you.
Full-length truck scales may be of either portable or permanent installation.  Portable truck scales include a lower framework that is placed on a prepared surface (either a concrete slab, wooden beams, or even dirt) and ramps are placed at either end for access. Portable scales are generally more expensive because of the lower framework but are much easier to move from site to site and are ideal for contractors or road builders. Scales that are permanently mounted may be mounted either in a pit (like the basement of a home) or of an above-ground low profile design where the scale is mounted on a concrete slab with ramps at either end. The advantages of a pit type scale Continue reading →

Load Cells

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This month we continue looking at truck scale service.  This months topic is Load Cells. From a service perspective the overall procedure is to examine load cells and the area surrounding them. The load cell area may contain dirt and debris that has built up since the scale’s last check. Load cells must have clearance to deflect through their capacity range. The same debris that can bind the scale deck can also keep the load cells and suspension components from moving freely. Continue reading →

Programmable Digital Weight Indicator for Truck Scales

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HMI Digital Weight Indicators from Rice Lake Weighing Systems, offer a complete line of weight indicators to fit any application. The revolutionary Rice Lake 920i® programmable HMI Indicator/Controller takes charge of process applications and provides open connectivity to the most popular networking interfaces. When used in batching / mixing applications, one 920i indicator is capable of handling multiple scales, flow, temperature and pulse. It can control hundreds of I/O set points, queue gates and conveyors, perform yield management functions and store, Continue reading →

What is concentrated load capacity and ntep?

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Concentrated Load Capacity, or CLC, is an industry recognized rating of a vehicle or axle load scale. The rating defines the maximum load for which the weighbridge is designed as applied by a group of two axles with a center line spaced 4 feet apart and an axle width 8 feet apart. When a CLC load is applied to the weighbridge during a National Type Evaluation Program test, the NTEP tester records the displayed weight. If the scale falls within accepted testing tolerances, the scale has that CLC weight value recorded as the CLC on the Certificate of Conformance.

The CLC rating is not a measure of weighbridge strength or rigidity, because weighbridge deflection is not measured in the NTEP test. It is irrelevant if the load weighbridge sags 1/10th of an inch, or 10 inches, as long as the scale weighs within the accepted tolerance. The scale’s CLC weight rating passes in either case. A high CLC rating could be given to an extremely flexible deck sitting on load cell mounts which are capable of accurately handling the side loading resulting from a severely sagging weighbridge.

The Rice Lake SURVIVOR® truck scale line boasts a 45 ton (90,000 pounds) CLC rating. With most legal highway weight limits being a fraction of Rice Lake’s rating, owners of a SURVIVOR scale can expect a long lifespan through Continue reading →

Truck Scale Digital Weight Indicator Cardinal 225

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Truck Scale Indicator

Truck Scale Indicator

Cardinal’s 225 Navigator features transflective technology which allows the 225’s display to be viewed under any lighting conditions from direct sunlight to total darkness. One-inch-high (25 mm) weight characters make viewing easy. View up to 3 scales with total weight simultaneously with the optional dual scale input board; no special software is needed with Cardinal 225 Navigator digital weight indicator.

Entering, viewing, and storing truck names is easy with the 225 Navigator’s convenient Truck ID menu.  Complete alphanumeric descriptions for truck and material prompts make storing and recalling tare weight values quick and simple.

Cardinal Truck Scale Load Cell

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Cardinal Truck Scale Load CellThe heavy capacity series of compression load cells are ideal for multiple load cell compression applications such as motor truck scales, railroad track scales and heavy duty tank weighing systems. These compression load cells are available in 50K-SCA 22680kg, 100K-SCA 45360 kg and 120K-SCA 54430 kg.

Cardinal SCA Truck Scale Load cells are fabricated from stainless steel to provide the ultimate in protection when caustic, corrosive or wet environments are encountered. Load cells are hermetically sealed for absolute water protection (IP68). Each load cell is furnished with stainless steel load buttons on each end, and a 9m integral multiconductor cable secured by a strain relief seal.