Truck Scales Buying Information » ntep http://www.truckscale.net Purchasing Facts for Truck Weigh Scales Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:56:55 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 The foundation of success http://www.truckscale.net/2009/11/03/the-foundation-of-success/ http://www.truckscale.net/2009/11/03/the-foundation-of-success/#comments Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:38:27 +0000 admin http://www.truckscale.net/?p=41 This month we continue to look at the overall service and maintentance of a truck scale.  Today we look at the weighbridge and the foundation. Even the toughest scale on earth is put at risk on a poor foundation. Cracked foundations can lead to movement or settling which causes chronic calibration errors. Letting little cracks become big cracks may require removing part or all of the foundation and pouring a new one for the scale to once again weigh accurately.  It is important that the end user periodically walk around their scale and do a thorough visual check of the foundation and let your service tech know of any issue that you see possibly developing. Take a look at the weighbridge or deck. Rust or crumbling concrete can weaken the scale’s structure and cause problems. Clean and paint rusted steel decks.

Binding is a common cause of inaccuracies. A rock as small as your big toe can become wedged between the foundation and deck.  Installing T-Strip molding between the deck and foundation can help keep debris from getting caught or falling down into the scale. Some above-ground scales have end cleanout plates that can be removed, allowing access to clean out debris that builds up on the foundation’s surface closest to the scale’s end.  The above examples are a great reason to contact an experienced truck scale sales and service company like Central Carolina Scale for your truck scale needs.

]]> http://www.truckscale.net/2009/11/03/the-foundation-of-success/feed/ 0 What is concentrated load capacity and ntep? http://www.truckscale.net/2009/05/02/what-is-concentrated-load-capacity-and-ntep/ http://www.truckscale.net/2009/05/02/what-is-concentrated-load-capacity-and-ntep/#comments Sat, 02 May 2009 14:32:05 +0000 admin http://www.truckscale.net/?p=12 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 the most rigorous weighing processes of two million weighments or more. NTEP provides a set of procedures for the uniform testing and evaluation of weighing equipment. For a truck scale to be NTEP-certified Legal-for-Trade, the entire truck is weighed, not just a single axle or group of axles. The SURVIVOR series is approved for up to 270,000 pound full scale capacity with a 90,000 pound CLC rating, earning NTEP certification up to 14 feet wide. NTEP has additional guidelines for truck scales, such as the required length of approach ramps. For clarification on your state’s requirements, contact a qualified dealer who can help you determine the best site for your scale to meet those guidelines. For North Carolina, contact Central Carolina Scale in Sanford NC.

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