20 -MC-
Lab Session No. 3
Objective:
To use and calibrate the weight transducer and signal conditioner circuit.
Equipment:
➢ Weight Transducer & Signal Conditioner Trainer
➢ Weights
➢ Connecting Wires
➢ Power Supply Unit
➢ Digital Multimeter (DMM)
Load Cell
It links a longitudinal expansion to consequence variation in resistance.
∆𝑅 ∆𝐿
=𝐾 𝐿
𝑅
Load cell is force transducer most widely used in industrial applications. It converts an applied
force (weight) into a variation in the output voltage of a bridge. In a load cell, several
extensometers are generally used and they are generally connected to in bridge configuration fitted
to deformable element. Load cell which use resistive strain gauge have impedance of 350 ohm and
full scale sensitivity of about 2mV/V. This means that a voltage of 10 V is applied to the
extensometer bridge; output variation will be 20mV when full scale load is applied. Semi-
conductor based strain gauges offer more sensitivity.
20 -MC-
Draw Circuit Diagram of load cell and signal conditioner trainer:
Calibration:
➢ Connect all appropriate power supplies to weight transducer unit (12V, -12V, GND)
➢ Using digital multi meter (DMM), measure the +VREF at jack 1, and adjust RV1 till the
reference voltage is exactly 8V
➢ After the inverting amplifier, check the –VREF at jack 2, it should be -8V.
➢ Now measure load cell output voltage at jack 3 and 4, it should be zero in case of no load
and some value otherwise.
➢
➢ For no load, voltage at jack 6 should be set to zero by adjusting RV2.
➢ Now apply load of 100 N and adjust RV3 till you voltage at jack 7 is read out to be 4V and
weight transducer is calibrated.
➢ Next, you have to apply different loads and note down output voltages at jack 7.
Readings:
No. Force [N] (Section Force[N] (Section V34 V5 V7 [Volt]
A) B) [mVolt] [mVolt]
Weight Loading
1 0 0 0 153.5 0.31
2 20 10 1.1 -18.4 0.96
40 30 2.3 -57.6 1.7
3 60 50 4 -97.1 2.11
4 80 70 5.4 -160.1 3.24
5 100 90 7.5 -218.1 3.99
Weight Unloading
6 80 70 5.3 -150.1 3
7 60 50 3.8 -103.2 2.41
40 30 15.2 -64.5 1.70
8 20 10 1.3 -19.3 0.98
9 0 0 0 26.3 0.27
20 -MC-
Curve Fitting Loading Condition:
Using Matlab curve fitting technique, find the polynomial equation which fits the above curve
and then plot calculated polynomial function and actual data graph in one figure.
Hint: Use polyfit and polyval function in matlab
Model: 𝐹=
Coefficients:
Accuracy: R2 =
Observe the type of sensor used in weight transducer and define the outputs V34, V5 and
V7 in association to sensor and signal conditioning elements (see circuit diagram).
Strain Guage
The outputs reported above for the loading and unloading conditions, observe is there any
hysteresis exists, if yes, then report maximum hysteresis error in the output signal.
