Understanding The Meaning Of Excitation Voltage In Load Cells

Load cells are intricate devices that help industrial users assess force and evaluate its electrical output. Industrial buyers across domains like pharma, military, aviation, manufacturing different load cells for streamlining their processes. Top load cell manufacturers provide detailed product manuals that cover critical product specifications. While skimming through such a manual, you may notice the term "excitation voltage". This technical term is vital for decoding the load cell specifications to help you make an informed choice. Let's break down the concept of "excitation voltage" in load cells.

Concept of Excitation Voltage

This term refers to the voltage level necessary for triggering the circuit excitation. Excitation happens when a required amount of electric energy or direct current (DC) moves into the circuit so that it can create a magnetic field. This magnetic field can support functions like generating an output signal. The concept of excitation voltage is crucial in the context of load cells because this process affects the cells' Wheatstone bridge mechanisms.

Why Do Load Cells Have an Excitation Voltage Value?

The fundamental role of a load cell is the generation of an electrical output signal after the assessment of force. An excitation voltage is imperative for fulfilling this role. The degree of voltage affects the Wheatstone bridge circuit and the creation of the electrical output. This output reflects the force measurement. The process of output signal creation is the underlying mechanism for measuring force in industrial settings. Load cell suppliers mention two values for the excitation voltage.

They outline the "recommended" and "maximum" values for a load cell. The recommended value represents the optimal excitation voltage that would ensure seamless results. The maximum value highlights the limit you must not cross.

Is It Important to Focus on a Load Cell’s Excitation Voltage?

Different load cell variants can have varying values for the excitation voltage. For example, the recommended and maximum voltage values for double-ended load cells and s-type load cells are likely to be different. A load cell's excitation voltage is directly proportional to its output signals. A high excitation voltage will yield a high output signal and vice versa. However, this phenomenon does not mean that a higher voltage value is better. While larger output signals are simpler to measure and manage, high excitation voltage can lead to the overheating of strain gauges. If you cross the maximum excitation voltage value, it can trigger overheating and signal disturbance. Hence, experts suggest that you adhere to the recommended voltage value specified in the product manual.

There are some advantages to using high excitation voltages. Larger signals ensure better data quality and drive the ease of digitization. If you want to take advantage of these benefits, you can increase the excitation voltage to the maximum value without exceeding the same. While the recommended voltage value yields the best results, you can take a calculated risk by staying between this figure and the maximum value.

Now you can decode load cell product manuals with ease. Buy stainless steel load cells or custom load cells from the house of Sensomatic today to get the best results across your industrial applications!