Category Archives: General

How To Save Over $100 On Your Phone, Internet & TV Every Month

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Like most of you I needed to find ways to cut costs at my home. Between mortgage payments, health insurance premiums, and other household expenses that always seem to be creeping up, I needed to find a way to reduce my monthly spending.

After doing some homework and having quite a few discussions at the kitchen table, I decided that one area that I could make substantial cuts was with home phone service, cable television, and high speed internet. Those three services had slowly risen from around $100 per month, aka… the “triple play”, to over $180 per month for my family which is approximately an extra $1000 a year of added expenses.

Now I could have called and haggled and threatened to cancel my services. In fact, I did that a few years ago and saved a few dollars temporarily but in a year I was right back in the same boat. This time I wanted to make a substantial, long lasting dent in my spending.

HOME PHONE
After doing some extensive research, I decided to switch my home phone service to Ooma. I had heard of the product for years but never thought much of it until I finally hit my limit with the phone company. I’ve been using Ooma for about three months and it works fairly well. The calls are usually good quality and after paying the initial equipment charge of around $129, my monthly fees are just $4.99 which is for the taxes and junk fees that you see on every phone bill.  Now I could have just canceled home phone altogether and used just cell phones or done something like Google Voice. But, I wanted to keep my home phone number and I didn’t feel confident that Google would keep their Voice product going since they are notorious for stopping their products whenever they see fit. I had my phone number ported for a one time fee and that went smoothly. So, Ooma is a pretty nice option in my opinion and it saves me money each month. And honestly I don’t use my home phone all that much anyway.

HOME INTERNET
Sometimes it’s funny to think back to what we used to do fifteen years ago for internet. Remember NetZero or AOL or having to run a phone cable from the phone jack to the back of your PC?  Anyway, my internet charges were starting to get out of control. So when I called my provider, TWC, a few months ago, they would not work with me. Period. If I wanted to cancel my “triple play” plan, I would have to pay $70/month for stand alone internet service even though they had multiple offers listed on their website for much cheaper internet. You see I didn’t qualify for those rates since I was an existing customer.

I had shopped around and found that my local phone company offered comparable DSL service for $35/month. But, I really didn’t want to change over to them if I didn’t have to.  I liked high speed internet through the cable company and had always heard that DSL wasn’t as good. But it appeared the only way I was going to be able to keep the high speed cable internet service was to pay $70 each month. But wait!  I found something called EarthLink internet. It’s kind of hard to explain EarthLink but basically they offer their internet service separately but they actually use TWC infrastructure and billing. The cost is approximately $40 per month for high speed internet and I just recently experienced a system wide upgrade which makes it an even better value.

HOME TV
This may have been the most difficult transition of them all. You see, I’ve had satellite or cable TV for as long as I can remember. I’ve also been spoiled with DVR’s which allow you to pause live TV and record your favorite TV shows. So, the idea of cutting the cord was very difficult at first. However, if I had any doubts about my decision, they quickly went away when I was turning in my cable boxes at the TWC store. One of their employees was playfully challenging me on my decision. He asked how are you going to watch TV now? How are you going to record your favorite shows?

Those are all good questions and I had an answer for each question. First, I had an over the air antenna. The OTA antenna looks like a mouse pad works pretty nice most of the time. Second, and this may have been the key factor in making the whole thing work for me… I had purchased a TiVo Roamio OTA DVR. This device is a DVR for over the air television. It also connects to your home network so you can link up with Netflix and Amazon video. This device has made cutting the cord much easier than I could have imagined.

So when you add it all up, my monthly costs were over $180 month for the three services; tv, internet, & phone. They are now approximately $50 per month. There is equipment that you need to purchase up front in order to take advantage of this.  The Ooma was $129, the TiVo was $400 (which includes lifetime product guide) and the antenna for the TV was around $25. It will take some homework on your part to figure out exactly what antenna you need (see antennaweb). Hope this helps you out.

NCI 7600 Series Shipping Scale Discontinued

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NCI 7600 series scales are being discontinued effective December 31, 2015. Central Carolina Scale and Avery Weigh-Tronix will continue to provide service spares (repair parts) as long as components are available, for up to five years. All new orders for the NCI 7600 scale(s) must be received no later than close of business on December 31, 2015.

Discontinued Part Numbers

Part number ….. Description
9503-15624 …….. 7620, 70 lb (RS-232 w/ stainless weight platter)
9503-15625 …….. 7620, 100 lb (RS-232 w/ stainless weight platter)
9503-16638 …….. 7620, 100 lb (RS-232 w/ Ball-Top)
9503-16568 …….  7620, 150 lb (RS-232 w/ stainless weight platter)
9503-17111 …….. 7620, 150 lb (RS-232 w/ Ball-Top)
9503-17178 …….. 7680, 150 lb (RS-232 w/ stainless weight platter)
9503-17179 …….. 7680, 150 lb with Ball-Top (13 roller balls)

Recommended Replacements
We recommended you look at the Avery Weigh-Tronix ZP900 Mailing and Parcel Shipping Scale

ZP900 postal scale from Avery Weigh-Tronix

Our selection of post, mail and shipping scales are highly accurate, developed in partnership with our customers and designed for use in a range of environments, from retail counters to back office systems. Most are highly connective, able to integrate into existing point of sale and data systems.

The scales can stand up to a busy day in the post office or company mail room, year after year, and still determine small differences in weight. The postal scale range features easy to use operator displays, for error free, fast customer service. Avery Weigh-Tronix boasts an extensive range of industrial products applicable to the postal logistics industry that can enhance productivity and optimize your shipping process.

Flexible Configuration
The ZP900 is available in a range of base sizes and configurable capacities to meet the needs of the postal industry. The modular design provides a range of solutions which are easy to service and maintain, while the range of customer and operator display options provides added flexibility.

Unrivaled Connectivity
A range of connectivity options, including serial, Ethernet and USB with UPOS and OPOS support, facilitate integration with third party software and hardware solutions.

For additional information about the ZP900, please refer to https://www.centralcarolinascale.com or call (919) 776-7737

ProDec Floor Scales Protected by Bumper Guards

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Avery Weigh-Tronix floor scales are designed to be used in tough industrial environments. Renowned for their strength, reliability and accuracy, these floor scales have stood the test of time in harsh environments all over the world. The floor scales are available in a range of sizes, capacities and prices to suit every application. All floor scale models can be paired with a range of indicators, software and accessories for a complete weighing and data management solution.

bumper guards for weigh-tronics prodec floor scale

Avery Weigh-Tronix ProDec floor scales are built tough and have earned respect in the marketplace for their durability and overall value but, let’s face it, that also means they often don’t have the easiest life. Besides enduring pallets and other objects dropped on them and dragged across them, there are also the occasional (or maybe frequent) side impacts as pallet jacks or forklifts run into them.

For situations where added scale protection is deemed necessary, we can get a quote from Avery Weigh-Tronix for bumper guards that are designed to protect the sides of the platform by deflecting the forks and reducing the effect of lateral forces. We can also provide mounting plates which can be anchored into the warehouse floor and keep scales from sliding. Call us today (919) 776-7737 to get started.

Seca Directprint – Wireless Weight Information for Patients at Doctors Office

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Many times when a person goes to the Physicians Office, all the person does is step on the digital scale (or mechanical scale) and the nurse writes down the individuals body weight. Then not much at all is said about the patients weight. At this point, the nurse might check the person’s height but often times will just confirm what is in their medical record.Then once the patient sees the doctor, they may or may not mention the weight, usually it depends on time restraints or what the appointment is actually related to. Wouldn’t it be nice for the patient to automatically get a targeted print-out sheet of their weight along with Body Mass Index information and recommendations to improve their BMI?

seca directprint medical scales

The seca directprint is the ideal tool for raising awareness about maintaining a healthy weight. Not only does it tell your patients their height, weight and BMI, but it compiles their measurements into an easy-to-read one page printout which includes sound information and tips on weight management. In seconds, it provides the ideal ice-breaker for your overweight patients by drawing attention to the subject of overweight and obesity without making them feel uncomfortable.

This removes inhibitions, makes people more willing to talk, and motivates your patients in the long term to tackle the subject more rigorously and do something about it. This in turn can generate economic benefits for your practice, since you can now offer additional services.

Warehouse & Distribution Scales Can Help You Grow Your Business

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Warehouses and distribution centers rely on efficient and reliable data to ensure peak performance. Digital Scales and weighing systems can help ensure billing is accurate by monitoring cargo weights, tracking data and ensuring vehicles are filled to the optimum safe capacity. With the assistance of Avery Weigh-Tronix we have compiled a list of various types of scales and how they can benefit your business.

Our Avery Weigh-Tronix products simplify compliance with health and safety regulations, while maintaining efficiency throughout your organization to control costs and safeguard profitability. Regardless of the application, correct weighing practices—including selecting the appropriate scale system—can increase revenue exponentially. Integrating weighing into warehouse operations improves shipping and billing accuracy and enhances overall work flow productivity. Take a look below at just a few of the weighing solutions available that can help your business.

Legal-for-trade weighing
A scale system capable of legal-for-trade weighing can prove to be an invaluable asset in the logistics industry, as revenue is commonly based upon the weight of commodities purchased by or shipped for customers. Legal-for-trade accuracy is required for business transactions where goods are bought or sold by weight. Avery Weigh-Tronix provides a wide range of legal and non-legal scales, but the benefits of a legal-for-trade system extend beyond legality into a scale system that provides reliable, repeatable weighing of goods ensuring customer satisfaction, precise billing and accurate inventory records.

Vehicle Scales
Properly managing inventory and billing in warehouse and distribution center environments depends upon documenting and weighing both inbound and outbound freight. With the high cost of fuel, bulk carriers have to balance the need for optimal loading with concerns about safety. Truck scales and axle weighing systems from Avery Weigh-Tronix will help ensure that trucks are loaded to the ideal weight and conform to stringent legal maximum-weight regulations. Accurate weighing helps companies avoid costly fines as well as premature vehicle wear due to excessive loading.

Unattended Terminals
For increased efficiency, truck scale controls may be integrated into a standalone console that facilitates unattended weighing operations. The terminals enable drivers to complete weighing transactions 24/7, without leaving their cab. The result is that your truck scale can run smoothly without a dedicated operator. This results in reduced operating costs, extended hours of availability and improved health and safety by allowing the driver to stay within their vehicle.

Forklift Scales
A forklift scale allows drivers to lift and weigh bundled materials on the truck. This expedites operations by enabling forklift drivers to take commodities directly to storage upon delivery, while tracking the weight, origin and storage location during transport. This process results in real-time data acquisition, which can be used for billing and inventory management.  The ability to transport and weigh materials in one simple step results in tremendous time savings and a speedy return on investment. Forklift scales are also a compact weighing solution, making them suitable for the busy warehousing environment. In-cab instruments such as bar code scanners allow forklift operators to instantly capture all necessary freight data available, then transmit this information with weight data wirelessly via Bluetooth® or radio to supervisory computer systems. Continue reading →

Weight Check in Emergency Medical Situations

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In emergency situations, often the response time is crucial. Many medical clinics are open almost always and they need scales that are designed to operate accurately and reliably. That’s why many hospitals and doctors offices choose Rice Lake Weighing Systems products. The Rice Lake brand of scales are designed to be reliable and dependable for years of service.

medical scale in-floor

Many of these clinics install in-floor Rice Lake medical floor scales to weigh inbound patients on an ambulance stretcher or wheelchair. Weighing patients upon arrival at an exceptional speed, the in-floor scale provides crucial patient weight information. The clinic can then treat emergency patients knowing exactly how much the patient weighs. The medical scale delivers reliable performance with a heavy-duty industrial design and a rigid, steel-channel frame, providing the durability and accuracy the department needs. Article (pdf file)

Lakeview Medical Center has been a staple in the Rice Lake, Wis. community since its inception in 1919. The hospital prides itself with modern facilities, innovative state-of-the art technology and a caring staff. All of these qualities come together at Lakeview Medical Center for the same common purpose: providing excellent patient care for the growing region. Lakeview Medical Center is truly a patient-centric facility, and when it comes to providing care, the staff does everything possible to make sure patients receive superior and compassionate treatment. To provide unmatched patient care, modernization at Lakeview Medical Center has been embraced. From keycard badges that open corridors, ensuring patient and visitor privacy and safety, to state-of-the-art technology and in-floor patient weighing platforms, Lakeview Medical Center exemplifies next-level healthcare.

Installed flush with the hospital floor, the Rice Lake medical floor scale allows ambulance stretchers to transition from floor to scale with smooth and natural movements, permitting paramedics to easily roll the stretchers on and off in swift motions. With a Rice Lake digital weight indicator wall-mounted near the scale, the patient and stretcher gross weight is easily read and charted by the paramedic.

“It’s very convenient. It is right by the doors as you walk in. We have a digital display board that tells us which room the patient should be brought to,” explains Lakeview Medical Center Emergency Services Supervisor, Matthew Ryba. After transferring the patient to their room, paramedics bring the stretcher back to the floor scale to calculate the patient’s net weight by subtracting the weight of the stretcher and any equipment on or attached to the stretcher upon arrival. Without wasting any movements or removing the patient from the stretcher, Emergency Department staff can record and use an accurate patient weight, delivering better care at a quicker pace—a valuable quality in the department. Life-saving drugs administered in emergency situations may need to be accurately dosed by the patient’s weight; making reliable weight a necessity.

The medical floor scale wasn’t always a Lakeview Medical Center staple. When the hospital was built in its new location in February 2011, the floor scale was added to the department. Its benefits—from streamlining paramedic movement to accessing patient information faster—are definitely noticed. “It’s quick; I wheel the patient on, get my weight, wheel them off and I don’t have to worry about it; they can keep moving,” Ryba explains, “it doesn’t delay patient care; and that’s an important thing—not having to wait. You roll it on, roll it off and come back. It’s right by the doors as you walk in to go to the patient’s room.”

Knowing that standing is difficult for some patients, staff at Lakeview Medical Center take advantage of the floor scale by weighing patients in their wheelchairs. “We can wheel them right onto the scale and take the gross weight, bring the patient to their bed and go back and weigh the wheelchair to determine the patient’s weight,” explains Ryba. Taking the extra step to improve patient comfort is not uncommon at Lakeview Medical Center. Patients in the Emergency Department can even be weighed without leaving their bed. “All of the beds in the Emergency Department are weighed with a full set of linen, and the weight is written on the bed. All you have to do is wheel the bed with the patient to the scale, subtract the bed weight and you have the patient’s net weight,” Ryba notes.

In addition to weighing patients in wheelchairs and pre-weighed beds, patients also receive the highest standard of comfort with private rooms within a facility designed with a healing and soothing environment. Providing the best possible care with a personal and compassionate experience is a goal Lakeview Medical Center takes to heart.

When not in use by patients, the Rice Lake medical floor scale has other duties. Emergency Services often use it to weigh their ambulance and emergency response equipment while loading the ambulance. “It’s very versatile to have a scale like this,” says Ryba. “For me to stand on the scale with my vehicle equipment, we can take the weights of our equipment to determine the gross vehicle weight of the ambulance [as we load it].” Some ambulance equipment weighs over 20 pounds, and the vehicle weight can add up quickly with Emergency Services personnel and in-transit patients. Weighing the equipment adds an extra level of safety when loading the ambulance.

The Emergency Department’s medical floor scale is not the only Rice Lake scale on site. Lakeview Medical Center also uses a scale in their Kidney Dialysis Unit. With 16 dialysis stations in the unit, each patient receives the best possible care with individualized comforts. To help determine the optimal course of treatment and follow-up care, patients are weighed on the medical scale before and after dialysis. Because patients on dialysis often gain excess fluid and weight between treatments, keeping accurate weight records is essential for proper care, making the Rice Lake scale an invaluable asset to the unit. With a pit-style installation similar to the Emergency Department floor scale, the Kidney Dialysis Unit medical scale is ideal for patients being transferred in wheelchairs.

If you’re looking for a medical scale that you can rely on, be sure to take a look at the Rice Lake lineup of medical scales. You can contact the sales team at Central Carolina Scale for product information and price quotes. To reach the sales department you can call (919) 776-7737 or complete the request for quote form on the website.

Digital Scale with Wireless Display

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Technology can be a wonderful thing. The TranSend wireless load cell interface is one of the items customers are starting to utilize more frequently to eliminate cables and wires and costly repairs. From the initial weighment on the scale to the final numeric value on the indicator, efficient communication is key to the success of the entire operation. Whether it’s overhead, livestock, tank, or heavy capacity weighing, once your traditional conduit is damaged or needs to be replaced, communication is halted and so is your operation. TranSend not only solves issues resulting from traditional conduit, it also exceeds communication application expectations.
wireless load cell interface for digital scale

 Although dolphins are not considered an endangered species, marine mammal conservation efforts and research centers like Dolphins Plus aim to ensure these intelligent creatures are protected from the growing threat of natural and human endangerment. Together with the MSI-8000HD indicator and TranSend, a wireless load cell interface, the Dolphins Plus staff are able to easily monitor the weight of their residents and avoid perils common to other equipment in this corrosive environment.

Diet and weight management is another large part of Dolphins Plus’ research and observation efforts. A full staff of veterinarians with the highly skilled trainers are able to study the dolphins’ behavior and weight fluctuations to key-in on any health issues. Even with a dolphin’s extraordinary communication skills, the number on the scale can paint a better picture of the dolphin’s wellbeing. A typical adult bottlenose dolphin weighs between 330 and 445 pounds, eating five to eight times a day with a diet consisting of restaurant quality, Grade A herring, capelin, sardine and a variety of smelt. If the dolphins are overfed and inactive, they become lethargic, uncooperative and potentially aggressive. On the other hand, if they are losing weight, it could signify a health issue. A reliable scale system is critical while trainers relay weight information to the veterinarian department.

Once a week, a floor scale with TranSend attached is lowered into the lagoon where trainers prompt each dolphin, one-by-one, to slide with ease onto the platform. Another trainer stands to the side of the lagoon with the MSI-8000HD, recording the weight that is then logged into a national marine mammal database. The dolphins are signaled back into the lagoon and the process repeats with other residents. Because of the salt water, the staff at Dolphins Plus needed equipment that could withstand long periods of time in the water as well as repeated exposure to the elements.

The milled anodized aluminum, IP68-rated, full waterproof construction of the MSI-8000HD made it especially appealing to the salt water environment at Dolphins Plus. TranSend is a wireless load cell interface that communicates directly with the MSI-8000HD, eliminating the need for a homerun cable. With wireless communication and robust equipment that is less likely to be damaged, Dolphins Plus has not only saved money in repairs and service, but also saved time with equipment setup and tear down. Now, trainers and dolphins alike are able to spend more time at work and at play.

Continue reading →

Advice For Keeping your Ticket & Thermal Printers in Good Shape

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Often customers who have printers connected to their scales will ask us about preventive maintenance for keeping their ticket and thermal printers in good working order.  Below are a few tips to consider.

There are a few things to consider when it comes to keeping your scale printer in good working order. Some of the key factors to consider include the type of print mechanism, volume of use, environment and paper stock used.

Ticket Printers
First type of printer we’ll look at is the ticket printer. You often see these connected to a truck scale digital weight indicator. These printers seem to have a more opened up layout which means that ticket printers will require more frequent cleaning than other types of printers.

A slide-in ticket printer, for example the Rice Lake TicketPress printer in an air-conditioned office may need cleaning a couple of times a year. That same printer in a more dusty environment such as a feed mill or gravel pit may be exposed to more airborne dust and need a quick cleaning each week. In those especially nasty environments, the operator should be trained to do minor cleaning at the start of each week.

scale printer maintentance for printhead

Dirt on the print head is easy for an operator to handle with a cotton swab and isopropyl alcohol. You’ll know when it’s time for cleaning when you start to notice poor print quality.

The head shaft, drive gears and belts are more critical and require professional attention from the service team at Central Carolina Scale. Dirt buildup on these moving parts creates drag, causing extra current draw for the motor, which often leads to a burned out motor or drive transistors. A visual inspection by a professional scale technician during regular preventive maintenance visits is your best guide to prevention. Another great reason to setup a scale check with us on a regular basis.

Thermal Label Printers
This type of printer is usually more protected from airborne dust, but have special needs due to generally higher usage. In addition to the print head, the drive rollers, bearings and clutches sometimes require attention in high-volume applications.

Because they do not use a ribbon, print heads of direct thermal printers can easily pick up debris and should be cleaned regularly. Light streaks in the same place on each label are an indication of a dirty head. On the other hand, thermal transfer printers—with direct ribbon contact—stay relatively clean and can normally go three to four rolls of labels stock between cleanings.

If major adjustments are needed to maintain print quality, it should be your red flag to check bearings and rollers in high-volume label printers. Clean rollers first with alcohol, or even acetone, if they are badly gummed up. If you’re still adjusting frequently, disassemble the label drive mechanism and check the drive roller bearings, replacing if necessary.

Some label printers use felt disks for clutches. A few drops of SAE 5 light machine oil at each cleaning will keep these printers operating quietly.

Quick Maintenance
One of the easiest ways to cut down on required maintenance is to use a dust cover which you can obtain from Central Carolina Scale for most current printers. These heavy, clear plastic covers are custom-made for most popular printers. Not only do they protect from airborne dust during the hours when printers are idle, but some models can be left on during actual use for 24-hour dust protection.

Where Can You Buy Scales?

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Where can you buy a scale? Well, years ago you needed to contact your local scale company and discuss what you were looking to do. Then, the scale dealer would recommend the right item for your weighing needs. It was, and still is, a very effective way to purchase scales. Fast forward to 2015 and now everyone wants to buy scales online by adding your items to an online shopping cart. Of course, there are some advantages to making your purchase directly on the internet. It’s fairly easy, you don’t need to talk to anyone, you can browse at your leisure and make the purchase whenever you want to…. Even at 2 AM if you desire.

where can i buy scales

The problem with making your scale purchase online via a shopping cart is that you don’t typically receive any input from a trained and experienced scale sales person. For example, in our business if you speak to one of our scale sales associates, you’re speaking with someone who has been building and recommending scale systems for customers for over 10, 20, 30 years or more! This is valuable experience that you can benefit from and eliminate a lot of the trial & error of building your own scale system and/or the hassle of having to return items because you ordered the wrong parts.

At CCS, we have access to some of the best engineers and sales managers in the scale industry, so that we can get your system put together and quoted. A system that Central Carolina Scale puts together will provide you with high quality weighing components from the best brands in the weighing industry at a great price! Call us today (919) 776-7737. And as an added bonus, you might even enjoy talking with us and develop a great working relationship like the hundreds of other customers that we have!

Common Issues Found on Tanks with Load Cells For Weighing

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It’s fairly common to see tanks used in various industries that have load cells or weigh bars underneath, connected to a digital weight indicator. This is a great way to keep track of how much product is inside the tank. These systems generally work very well but every now and then you will find a system that has some errors. Below is a list of problem areas to consider when it comes to tanks and hoppers that have load cells. The information applies to tanks and hoppers currently in operation and also if you’re thinking of putting load cells under one of your existing tanks the information below could help you make a better decision as well.

Probably the number one issue we see is binding. It could be due to something like rigid piping or some kind of attachment that has been added or modified since the scale was put into service. Whatever the case may be, the tank needs to be free and able to get an accurate and consistent weight. We typically see either three or four module systems and that is usually what we recommend.

What type of load cell should you choose? Talk with your scale company to determine what load cell will work the best. The single-ended shear beam cell is designed for low-profile scale and process applications. The shear-beam cell strain gauge cavity contains a thin metal diaphragm onto which the strain gauges are mounted. Typical shear beam capacities range from 1,000 lbs through 20,000 lbs, although some manufacturers offer shear beams up to 40,000 lbs. One end of the shear-beam contains the mounting holes while the opposite end is where the cell is loaded. The cell should be mounted on a flat, smooth surface with high strength hardened bolts. The larger shear beam cells have more than two mounting holes to accommodate extra bolts and keep the hardware from stretching under stress load. The double ended shear beam characteristics are similar to those of the single-ended shear beam. The most common bridge resistance for this load cell is 700 ohm. It is most commonly used in truck scales and tank and hopper applications. Instead of being secured at one end with the load applied to the other end as in the single-ended shear beam, the double-ended shear beam is secured at both ends with the load applied to the center of the load cell. As in all shear beam designs the strain gauges are mounted on a thin web in the center of the cell’s machined cavity. S-Beam load cells derive their name from their shape which is the shape of the letter S. The S-beam is normally used in tension applications. However, there are S-beams available which are bidirectional. They are primarily used for mechanical-to-electronic scale conversions, platform scale and general purpose weighing applications. They vary in size from as low as 25 lbs to as high as 20,000 lbs. When mounting an S-beam, remember to include the side from which the cable extends is the dead portion of the system. Movement of the cable in the live part of the system can be a source of weighing errors.

Aluminum load cell elements are used primarily in single point, low capacity applications. The alloy of choice is 2023 because of its low creep and hysteresis characteristics. Aluminum load cells have relatively thick web sections compared to tool steel cells of comparable capacities. This is necessary to provide the proper amount of deflection in the element at capacity. Machining costs are usually lower on aluminum elements due to the softness of the material. Single point designs can be gauged for costs similar to those of bending beams. Load cells manufactured from tool steel elements are by far the most popular cells in use today. The cost to performance ratio is better for tool steel elements compared to either aluminum or stainless steel designs.  Stainless steel load cells are made from 17-4ph, which is the alloy having the best overall performance qualities of any of the stainless derivatives. Stainless steel cells are more expensive than tool steel load cells. They are sometimes fitted with hermetically sealed web cavities which makes them an ideal choice for corrosive, high moisture applications. Stainless steel load cells that are not hermetically sealed have little advantage over comparable cells constructed of tool steel, other than a higher resistance to corrosion.

Environmentally protected load cells are designed for “normal” environmental factors encountered in indoor or protected outdoor weighing applications. By far the most popular type, these load cells may employ strategies like potting, rubber booting, or redundant sealing to afford some protection from moisture infiltration. Potted load cells utilize one of several types of industrial potting materials. The liquid potting material fills the strain gauge cavity then gels, completely covering the strain gauge and wiring surfaces. While this may significantly diminish the chance of moisture contamination, it does not guarantee extended waterproof performance, nor does it withstand corrosive attack. A second method of protection uses an adhesive foam-backed plate. This protection affords some moisture and foreign object protection. In many cases, manufacturers will use a caulking material to seal the plate to decrease the potential for cavity contamination. A common approach among manufacturers to further decrease the entry of moisture to the strain gauge combines both a potted cavity and a foam-backed plate, in a process called redundant sealing. Yet another strain gauge cavity protection strategy is the rubber boot. Commonly employed with cantilever and bending beam models, the boot covers the cavity and is secured by clamps. While this provides easy access for repairs, the boot may crack if not lubricated regularly, allowing contaminants into the load cell cavity. Lubricating the rubber boot during routine inspections will contribute to the long-term durability of the load cell. Protecting the strain gauge cavity is just one consideration in protecting a load cell from contamination. Another susceptible area is the cable entry into the body of the load cell. Most environmentally protected load cells incorporate an “O” ring and cable compression fitting to seal the entry area. This design provides protection only in applications with minimal moisture. In high-moisture areas, it is safest to install all cabling in conduit, providing both a moisture barrier and mechanical protection. Although environmentally protected load cells keep out unwanted contaminants, they are not suited for high moisture, steam, or direct wash down applications. The only long-term strategy for these applications is to use true hermetically sealed load cells.

Hermetically sealed load cells offer the best protection available for the weighing market. Using advanced welding techniques and ultra-thin metal seals, these load cells handle the extremes of harsh chemical and washdown applications. What makes the seal unique is the process of laser-welding metal covers to protect the strain gauge and compensation chambers. The cavities are then injected with potting or, in the case of glass-to-metal seals, filled with a pressurized inert gas, providing a redundant seal. As a final assurance of the integrity of the seal, a leak test is conducted to reveal any microscopic flaws in the sealing weld. True hermetic protection addresses both the strain gauge cavity and cable entry area. The most advanced cable entry design employs a unique glass-to-metal bonding seal which makes the cable termination area impervious to moisture. Cable wires terminate at the point of connection to the load cell, where they are soldered to hermetically sealed pins that carry signals to the sealed strain gauge area through a glass-to-metal seal. Water or other contaminants cannot “wick up” into the load cell, since the cable ends at the entry point. This design allows for field-replaceable cable, since the connection is outside the load cell. Note, stainless steel load cells are not synonymous with hermetically sealed load cells. While environmentally-protected stainless steel load cells may be suitable for dry chemical corrosive environments, hermetically sealed stainless steel models are the appropriate choice for high-moisture or washdown applications.

It is vital to the performance of a weighing system to select load cells of the correct capacity. Here are some guidelines, all load cells selected must be of the same capacity. Estimate the vessel dead weight, including all piping, pumps, agitators, insulation and vessel heating fluids. Add the maximum live weight of product to be weighed to the dead weight. This is the gross weight of the vessel and contents. Divide the gross weight by the number of legs or support points. This is the nominal weight which will be carried by each load cell. Select a load cell with a capacity somewhat greater than the nominal weight. The following should be considered when determining how much greater the load cell capacity should be; is your dead weight accurate? Will the load be evenly distributed on all cells? Is the vessel fitted with an agitator or subjected to shock loading? Is it possible the vessel will be overfilled, exceeding your live weight value? Will the vessel be subjected to wind or seismic loading? A good rule of thumb is to select a load cell with a capacity 25-50% in excess of the calculated nominal load per cell. Once the load cell capacity has been determined, check that the live weight signal is adequate for the instrumentation selected.

weigh bar kit for tanks

If you’re designing your tank you will want to make sure that you provide an easy way for scale companies to hang test weights evenly all around the tank for testing and calibrating your system. Also, don’t forget to take safety into consideration. Our scale technicians are fairly agile but a little planning up front can make the tanks much easier to test and work on. If you’re in the planning stage, make sure you work with a scale company to ensure that you spec the right parts for your application. For example, we look at several factors such as the weight of the tank, number of legs, and the expected amount of product the tank will hold to determine what capacity of load cell or weigh bar to place underneath.

Finally, you need to think about the environmental conditions such as extreme temperatures, moisture, vibration, and corrosive substances. If any of these elements take place, adjustments such as digital filtering or different products such as hermetically sealed load cells may be recommended.

If you’re looking to place load cells under your tank or add load cells to your hopper, contact us at (919) 776-7737 and we can discuss the options that are available.