Configuring load cell

[kemba]

How cold I configure a load cell to a USB DAQ 6009?

[devchander]

For what do you want to configure a load cell?

Do you want to measure a load cell using a USB 6009??

A load cell that is connected to a suitable Excitation circuit, gives a variation in its voltage output wharever a load is applied.

All you have to do is measure this variation in voltage on your Analog input channel( First check if this voltage is within your DAQ card's input range limits), scale it using any relevant conversion techinque and display load in its engineering units.

if you need any further clarifications, ask in detail

Regards

Dev

[McKala[DE]]

Kemba,

The 6009 does not have any signal conditioning, which will cause your readings to be inaccurate.  The 6009 may not be as precise as you will need either, the typical voltage range of a load cell is in the mV range.  The specs for the 6009 shows that it has 14 bits in differential mode across the +/-1V range with 1.47 mVrms system noise - quite a bit for such a small signal. You would be much better off with a signal conditioning module, it'll save you the headache of trying to do the signal conditioning yourself

Good luck!

[McKala[DE]]

Let's keep this to just one post, this thread is continued here.

[kemba]

Would it be a good idea of setting up the signal conditioning? ( Any ideas)

Or could anyone suggest an alternative?

Thanks much!

[devchander]

Hi,

Yes it would indeed be  a good idea to go for signal conditioning.

I guess SCXI 1520 ( it also sources excitaiton to the sensor)should be applicable .

But first, reads its specs and see if it can support your load cell measurements.

Also you can do load measurement using your existing DAQ card without a signal conditioning module.

I once measured a Load cell ( Note: was getting its excitation voltage from an independent source) using a DAQ card without using any signal conditioning module.

First, i amplified the load cell output, by using a highly accurate external isolation amplifier.

In my case, i brought it up to +/- 10 volts range and then, used the AI channel on a E seried DAQ card to measure the voltage and derive the load using a Look up table.

Hope this info is of help to you

regards

Dev