General Terms

Load cell
Force transducer which, after taking into account the effects of the acceleration of gravity and air buoyancy at the location of its use, measures mass by converting the measured quantity (mass) into another measured quantity (output). co

Compression loading
Compressive force applied to a load cell. te

Tension loading
Tension force applied to a load cell. A B C D

Accuracy class
Class of load cells that are subject to the same conditions of accuracy NH SH CH

Humidity symbol
Symbol assigned to a load cell that indicates the conditions of humidity under which the load cell has been tested.

Load cell family
For the purposes of type evaluation/pattern approval, a load cell family consists of load cells that are of: -the same material or combination of materials (for example, mild steel, stainless steel or aluminum); -the same design of the measurement technique (for example, strain gauges bonded to metal); -the same method of construction (for example, shape, sealing of strain gauges, mounting method, manufacturing method); -the same set of specifications (for example, output rating, input impedance, supply voltage, cable details); and -one or more load cell groups.

Load cell group All load cells within a family possessing identical metrological characteristics (for example, class, nmax, temperature rating, etc.).

Load cell measuring range
Range of values of the measured quantity (mass) for which the result of measurement should not be affected by an error exceeding the maximum permissible error (mpe)

Load cell output Measurable quantity into which a load cell converts the measured quantity (mass). v

Load cell verification interval (v)
Load cell interval, expressed in units of mass, used in the test of the load cell for accuracy classification. Emax

Maximum capacity
Largest value of a quantity (mass) which may be applied to a load cell without exceeding the mpe nmax

Maximum number of load cell verification intervals
Maximum number of load cell verification intervals into which the load cell measuring range may be divided for which the result of measurement shall not be affected by an error exceeding the mpe Emin

Minimum dead load
Smallest value of a quantity (mass) which may be applied to a load cell without exceeding the mpe DR

Minimum dead load output return
Difference in load cell output at minimum dead load, measured before and after load application. vmin

Minimum load cell verification interval
Smallest load cell verification interval (mass) into which the load cell measuring range can be divided. n

Number of load cell verification intervals
Number of load cell verification intervals into which the load cell measuring range is divided.

Relative DR or Z
Ratio of the maximum capacity, Emax, to two times the minimum dead load output return, DR. This ratio is used to describe multi-interval instruments. Y Z

Relative vmin or Y
Ratio of the maximum capacity, Emax, to the minimum load cell verification interval, vmin. This ratio describes the resolution of the load cell independent from the load cell capacity. Elim

Safe load limit (Elim)
Maximum load that can be applied without producing a permanent shift in the performance characteristics beyond those specified.

Creep
Change in load cell output occurring with time while under constant load and with all environmental conditions and other variables also remaining constant.

Hysteresis error
Difference between load cell output readings for the same applied load, one reading obtained by increasing the load from minimum load, and the other by decreasing the load from maximum load.

Load cell error
Difference between the load cell measurement result and the true value of the measurand (the applied force expressed in mass).

Maximum permissible error (mpe)
Extreme values of an error permitted by OIML R60 recommendation for a load cell.

Non-linearity
Deviation of the increasing load cell signal output curve from a straight line.

Repeatability
Ability of a load cell to provide successive results that are in agreement when the same load is applied several times and applied in the same manner on the load cell under constant test conditions.

Repeatability error
Difference between load cell output readings taken from consecutive tests under the same loading and environmental conditions of measurement.

Sensitivity
Ratio of a change in response (output) of a load cell to a corresponding change in the stimulus (load applied).

Temperature effect on minimum dead load output
Change in minimum dead load output due to a change in ambient temperature.

Temperature effect on sensitivity
Change in sensitivity due to a change in ambient temperature