Can I measure multiple load cells or scales with one controller?

We want to install 6 load cells and measure each load cell individually. The sales literature for one of the Hardy models states that it accepts a single load cell or the sum of several load cells. Does this mean I can measure multiple scales with one load cell per scale with a single controller?

You want to monitor 6 load cells individually, but you did not state whether the 6 load cells were on separate scales or on the same scale.

If you want to monitor the output millivolt level of individual load cells in a single scale system, you can utilize the Integrated Technician (IT) feature found on most current Hardy Instruments. To utilize IT functionality you need an IT capable Hardy controller and an HI215IT* or HI 6020IT summing junction box.  Using those two IT capable units you can monitor the individual millivolt level of up to 4 load cells on the same scale system. When you use IT to measure the millivolt level the other load cells input to the controller are switched off. This may be important if your process is active and in production. It is best to make the IT measurments when the system is down and the technicians have control of the system.

To measure multiple scales (whether it is one or more load cell per scale) you would need separate inputs to your controller. This would mean either one single channel controller for each scale or one channel of a multiple channel controller for each scale input.

The HI 3030 can be configured to have up to four channels each with upto 4 load cells.
The HI 1756-2WS and HI 1769-2WS can have up to two channels each with upto 4 load cells.

All other Hardy units are single channel units.

The best recommendation to monitor the millivolt levels for an application where you have six separate scale systems with one load cell per system would be to use one HI 3030-4S (four channel option) and one HI 3030-2S (two channel option). This would allow you to monitor the millivolt level of six scale systems individually.

*Note:  The HI 215IT summing cards are obsolete, however any outstanding boards will still work with most of the Hardy units.