Can I troubleshoot and repair a load cell?

To troubleshoot a load cell you will need to determine if the load cell milli-volt signal and/or resistance readings are outside of it's range or the cables have been cut or damaged. If the cables have been cut or damaged, the load cell may need to be replaced. Attached is a load cell troubleshooting guideline to assist.

The cost to repair most load cells under 50,000 lbs is usually more than the cost of a new load cell.

The reason most load cells are not repaired is because new load cell blanks are milled and verified as usable for operation prior to installation of the electronics. A failed load cell would need to be stripped to a blank load cell condition, verified, and then have new electronics installed. If the old blank metal frame was found to be bad, the labor and materials utilized would be a loss.

If you have non-standard (Special Products) load cells you should make sure you stock a spare as the lead times can be very long. If the cost for a new load cell is less than how much you will lose if your equipment is down for any length of time, a spare makes economical sense.

Contact Hardy Technical support at 858-292-2710 to find out if your load cell can be repaired, or if it should be replaced.