Loadcell Setup

Setup commands provide additional parameters that you may require for your application. Setup includes Motion Band, Filter & Rounding, and Auto-Zero.

Note

Setup is not saved to EEPROM.

Motion Band, Command #8517

When the weight on the scale changes, the scale needs time to stabilize.

The Motion band determines the amount of weight change the module uses to decide if the scale is in motion.  

Bit 0, of the MI that is linked to LC Hardware Status Messages in Hardware Configuration, is the In-motion indicator.  Bit 0 is ON when the scale is in motion, and OFF when the scale is steady.

As the module reads the signals from the loadcell(s) it calculates the weight value. If a weight change falls within the Motion Band, Bit 0 turns OFF.

In the figure below, the in-motion indicator (Bit 0) turns ON when the weight change is below 100 grams, or more than 500 grams. When the weight change falls within the band, Bit 0 turns OFF.

 

Notes

The In-motion indication is OFF:
- at Power-up
-  or when the scale is not calibrated.

In order for the In-Motion indication to function properly, the filter Active Band must be equal or higher than the In-Motion Tolerance.  Refer to the Filter and Rounding function for description and power-up defaults.

If the Motion Band is active, the tare/zero values cannot be acquired when the scale is in motion.

Command parameters

SI 141

Determines the Loadcell number, and the DIN rail location of the module. Four digits are stored in SI 141.

LC #

DIN Location

0-2

Always 0

0-7

 

SI 142

MI address; this MI will contain the Command Status indication.

SI 143

Use SI 143 to apply Motion Band.

SI 144 and SI 145 provide either the Motion Band values, or the location of the MIs containing the values that are used to apply the Motion Band.

If the value of SI 143 is:

Result

4

The Motion Band value will be taken directly from SI 144.

5

(High Resolution) The value in SI 144 provides the start address of an MI vector, the Motion Band value will be taken directly from SI 144 and SI 145.

10

The value in SI 144 provides the address of an MI that provides the Motion Band value.

20

(High Resolution) The value in SI 144 provides the start address of an MI vector that is 2 MIs long.

SI 140

Command number:#8517

Set Filter and Rounding, Command #8452

The Filter & Rounding command changes the default filter parameters, settling time, and the active band. Rounding further smooths the loadcell reading.

Settling Time

The time, in units of 10msec, that the filter requires to settle to the final reading.

Notes The default settling time is 1 second, the minimum time 1 is 12.5 milliseconds, and the maximum is 24 seconds.

           A value of zero disables the filter.

           Settling time rises with the number of active loadcells.

The minimum settling times are:

  - 12.5ms for one active loadcell.

  - 675ms for two active loadcells.

  - 1,012.5ms for three active loadcells.

Using a settling time of zero sets the settling time to its minimum value without returning an error.

Active Band

The band of weight changes in which the filter is active.

The filter is turned off by weight changes that exceed the active band. This allows a rapid response to large weight changes. When the weight changes become smaller than the active band, the filter turns on.

An active band of zero forces the filter to be always active.

Notes If the Motion Band is on, the filter's Active Band must be equal or higher than the Motion Band.

 

Command parameters

SI 141

Determines the value used to round, the Loadcell to be calibrated, and the DIN rail location of the module. Four digits are stored in SI 141.

Rounding Value

LC #

DIN Location

Table below

0-2

Always 0

0-7

Setting

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Round by

1

2

5

10

20

50

100

Note Value rounding will not take effect in uV/V and Raw value representation modes.

SI 142

MI address; this MI will contain the Command Status indication

SI 143

Use SI 143 to apply Settling Time and Active Band.

SI 144 and SI 145s provide either Settling Time and Active Band values, or the location of the MIs containing the values that are used to smooth the Loadcell reading.

If the value of SI 143 is:

Result

5

The Settling Time and Active Band values will be taken directly from SI 144 and SI 145

20

The value in SI 144 provides the start address of an MI vector that is 2 MIs long. The first MI provides the Settling Time value, the second provides the Active Band.

40

(High Resolution) The value in SI 144 provides the start address of an MI vector that is 4 MIs long. The first 2 MIs provide the Settling Time value, the second 2 MIs provide the Active Band.

SI 140

Command number:8452

 

Auto Zero Tracking, Command #8455

When activated, Auto-Zero Tracking zeros the gross weight according to the conditions you set, enabling the module to automatically compensate for small variations at the zero point, such as those caused by a buildup of litter on the scale platform, or by temperature fluctuations near the scale.

Before Auto-zero Tracking can zero the scale:

Once these conditions are met, Auto-zero zeros the gross weight.

Notes

Once Auto-Zero tracking is activated, it stays active until the function is stopped.

To stop the function, run the Auto Zero tracking command and write 0 to the LC Time parameter.

Auto zero tracking will not function in uV/V representation mode.

Auto Zero Tracking uses the following parameters to zero the scale.

Command parameters

Parameter

Function

Time:
Scale Stable, 10 mS units

The time in which, in units of 10 mSec, the scale must be stable in order to trigger Auto-Zero Tracking.

Notes  To stop Auto Zero tracking, initialize this parameter to 0.

         Power-up default: 0 (auto zero tracking is off).

         To clear the auto zero tracking offset, initialize this parameter to 0, and then enter a new time value.

Tracking band,
Weight from last Auto-0

This determines the maximum distance from the point of the last zero (auto or manual) in which auto-zero tracking is activated [weight units].

Tracking Range, Weight from Calib. 0

This determines the maximum weight from the point of the last calibrated zero in which auto-zero is activated.

Command parameters

SI 141

Determines the Loadcell number, and the DIN rail location of the module. Four digits are stored in SI 141.

LC #

DIN Location

0-2

Always 0

0-7

 

SI 142

MI address; this MI will contain the Command Status indication

SI 143

Use SI 143 to apply Time: Scale Stable. Tracking band and Tracking Range.

SI 144 provides the start address for the vector of MIs the values that are used to apply Auto Zero Tracking.

If the value of SI 143 is:

Result

30

The value in SI 144 provides the start address of an MI vector that is 3 MIs long; providing the respective values for Time: Scale Stable. Tracking band and Tracking Range.

60

(High Resolution) The value in SI 144 provides the start address of an MI vector that is 6 MIs long, providing 2 MIs for each value.

  • To stop Auto Zero Tracking, initialize the Time: Scale Stable parameter by running the command, when the MI used by SI 144 to provide the Time: Scale Stable parameter equals zero.

  • To clear the auto zero tracking offset, run the command twice; the first time initialize Time Scale stable as described above, the second time with a new time value.

SI 140

Command number:#8455

Related topics

Loadcell

Loadcell Hardware Configuration

Calibration

Tare & Zero

Advanced Loadcell Functions

Input Range

Change Excitation Mode

' Long' Integer functions