Cable boxes for connecting load cells

Cable boxes are an essential component when building a scale. It can serve as a junction box for connecting load cells in parallel or as a cable box for extending load cell cables. There are variants for connecting 4 (industrial scales), 6 or 8 load cells (large weighing bridges, vehicle scales). Depending on the version, load cells can be with 4 or 6 wire technology be connected. The use of a 6-wire circuit only makes sense for cable lengths of 6-8 m. Attention: If 4-wire load cells are combined with a 6-wire evaluation device, the terminals "E+ and S+" as well as "E- and S-" must be bridged! Read more...

Digital terminal boxes

Have integrated a converter for load cells 0-10V and load cells 4-20mA.

If an A/D converter is integrated into the cable box, it is called a digital cable box. After the conversion, this outputs a digital weight value. The load cell signal is only amplified by an analog amplifier installed in the cable box and output as an analog output signal (0-10V or 4-20 mA).

When calibrating a scale, corner load errors may be detected. These can be electrically adjusted in the cable box. A so-called corner load adjustment is carried out. Depending on the model, this corner adjustment is carried out in different ways:

  • via an integrated resistance network in the load cell output
  • with fixed resistors separately for each individual load cell
  • with fixed resistors to be soldered in
  • with potentiometers already soldered on.

The terminal or cable boxes from Bosche, which have already been tried and tested in daily use in industrial and vehicle scales, have a solid housing (either stainless steel, plastic or die-cast aluminum housing) and are manufactured to a high quality. Depending on the version, the screw connections can be made of plastic, stainless steel or nickel-plated brass. To ensure better protection against possible moisture penetration, the cable boxes should primarily be installed in such a way that: the cable glands point downwards.

Load cell 0-10V & Load cell 4-20mA

The signals can be evaluated directly via the load cell connection box. For this you need a digital terminal box for load cells, this enables the signal in the two analog values 0-10V & Output 4-20mA.