Our website uses cookies to improve your user experience. If you continue browsing, we assume that you consent to our use of cookies. More information can be found in our Privacy & Cookies Policy

Skip to content

THE STUDENT ENGINEER
JOBS
Advanced Manufacturing
Subscribe
Awards
Latest Issue
2017 Salary Survey

The Engineer

News
In-depth
Opinion
Sectors
Careers
Supplier Network

Search Login / Register Primary Menu

Close

Email

Password

or Register

Supplier Network +Add your company

Suppliers A-Z

Supplier Product

Back to previous

Load cells Shut down/alarms

Aptifirst introduces LCI loadcell fault monitor alarm for weighing installations

By Aptifirst on 28th March 201417th February 2016

Product Details Supplier Info More products

The LCI loadcell fault monitor alarm from Aptifirst constantly monitors the condition of individual load cells, reporting any malfunction immediately. The company believes that the avoidance of batch wastage or product recall, reduction in plant downtime and increased safety, together with aids for installation and commissioning, will all contribute to the LCI becoming an essential element for all weighing systems.

Many weighing installations are based around multiple loadcells — for example, a silo or feeder may be mounted on three or four loadcells — and it is usual to combine the outputs of these loadcells to provide a total weight or force signal to a display or control system.

However, should one of the loadcells in the system develop a fault, an error in the measured weight will occur, which may not be immediately apparent. Aptifirst’s LCI unit is designed to overcome this problem.

An error is detected and signalled if any of the following conditions occur:

One or more of the loadcells are out of balance
Any loadcell is operating outside its pre-set mV/V range
The loadcell excitation voltage drops from the preset range
Any of the loadcells become open-circuited
Any of the loadcells become short-circuited

Click on the link above to download the data sheet for the LCI.

Key product features and benefits

The LCI loadcell failure alarm provides a connection between one to four loadcells and a weighing system, and constantly monitors the condition of individual loadcells.
Continuous diagnosis of fault conditions prevents the incorrect weighing of product and the subsequent technical and commercial problems resulting from such situations.
The LCI reports any loadcell malfunction immediately by setting an alarm condition output, avoiding incorrect material levels so that there is the continued assurance of product composition.
An onboard microprocessor provides a high level of intelligence, enabling the LCI to have a useful range of features.
In alarm condition, a relay contact will change state, the red alarm LED will light and the display will show the loadcell in error and an error code.
This relay contact may be used to trigger audible and visual alarms to plant operators, and to alert the process control system of the error.
A display may be set to show the mV/V value of each loadcell of the average of the summed mV/V value of all the loadcells.
Additionally, a security password may be programmed to prevent unauthorised access to the configuration parameters.
The LCI is powered by the loadcell excitation supply, and provides a simulated loadcell output with the summed signal to allow signal conditioning instruments to be driven