Looking for compat DIN rail mountable weigh bridge converter

Hi.

I have an application at the moment where I use HBM CLIP AE101 load cell converters to generate a 0-10V signal per cell.
Trouble is that the converters use relatively much space in a place where the panel is really really cramped. The converter is a package that lies flat against the back of the panel (see picture).

I am looking for something that is narrower and deeper so that I free up as much of the valuable panel space as possible.
The load cells are standard resistive full bridges.

This may be one option you can look at:
http://www.actionio.com/products/actioniq/ac/q446.html

The ActionI/Q Q446 is a DIN rail mount, bridge or strain-gage input signal conditioner with 1800VDC isolation between input, output and power. The field configurable input and output offers flexible, wide ranging capability for bridge or strain-gage input applications from 0.5mV/V to over 50mV/V.

Low-cost microprocessor technology has enabled replacement of zero and span adjustment potentiometers with push-button, “TouchCALTM” technology. In essence, the thermal drift and mechanical variability of the potentiometers have been removed and replaced with a digitally stable circuit. Additionally, the inherent zero and span interactivity of potentiometer based analog amplifier circuitry is removed, providing 100% non-interactive adjustment.

The field configurable input of the Q446 can be set via DIP switches for any one of 11 voltage ranges from 10mV to ±200mV (see Table 1). The field configurable output is linear to the input and can be set for either 0-5V, 0-10V, 0-1mA or 4-20mA, direct or reverse acting.

Hi John.
It looked nice, until I noticed the power input is AC.
(Strange supply voltage for a signal conditioner).
I only have 24VDC available.

Then back out and look at the rest of what ActionIO has to offer.

I've used their G448 series several times with great success. I know they use 24VDC, because I have to add a 24VDC PS whenever I use them... (Somebody in our company decided long ago that 120VAC was our "standard" for IO... I'm working on changing that)

Yes. This looks more like it.
Got an approximate price on one of these ?

Look at PR Electronics model 2261.
PR is in Denmark

http://www.phoenixcon.com/products/interface/db/level1_2.asp?l0=MCR&l1=Strain+Gage%2FLoad+Cell+Converter

Have no idea really, been awhile since I had to work with load cells.

Before you decide, ask two questions.
1 Is this a Legal For Trade application?
2 Will a Scale company be expected to re-calibrate these scales?

Question # 2 will be a problem if you go with a unit that has the scaling in the PLC. Not too many scale companies are willing to go online with a PLC

When Question #2 becomes an issue I always use a panel mount indicator with RIO or D-NET or Profibus, Such as Hardy Instruments or Mettler Toledo Panthers.

Ian

We use these from Beckhoff and connect over d-net. C-net, E-Net, CANopen, and Profibus is also available. You can cram six gage instruments into four inches of din rail.

Strain gage input: http://www.beckhoff.com/english.asp?busterm/kl3356.htm Cost < $200 US
Bridge excitation power supply: http://www.beckhoff.com/english.asp?busterm/kl9505.htm

nonuke, despite danish (must be good then !) I dont like 11-pole socket technology any more. They are also not that compact.

curlyandshemp said:

1 Is this a Legal For Trade application?
2 Will a Scale company be expected to re-calibrate these scales?

Click to expand...

No and no.

Alaric, everything from Beckhoff looks very interesting, but I am just after a plain DIN-rail mountable signgle channel load cell amplifier.

CharlesM, I cannot locate a local supplier for JH Technology. Could be OK though.

rsdoran, that one looks good.

I went to HBMs website, and found that the CLIP module has disappeared and there is now a narrow DIN rail mountable converter http://www.hbm.com/products/SEURLF/ASP/SFS/SUBCAT.23/CATEGORY.4/PRODID.111/MM.3,24,54/SFE/ProductDataSheet.htm
almost same as Eurotherm/actionio's http://www.actionio.com/products/slimpak2/wv448.html
as well as the Phoenix Contact one.

So it will be one of these three.

Thanks all

You could try these http://digital-instrumentation.co.uk/signal_conditioners.aspx Only 22.5mm wide.

Jasper, I didn't say it was Good, I said it was danish!!!

nonuke said:

Jasper, I didn't say it was Good, I said it was danish!!!

Click to expand...

In that case I will take one with a steaming cup of coffee, black please.