Test and Measurement Forum

We're trying to use a Pico 1216 to record the compressive loads on a LCM STA-4 5000kg load cell.

We are exciting the load cell with a stable dedicated 10V supply, and normally the output voltage is reasonably linear, and yields the following (according to its calibration certificate):
0V = 0kg
-1.99mV = 500kg
-9.95mV = 2500kg
-19.91mV = 5000kg

But we get a lot of noise on the zero reading, and no matter how much load we place on the cell, we cannot get a reading to register.
We cannot find a setting to configure the Pico 1216 to accept or record negative voltage. Is it capable of this, or is there another trick we can use to spoof it?

Hi the Picolog 1216 measures only 0 to 2.5V you have two options really:

1) You create a circuit that makes it positive and amplifies the signal
or
2) You use the ADC20 which would work directly.

http://www.picotech.com/precision-data-acquisition.html

Kind regards