10 interesting facts about load cell junction boxes

Electrical connection The housing

terminal box is a housing used to connect multiple load cells together for use as a single scale. The terminal box holds the electrical connections from several load cells. This setup averages their signals and sends the values to the weight indicator.

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Easier maintenance

Terminal boxes are great for troubleshooting system errors. All load cell connections meet in this box. They make it easy to access the wires. They also protect the wiring from the environment and tampering.

Custom scale solutions

Junction boxes can rapidly incorporate weighing into existing structures. Multiple load cells are great for weighbridges, large platforms, hoppers, tanks, and silos. This creates custom scale solutions.

These are perfect for tasks such as:

Filling
Metering
Batching
Automatic checkweighing
Sorting by weight

Number of terminals

A terminal block can have up to 10 connections. This depends on how many you need to make. Select a terminal block that has enough terminals for each wire pair you want to connect.

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Metal or ABS?

The terminal block’s construction is key to its durability and reliability. Manufacturers make most electrical terminal blocks from plastic or metal. Plastic is lighter and cheaper. However, stainless steel works best in harsh and washdown environments.

Protection class

IP ratings show how well a junction box protects against dust and moisture. Common IP protection ratings include IP65, IP66, IP67, IP68 and IP69K.

Shock protection

Junction boxes can have surge protectors. These protect electrical equipment from transient overvoltages. Lightning and electric shocks often cause these overvoltages.

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Trimmed or untrimmed

Not all load cells give the same output, but you need accurate weight no matter where the item sits on the scale. This is where trimming helps. A potentiometer helps the terminal box adjust for cell differences. This way, it can create the same signal-to-weight ratio.

Hazardous areas

In hazardous areas, electrical equipment must follow strict safety rules. This helps prevent ignition sources. Choose special junction boxes with ATEX certification for these areas. They make them for explosive atmospheres.

The right junction box for you

Many types of electrical junction boxes exist. Each type works best for specific uses. Choosing the perfect junction box will depend on your unique application. If you’re not sure which junction box to choose, contact our helpful customer support team. They’ll help you find the best solution for your needs.