Double Ended Loadcell

A double ended load cell (double ended shear beam) is a high-capacity load cell type, fixed at both ends and loaded in the centre, commonly used in truck scales, silos, hoppers and heavy tank weighing. It is selected where the application needs high accuracy, excellent resistance to side loads and robust performance in harsh industrial environments.

 What is a Double Ended Load Cell?

A double ended load cell is a shear beam load cell that is rigidly supported at both ends, while the load is applied at the centre of the beam. When weight is applied, the beam experiences shear strain, which is measured by strain gauges and converted into an electrical signal proportional to the load.

Because of this design, double ended load cells are especially suitable for medium to high capacity weighing, typically from a few tons up to around 100 tons or more depending on the model.

Key Features and Benefits

- High capacity: Designed for heavy duty weighing of trucks, silos, large tanks and hoppers.

- Excellent side‑load resistance: Dual support and central loading make the cell less sensitive to side forces, vibration and uneven loading.

- High accuracy and repeatability: Shear beam design with precision strain gauges ensures stable, repeatable readings over the full capacity range.

- Robust construction: Typically manufactured in alloy steel or stainless steel with environmental sealing (often up to IP67 or IP68) for outdoor and harsh industrial conditions.

- Low profile: Compact height makes it easy to integrate into low‑profile weighbridge and tank mounting assemblies.

How a Double Ended Load Cell Works

The load cell body acts as an elastic beam fixed at both ends, with the load applied at the middle through a rocker pin or load button. Under load, the central region of the beam undergoes shear deformation, which is captured by strain gauges bonded on the web of the beam and connected in a Wheatstone bridge circuit.

The small change in resistance of the gauges is converted into a millivolt output (for example around 2 mV/V at full scale), which is then amplified and processed by the weighing indicator or PLC to display the weight.

Typical Applications

Double ended load cells are widely used wherever heavy structures need to be weighed with high accuracy. Common applications include:

- Truck and trailer weighbridges and axle scales  

- Silo, bin and large tank weighing systems  

- Hopper weighing for batching, blending and mixing  

- Conveyor and belt scales for bulk material handling  

- Level and inventory monitoring through weight measurement  

- Heavy duty platforms and industrial test machines  

These applications benefit from the cell’s ability to handle high loads, resist lateral forces and maintain accuracy even with vibration and shock.

Advantages in Weighbridge and Silo Weighing

In weighbridges, double ended load cells are popular because they can carry very high wheel and axle loads and maintain performance over millions of load cycles. Their mounting kits often include rocker or cup‑and‑ball arrangements, anti‑lift and thermal expansion features, which help compensate for movement of the structure and reduce installation stresses.

In silo and tank weighing, the central loading and dual support reduce errors caused by thermal expansion, side loads from agitators and wind forces on tall structures.

When to Choose a Double Ended Load Cell

This type of load cell is an ideal choice when:

- Total capacity is in the tons range and a compact, low‑profile solution is needed  

- The structure is subject to side loads, vibration or slight misalignment  

- Multiple load cells are used in one system (such as four or six cells under a weighbridge or tank) and matched outputs are required for accurate summation  

- The installation is outdoors or in harsh industrial environments where sealing and mechanical robustness are important  

For lower capacities or small platform scales, single point or single ended shear beam load cells may be more economical, but for heavy duty industrial weighing, double ended load cells offer clear mechanical and accuracy advantages.

***