Blackford Weighing Systems, Inc.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are a few questions we get asked frequently. Hope this answers some questions you may have.

Q: My scale is weighing light and will not return to zero or repeat in weight. Is there anything I can look for or do before you come out and service my scale?
A: Yes, you can look for debris (wood, ice/snow build-up, mud, rocks, etc...) Make sure the scale is not touching anywhere or anything. Make sure the ramp has not come loose and is now hindering the scale.


Q: My scale is drifting in weight. What should I do?
A: Schedule a service call. In most cases we can be there the same day. This can be caused by a number of things our expert technicians can diagnose. The most typical are: cut/chew in a cable, moisture in junction box or indicator, and/or electronic interference.


Q: What is a load cell and how does it work?
A: A load cell is an electronic device that is used to convert a force into an electrical signal. This conversion is indirect and happens in two stages. Through a mechanical arrangement, the force being sensed deforms a strain gauge. The strain gauge converts the deformation (strain) into electrical signals. The electrical signal output is typically a few millivolts and requires amplification by an instrumentation amplifier before it can be used. The output of the transducer is plugged into an algorithm to calculate the force applied to the transducer.