DI-100U Load Cell Interface with USB or UART Output
Highlights
The DI-100U Digital Load Cell Interface modules provide a simple, convenient method to convert existing milli-volt (mV/V) output load cells into PC friendly USB Load Cells. Or connect the load cells digitally with a micro-controller such as an Arduino. Key highlights of the DI-100U are:
- Works with most 4-wire 0-3 mV/V load cells (wires with E+, E-, S+, S-)
- Offers 16-bit resolution & provides accuracies to +/- 0.1% of full scale
- Appears as a Virtual COM port on a Windows PC
- Each load cell or sensor needs a DI-100 to be connected to it and calibrated together. For multiple sensors, see DI-400 below.
- Native UART output can be accessed from miniB USB connector by removing the S2U Serial to USB dongle that converts signal into USB
- UART Output provides a way to connect to microcontrollers at a low level to build your own embedded applications
- ASCII command set to allow users to get calibrated data into their own software applications
- Works with LoadVUE, SensorVUE or ControlVUE software to display, log or plot data
- The DI-100U offers anout 40 Hz max data output rate; the DI-100UHS offers 250 Hz max data output rate.
For higher resolution and accuracy or for faster data rates, take a look at DI-1000U, DI-1000UHS and DI-1000UHS-1K Digital Interface Devices.
High Data Rate Interface Option
If you are Ordering an Interface Only
The Interface needs to be mated and calibrated with the sensor. Once calibrated, these need to be used as a pair. You can not use the interface(s) interchangeably with other sensors.
If you are buying a new sensor with an interface, please add the appropriate Calibration Service for that sensor. For example, if you are buying a load cell then, add Compression, Tension, or Universal (both Compression and Tension) calibration, as needed for your application.
If you already have a sensor that you want to use with the new interface, you will need to send your sensor to us. Add the Calibration Service option to your order. We will calibrate the sensor with the new interface and send the calibrated pair back to you.
In case you would like to calibrate the sensor with the interface yourself, please ensure that you have the reference weights or reference equipment required for calibration and the calibration utility to compute and burn calibration coefficients. Our software LoadVUE Pro (LV-1000), SensorVUE (SV-1000), and ControlVUE (CV-1000) have the calibration utility built-in. Make sure you have the latest version of the software.
USB Load Cells with DI-100U Configuration
If you do not need the very high precision of the DI-1000U, you can use our DI-100U digital load cell interface with 16 bit ADCs and Serial TTL or USB output. The DI-100U is sufficient for accuracies of +/- 0.1% of full scale output. Or in other words if you need to measure +/- 1 lb accuracy over 1000 lb range or +/- 0.1 lb accuracy over 100 lb range, then the DI-100U is more than adequate for your application. If you wish to connect a load cell with an Arduino or other microprocessors or microcontrollers, then you can disconnect the S2U Serial to USB converter adapter and directly communicate via UART.
Here are some examples of DI-100U being used with resistive load cells.
Kit Includes:
RSB2 Button Load Cell
DI-100U Load Cell Interface
LV-1000 LoadVUE Pro Software
Add Calibration
Add Accessories
Kit Includes:
RAS1 S-Beam Load Cell
DI-100U Load Cell Interface
LV-1000 LoadVUE Pro Software
Add Calibration
Add Accessories
Connecting a Load Cell with an Arduino using HX-100
The HX-100 allows you to connect to an Arduino OR to a PC via the S2U Adapter. One at a time only. The HX-100 preserves the integrity of the miniB to miniB cable and enables you to still connect with a PC via an S2U if needed.
The HX-100 has a terminal block with two miniB USB connectors. You can connect the miniB to miniB cable from the DI-100U into one end of the HX-100. And use the terminal block to connect wires into your Arduino: the Tx pin from the DI-100 to the Rx pin on the Arduino and the Rx pin on the DI-100 to the Tx pin on the Arduino.
You'll be able to write code to access data from the UART serial port via simple ASCII commands.
We provide an extra miniB to miniB Cable which you can use at the other end of the HX-100 to continue onto a PC for operating it as usual with our LoadVUE or SensorVUE software. This way you can quickly access data from an Arduino or your PC with minimal effort.
Kit Includes:
RSB2 Button Load Cell
DI-100U Load Cell Interface
HX-100
LV-1000 LoadVUE Pro Software
Add Calibration
Add Accessories
Watch and Learn
Setting Up the DI-100U
DIY - Building a USB Scale
Using DI-100U Easy as 1-2-3
FAQ
The DI-100U has a 16 bit ADC and offers at least +/- 0.1% accuracy of full scale
The DI-100U and DI-100UHS can connect with four wire resistive load cells (mV/V) made using strain gauges in bridge configurations (half bridge, full bridge). The base outout is UART or Serial TTL and the final output is USB using our S2U Serial to USB adapter.
The DI-100U can only be connected with one load cell at a time. You MUST mate the DI-100U with a load cell and calibrate it before using it. The calibration is stored in the DI-100U. So the load cell and DI-100U or DI-100UHS must be used together as a pair. If you want to use it with another load cell then you MUST recalibrate the new pair prior to use.
No. The DI-100U is powered by USB and communicates via the USB port of a PC or Raspberry Pi. Only when using it in the raw UART mode with an Arduino, you need to powet it with power available from the pins on an Arduino board.
The only difference between the two is that the max data outpur rate from the DI-100UHS is about 250 Hz vs. the 40 Hz from the DI-100U. The DI-100UHS operates at 203400 baud rate vs the 9600 baud rate of the DI-100U. Both can be used with the LV-1000 LoadVUE Pro software to display, log and plot data on a PC.
The DI-100U/DI-100UHS/Di-400U/DI-400UHS devices have a 16 bit ADC built in vs. the 24 bit ADC of the DI-1000U/DI-1000UHS/DI-1000UHS-1K devices. The DI-100U/DI-400U family works ONLY with 4-wire load cells. The DI-1000U family works with 4 or 6 wire load cells. The DI-100U family can connect with an Arduino via UART/Serial TTL pins whereas the DI-400U and the DI-1000U only offers USB output. The DI-100U/DI-100UHS devices need the S2U serial to USB dongle to connect via USB to a PC or Raspberry Pi. The DI-400U/DI-1000U connect directly via a miniB to USB A USB cable with a PC or Raspberry Pi but cannot connect to an Arduino since no UART pins are accessible. For accuracies of the order of +/- 0.02% or better (NTEP level accuracies) use the DI-1000 family. For moderate accuracy, low cost applications, use the DI-100U if you need just one channel otherwise for up to four channels, use the DI-400U.
Yes. You can connect a calibrated load cell + DI-100U pair to a DS-3000-Pro single channel or four channel display to view the output on a dedicated LCD Display.
Yes. We offer calibration service on new sensor purchases as well as recalibration service for previously purchased sensors. We use NIST traceable reference standards to perform and validate the calibration and provide a free calibration certificate as part of the service. We are NOT ISO certified.
You can register on our website, login and see all prices, download spec sheets and solid models. You can also send us an email with your contact information and shipping address and we will be happy to send you a formal quote.
We give you a 30 day guiarantee for you purchase. You can exchange or return your purchased products for a refund of the purchase price of the product. Any calibration service fees, shipping and payment fees cannot be refunded. Feel free to try out our products risk free and see for yourself how easy we make it for you!
We need between one and two weeks usually to ship your order for items in stock. This is because we have to make your sensor, interface and calibrate them together, make sure the quality meets all specs and then pack and ship it to you. We offer expedited processing options if you are in a rush and need to get sensors sooner. If out of stock or if sensors are needed in volume, we could take 4-6 weeks or longer. Please contact us to get an estimate of price and lead time for your particular needs.
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