Wireless Load Cell Interfaces
The unit has a ON/OFF switch to help users preserve the battery life when not using it. You must calibrate the interface device with the load cell before using it. You can either enter the mV/V value into the DI-1000 or calibrate your load cell with it using either 2 point or 9 point calibration method provided within our LoadVUE Pro, SensorVUE or ControlVUE software.
We recommend the DI-1000ZP wireless solution because it has a range of almost a thousand feet, has the most robust solution for use in industrial environments and works with Windows PCs and Tablets with LoadVUE, SensorVUE and ControlVUE solftware to display values.
The DI-1000BLE is ideal for use with an iOS device like an iPhone or iPad. The LoadVUE Pro iOS software available on the Apple AppStore can display, log and plot data live.
The DI-1000WiFi allows you to communicate with an iOS device or a PC via either the direct AdHoc mode or through a WiFi Router. You'll have to write your own software to communicate with the wireless interface and display calibrated force values or use third party tools like Putty or HyperTerm to communicate with it.
Highlights
The DI-1000 Digital Load Cell Interface modules provide a simple, convenient method to convert existing milli-volt (mV/V) output load cells into PC, Mac and Linux friendly USB and Wireless Load Cells. Display, log and plot data on a PC using LoadVUE Pro, SensorVUE or ControlVUE software. Or connect the load cells digitally with a Raspberry Pi via USB and communicate via ASCII Commands. Key highlights of the DI-1000 are:
- 24-bit resolution & provides accuracies to +/- 0.02% of full scale
- Configurable gain to optimize resolution for full span of signal (-2V to +2V)
- Works with most 4-wire and 6-wire load cells 0-4 mV/V load cells
- Has an external terminal block for easy connectivity with your sensor
- Appears as a Virtual COM port on a Windows PC, Mac or Linux machines
- ASCII command set to allow users to write their own software applications
- One load cell or sensor connected to one DI-1000 and calibrated together
- Works with LoadVUE, SensorVUE or ControlVUE software to display, log or plot data
- Write your own code using the built in API with simple ASCII command sets
- Optional data update rates via USB up to 500 Hz (DI-1000UHS) or 1 KHz (DI-1000UHS-1K)
- Optional wireless functionality with XBee, WiFi or BLE output with max data rates of 10 Hz
The DI-1000ZP, DI-1000BLE and DI-1000WiFi support a "5V" version that can accept inputs from devices like an LVDT or String Pot Displacement sensor with a 0-5 V DC.
Industrial Strength Wireless Sensor Interface
The DI-1000ZP Wireless Sensor Interface offers a robust industrial strength wireless connection that can go as high as a 1000 feet even in factory settings with motors, turbines and other devices that generate significant electromagnetic emissions and noise. This can be used as a single one to one communication between a load cell and a PC, Mac or Raspberry Pi device or as a multi-point to point mant to one configuration. The 1:1 configuration is shown below.
Multi Point to Point Wireless Sensor Configuration
When you want to communicate wirelessly with multiple load cells, then you can mate each load cell with a DI-1000ZP. For fastest and most reliable connection use the point to point configuration for each with a wireless receiver dongle for each. If speed of communication is not important then a multi-point to point configuraiton can be used as shown below.
Bluetooth and WiFi Configurations
For short ranges (~10 feet) or to communicate with an iOS device, we offer the DI-1000BLE Blue Tooth Low Energy device. The ZP version does not work with the iOS devices. So either the BLE or the WiFi are the best options. Between the two, the BLE version is easier to setup and use on an iOS device like an iPhone or iPad since it is a simple point to point protocol that does NOT need any receiver dongle. The WiFi version can handle distances up to a 100 feet or so and can be used in AdHoc mode as a direct point to point connection also or it can be used indirectly via the WiFi router at your location. The WiFi version also does not need any receiver dongles since most devices include a WiFi receiver as part of the device now a days. Of the three available protocols, we believe the ZP verson is the best alternative. For communicating with iOS devices we recommend the BLE version. The WiFi version is the most complex one of the three to setup and use with a wireless router.
If you do not want to use a PC or an iOS Device to display force values, and want a physical touch screen display, our DS-3000-Pro-1 Single Channel or DS-3000-Pro-4 Four Channel displays can be used with load cells and DI-1000BLE to display force/load/weight values wirelessly.
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.
Wireless Load Cell Interface Options
DI-1000ZP
DI-1000ZP offers XBee 802.15.4 connectivity in addition to USB. Range is ~ 300 m or 1000 feet. This offers the most reliable, industrial strength wireless connectivity of all the devices we offer.
DI-1000BLE
DI-1000BLE offers BLE connectivity in addition to USB. Range is about 3 m or 10 feet. This device offers the best option for conneting a load cell to an iOS device like an iPhone or iPad. But range is limited.
DI-1000WiFi
DI-1000WiFi offers WiFi connectivity in addition to USB. Range is about 100 m or 300 feet. The advantage of Wifi is that all phones, tablets and PCs offer WiFi Connectivity. But it is the least reliable of all wireless options we offer.
24-Bit USB Single Channel Interface with 0-5 V Input
Everyone of the above DI-1000U models are available in a "-5V" model that can accept input signals in the 0-5V range like those you get from LVDTs and String Pot displacement sensors. The same convenience and ease of use of getting load cell data on a PC or Tablet can now be obtained for other types of sensors with 0-5V DC output.
Watch and Learn
DI-1000ZP Wireless Interface
DI-1000WiFi Wireless Interface
DI-1000U Quick Start Guide
Setting up DI-1000U/DI-1000UHS
FAQ
The DI-1000ZP/BLE/WiFi wireless versions as well as the DI-1000U USB load cell interface has a 24 bit ADC and supports devices with support for load cells with up to +/- 0.02% accuracy of full scale.
The DI-1000 wireless versions can connect with four wire or six wire resistive load cells (mV/V) made using strain gauges in bridge configurations (half bridge, full bridge). The wireless versions at best offer 10 Hz data output rate. If you need faster update rate then use it in the USB mode which is included with all wireless versions and offer at least 60 Hz data update rate and the unit comes with a on/off switch and a six foot miniB to USBA cable.
The wireless versions of the DI-1000 just like the DI-1000U can only be connected with one load cell at a time. You MUST mate them with a load cell and calibrate it before using it. The calibration is stored in the DI-1000. So the load cell and DI-1000 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-1000U is powered by USB and communicates via the USB port of a PC or Raspberry Pi. Only when using the wireless version of the DI-1000, does one need the external power supply provided with the unit when you purchase a wireless unit. On a full eight hour charge, the wireless units can operate continuously for up to two hours approximately. You can turn ON/OFF the unit to save power when not in use and extend the usable battery life. We provide a power adapter to recharge the battery with your purchase of a wireless version.
Other than the different protocols of each of the specific units ,the ZP version works with the PC, Mac or Linux machines but not with the iOS devices since no XBee adapter is yet available for the iOS devices. Use DI-1000BLE for use with iOS devices. The ranges are also different with the ZP version offering the longest range with about 1000 feet, the BLE offering only 3-10 feet and WiFi offering about 100-300 feet of communication range.
We recommend the ZP version as the best one for industrial environments with lots of metal shelving, motors, electromagnetic noise and other wireless radio waves interfering with the DI-1000ZP. With every purchase of the DI-1000ZP we provide a wireless receiver dongle that needs to be inserted into the USB A port of a PC, Mac or Linux machine.
A load cell is an analog low level device. It must be mated with a DI-1000 or its variant and calibrated together. The calibration coefficients are stored in the DI-1000 or its variant. That is why you cannot simply switch load cells and use it with the DI-1000. You must calibrate a load cell with the DI-1000 before use and label it properly to identify the pair. Best to keep the pair together and use them as a pair. If you must switch load cells then you MUST recalibrate the new pair prior to use.
Each load cell needs to be mated with and calibrated with a wireless DI-1000ZP before use. If you need to talk to multiple load cells wirelessly, then you need to buy multiple interfaces - one per load cell - and calibrate and use each set as a pair. For best results use one receiver per DI-1000ZP on a PC. While one can do a multi-point to point configuration, it is slow and can become unstable over a long period of time.
At present we only offer a single channel version of the 24 bit load cell signal conditioner. So you must use four DI-1000 units if you want to work with four load cells. Or use a junction box and then input that into the DI-1000. We do offer a 16 bit four channel USB load cell solution - the DI-400U. It is NOT available in a wireless version. Check that out to see if it meets your needs.
Yes. You can connect a calibrated load cell + DI-1000ZP or DI-1000BLE pair to a DS-3000-Pro single channel display to view the output on a dedicated LCD Display. If using the DI-1000ZP then insert the Xbee Dongle into the USB port of the DS-3000-Pro to display results wirelessly. If using a DI-1000BLE then you do NOT need a dongle. The DS-3000-Pro unit supports BLE connectivity with the DI-1000BLE.
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.
We believe teaching young kids and encouraging R&D is crucial to make this world a better place. We support teaching and research activities in educational institutions with a 10% education discount on purchased products in exchange for sharing write ups, pictures, video clips and other material we can use in our marketing materials on and off line.
