Wireless Load Cell
Our wireless load cells are customizable solutions that pair any resistive bridge type load cell (four-wire or six-wire) to a wireless signal conditioner. This setup allows wireless communication with a PC, Mac, or Linux machine using Xbee (DI-1000ZP), BLE (DI-1000BLE), or WiFi (DI-1000WiFi) protocols.
All wireless versions also include a wired USB output via a miniB USB connector for wired connections with a PC, Mac or Linux device.
Suggested Kit:
RSB2 Button Load Cell
DI-1000ZP Load Cell Interface
LV-1000 LoadVUE Pro Software
Add Calibration
Add Accessories
What is a Wireless Load Cell?
Why should one use a Wireless Load Cell?
Sometimes, for certain applications, one may not want cables to get in the way or create clutter. In other cases, the display of the force or weight information may be needed at a significant distance away from the load cell and interface. In those cases, it is useful to use a wireless load cell solution. We offer three types of wireless load cell interfaces as shown below.
XBee 802.15.4 Solution
The DI-1000ZP wireless solution has a range of almost 1000 feet, making it the most robust solution for use in industrial environments. It works with Windows PCs and Tablets with LoadVUE Pro, SensorVUE, and ControlVUE software to display, log, and plot values.
The DI-1000BLE is a bluetooth solution, ideally used 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. Unlike the other wireless solutions, the Bluetooth capability limits the wireless connectivity range to ~ 3 meters or 10 feet.
Bluetooth Solution
WiFi Solution
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. It does not need any receiver dongles since most devices include a WiFi receiver as part of the device and can connect up to about 100 feet.
Most Popular Wireless Load Cell Kits
If your application needs a way to wireless communicate with your load cell, we offer load cell signal conditioners that can be mated with any resistive bridge type load cell (four wire or six wire) and communicate wirelessly with a PC, Mac or Linux machine via Xbee (DI-1000ZP) , BLE (DI-1000BLE) or WiFi (DI-1000WiFi) protocol. The wireless interface includes a rechargeable battery for at least 1-2 hours of continuous cordless operation on a full nights charge. All wireless versions also include a wired USB output via a miniB USB connector.
Shown below are some of our most popular wireless load cell configurations.
Connect S-Beam Load Cell Wirelessly to a PC
Suggested Kit:
RAS1 S-Beam Load Cell
DI-1000ZP Wireless Load Cell Interface
LV-1000 LoadVUE Pro Software
Add Calibration
Add Additional Accessories
Connect Button Load Cell to a Display/Tablet with DI-1000ZP
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 other devices that generate significant electromagnetic emissions and noise. You can connect any resistive load cell with a DI-1000ZP wireless interface to connect to a Windows Tablet or a DS-3000-Pro Display.
The example below shows RSB2 load cell with a Wireless interface, connected to a DS-3000-Pro display.
Connect Multiple Load Cells Wirelessly to a PC/Tablet via DI-1000ZP
When you want to communicate wirelessly with multiple load cells, then you can mate each load cell with a DI-1000ZP, and calibrate them together as a pair. Then use either our SensorVUE software or ControlVUE software to display, log and plot data on a PC running the Win 8/10/11 operating systems.
The example below shows each RSB6 load cell conencted to its own dedicated DI-1000ZP wireless interface, and SensorVUE or ControlVUE software running on a Windows tablet.
Popular Bluetooth Load Cell Configurations
To communicate with iOS devices, we recommend the DI-1000BLE Bluetooth Load Cell Interface. The Bluetooth interface offers short range (~10 feet) communication that does NOT need any receiver dongle.
The WiFi version (DI-1000WiFi) is a slightly more complex to setup but also allows for communication with iOS devices. It 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.
Connect A Button Load Cell to a Display/iOS Device via Bluetooth with a DI-1000BLE
The DI-1000BLE Bluetooth Load Cell Interface offers Bluetooth connection up to ~ 10 feet.
The example below show RSB2 load cell connected to the DI-1000BLE bluetooth interface that can communicate with the iOS device.
Wirelessly Connect a Load Cell to an iOS Device via WiFi with a DI-1000WiFi
The DI-1000WiFi Load Cell interface offers WiFi connection up to a 100 feet or so and can be used in AdHoc mode as a direct point to point connection, or it can be used indirectly via the WiFi router at your location.
The example below shows RSB2 load cell connected to DI-1000ZP wireless interface communicating with the iOS device.
How to Select and Configure your Wireless Load Cell Solution
Select Sensor
Pick a Load Cell
Pick the right load cell for your application based on:
Max Range, Accuracy, Operating Conditions & Certifications
Select Sensor
Select Interface
Pick a Wireless Interface
Pick a Wireless Interface based on:
Protocol + Range + Device used as Display
Select Calibration Mode
Pick a Calibration Mode
Pick a Calibration Mode:
Compression, Tension, Universal
Select Calibration Mode
Select a Display
Pick a Software or Display
Pick a Software or Display:
Touch Screen LCD, Software on PC/Tablet
Charging Wireless Interface Battery
Our wireless interfaces [DI-1000ZP, DI-1000BLE, DI-1000WiFi] contains a battery that needs to be charged or plugged in with a power adapter for proper operation. One full night’s charge offers a minimum 2 hours of operation. The switch can be turned on/off to extend use over a long time as needed.
When charging, please keep the switch in the "ON" position. The interface will not charge if the switch is “Off.”
Digital Calibration
Digital Calibration between your sensor and interface pair is necessary for digital USB output. Explore our Calibration options for your application.
Application Development
If you are looking to develop your own custom software application, our digital USB load cells and wireless load cell interfaces offer convenient ASCII commands to obtain load information directly from the interfaces/load cells without need for any signal conditioning or data processing. With just a few commands you'll be able to incorporate load/force/weight information into your application. You can also use Visual Basic, Visual C++, Matlab, LABView or any other application development environment to create your custom applications with our interface/load cells.
See our support pages for details.
- How to Write Software to Work with DI-1000U / DI-1000UHS / DI-1000UHS-1K
- How to Write Software to Work with DI-100U / DI-100UHS / DI-400U / DI-400UHS
- How to Write Software to Work with iLoad / iLoad Pro / iLoad Mini / iLoad Mini Pro
You can access Sample Code for Visual Basic, Matlab, Python, Arduino and customize it for your own needs.
Learn More
Introduction to DI-1000WiFi Load Cell Interface
Introduction to DI-1000Z Wireless Load Cell Interface
FAQ
- A wireless load cell interface is a signal conditioner that can be mated with any resistive bridge type load cell and communicate wireless with a PC, Mac, or Linux machine.
- Loadstar Sensors’ wireless load cell interfaces include DI-1000ZP: XBee 802.15.4, DI-1000WiFi: WiFi, and DI-1000BLE: Bluetooth connection options.
- As its name suggests, a wireless load cell offers wireless connectivity to any computer (e.g. PC, Mac, or Linux) and accompanying software for data analysis.
- In contrast, traditional load cells use a signal conditioner that requires cable connection to their external device (e.g. PC, Mac, Raspberry Pi, or LCD Display), limiting the distance and environment one can use their sensors in. Additionally, traditional load cells + interfaces can not operate accurately within close proximity to other devices that generate electromagnetic emissions and noise.
- Our wireless interface contains a battery that needs to be charged or plugged in with a power adapter. One full night’s charge offers a minimum 2 hours of operation. The interface power switch can be turned on/off to extend use over a long period of time as needed.
- When charging, please keep the switch in the “ON” position. The interface will not charge if the switch is “OFF.’
Yes, you can connect any wireless load cell to a PC and use Loadstar Sensors' software.
Our LoadVUE Pro, SensorVUE, and ControlVUE software is only available for Windows PCs and is not compatible with Mac OS at the moment.
To connect a wireless load cell to a Mac, you can only use DI-1000WiFi and DI-1000BLE. The Bluetooth interface (DI-1000BLE) offers short range (~10 feet) communication that does NOT need any receiver dongle. The WiFi version (DI-1000WiFi) is slightly more complex to setup but can handle distances up to about 100 feet, used in AdHoc mode as a direct point to point connection, or it can be used indirectly via the WiFi router at your location.
If you want to communicate wireless with multiple load cells, you can mate each load cell with a DI-1000ZP wireless interface. For fastest and most reliable connection, use the point-to-point configuration for each with a wireless receiver dongle for each. You can then use SensorVUE or ControlVUE software.
Both softwares allow your to display, log, and plot data from multiple load cells simultaneously. ControlVUE has an additional function where you can control external devices based on sensor values or values derived from raw sensor values.
- LoadVUE Pro, SensorVUE, and ControlVUE are all compatible with our wireless load cells.
It is important to note that LoadVUE Pro, SensorVUE, and ControlVUE software are only available for Windows PCs.
