Dynamic loads on a load cell can have a dramatic effect on your load cell and, in many cases, destroy your load cell without you being aware of it.

Dynamic loads are fast-acting loads that require high frequency signal conditioning to detect it, because they often happen so fast. If the system is designed correctly, unknown dynamic loads are not a problem. Dynamic loads often occur during installation when the cell is at its most vulnerable.

Consider a 100 lb load cell sitting on the floor: If a 3/8 inch ball bearing weighing less than 2 ozs is dropped from a height of 18 inches, the load cell experiences a 161 lb load. This innocuous effect permanently damages the load cell.

Any signal conditioning attached to the load cell would have to have an update rate of 300 updates per second to detect this high-speed event. Thus, a dropped wrench on the load cell or the dropping of the load cell on the floor from just a few inches can damage the cell.

Damage is dramatically reduced when the forces applied on the load cell are not generated by hard incompressible surfaces. If the floor is wood or hammer blow was inflicted by a brass head instead of steel, then forces are generated and damage that is done is considerably less.