FUTEK's IAA100 Analog Load Cell Amplifier with Voltage Output is FUTEK’s brand new general purpose Analog Strain Gauge Amplifier solution for in-line amplification of any full bridge strain gauge type sensor with mV/V range output. The new model combines precision and ease of integration with a 0.005% total error. The IAA100 load cell Wheatstone bridge amplifier an aluminum housing with an integrated DIN clip designed for industrial environment applications. 

The function of a strain gauge load cell amplifier is to capture the signal from the load cell or torque sensor and convert it into a higher level of an electrical signal, and indicate it in a digital display. In order to do so, the mV/V low amplitude output of the load cell goes thru several different signal conditioning steps:

Excitation Voltage: Full-bridge load cells or torque sensors require an excitation voltage to feed the strain gage Wheatstone bridge and generate their output signal as a ratio of the input excitation voltage.

Filtering: Analog sensor signals are susceptible to electrical noise and/or residual ripple voltage, which can distort or skew measurements. Noise needs to be filtered out before you can capture an accurate signal. 

Amplification: A full-bridge strain gage sensor can output a signal in the nanovolt through millivolt range. When your DAQ or PLC is limited to measuring volts, you will need an strain gage amplifier to convert millivolts to a larger signal.

Signal conversion: The majority full-bridge load cells and force measurement sensors or transducers generate an analog output in the millivolt range (mV/V). Thus, signal processing is traditionally analog. So, if you req PLC or DAQ system requires an amplified analog (i.e.: 4-20 mA, 0-10 VDC) or a digital output (USB, SPI), the load cell or torque sensor needs a strain gauge signal conditioner to convert the mV/V signal to the required signal output.