Tips on Choosing the Best Digital Indicator for Your Scale System

Choosing the best digital indicator for your scale system can be quite a challenge. With an ever-increasing variety of indicators and digital displays available, it can be difficult to know which one is the best one for your system. Below are 5 tips to help get you pointed in the right direction.

• Application: The nature of the application will place certain demands on the needs of the indicator. The simplest applications will require little more than the ability to display weight. More complex systems will require functions such as batching, data logging, analog output, tare, counting, and the capability for other user-programmed settings.
• System Requirements: A digital indicator should be able to interface with all elements in the scale system. While virtually all indicators have a serial port that can interface to a printer or remote display, some indicators need additional signal conditioning in order to send data to another part of the system that can trigger a shutoff or initiate other actions in the application process. It is important that the indicator has the appropriate connections required for communication.
• Environment: The physical and environmental conditions in which the scale system operates are important to consider when selecting an indicator. Factors such as temperature, humidity, dust, dirt, water, and exposure to the elements (wind, rain, sun, etc) greatly affect the life span of an indicator. Choosing an indicator with the appropriate environmental protection is the key to minimizing potential issues.
• Capacity needed: It is important to select an indicator that is able to read accurately at the highest and lowest weights required. Ideally, there should be enough display room for all required digits with one extra available digit.
• Units: Most digital indicators can display results in different units such as grams, kilograms, pounds, ounces and many more. Certain applications require particular weighing units. For instance, a scientific scale system may require the indicator to be able to toggle between ounces, grams, and newtons while a truck scale system would require pounds and kilograms.