A transducer that converts force (the weight pressing down on a scale deck) into a tiny electrical signal that the scale indicator reads and displays.
## What is a load cell? A **load cell** is a strain-gauge transducer. Force deforms a metal element microscopically, the strain gauge measures the deformation as a change in resistance, and the indicator converts that to weight. ## Common types in scrap - **Compression** (truck scales, floor scales). - **Shear-beam** (bench and platform scales). - **Canister** (heavy-duty truck scales). ## Calibration cycle NTEP-certified scales require **annual calibration** by a licensed scale company in most US states. ## How WeighPay handles load cells WeighPay doesn't talk to load cells directly — it talks to the **scale indicator**, which talks to the load cells. The indicator handles all calibration and zero-tracking.