Laureate™ Load Cell & Microvolt
Panel Meter
20 mV - 500 mV full-scale ranges, 4- or 6-wire connection

Features

• 20, 50, 100, 250 & 500 mV ranges.
• 5-digit resolution with span from 0 to ± 99,999
• Zero from -99,999 to +99,999
• Selectable fixed right-hand zero.
• Isolated 10 Vdc supply to power up to four 350-ohm load cells in parallel.
• 4- or 6-wire hookup to avoid lead resistance effects.
• Ratiometric operation to cancel variations in excitation supply.
• Up to 60 conversions per second.
• Peak value display (standard).
• Auto-tare with tare value stored in memory.
• AC or DC powered.
• Green or red display
• NEMA 4X, 1/8 DIN case
• Dual relay option
• Analog output option
• Serial communication options
• Low voltage AC & DC power
• Certified to UL 61010C-1 (UL mark), EN 61010-1 (CE mark), and RoHS.

The Laureate™ load cell and microvoltmeter is a high-sensitivity monitor and controller for use with load cells, strain gauges and microvolt input signals where high accuracy and stability are required.

Usage as a DC microvoltmeter provides sensitivity down to 20 mV full scale with 1 µV resolution. With a digital multiplier of five, 99,999 counts can be displayed with a sensitivity of 0.2 µV per count. A moving average filter with a time constant of 1.2 sec or greater should then be selected.

Usage as a load cell meter allows six-wire hookup and scaling for direct readout in engineering units, such as pounds, kilograms or PSI. Scaling can be via front panel pushbuttons or a computer. Zero may be set from -99,999 to +99,999. Range may be scaled from 0 to ±99,999. Digital scaling and calibration eliminate drift caused by potentiometers in non-microcomputer based meters.

Built-in Excitation

An isolated 10 Vdc excitation supply can provide up to 120 mA of current to power up to four 350-ohm load cells in parallel. The meter operates in a ratiometric mode to eliminate errors due to supply variations. When excitation sense inputs are used in 6-wire connection, the meter compensates for variation in resistance of the transducer leads, thereby allowing long cable runs.

Fast Read Rate plus Peak Capture

All Laureate meters use Concurrent Slope (Pat 5,262,780) analog-to-digital conversion, which allows up to 60 conversions per second, while integrating the signal over a full power cycle. High read rate is ideal for peak value capture and for real-time computer interface and control. Peak capture is standard.

Selectable Signal Filtering

The displayed readings and the data outputs can be separately selected to be either unfiltered or filtered.

• An unfiltered selection updates after each conversion for fastest response, up to 60/sec, while integrating the input signal over a full power cycle. Fast read rate provides true peak readings and aids in control applications.
• A batch average filter selection averages each 16 conversions for an update every 1/4 sec.
• An adaptive moving average filter selection provides a choice of 8 time constants from 80 ms to 9.6 s. When a significant change in signal level occurs, the filter adapts by briefly switching to the shortest time to follow the change, then reverts back to its selected time constant. Another choice is Auto, which provides an automatic time constant selection based on the signal noise characteristics.

Easy Scaling

All Laureate DC, process and load cell meters allow easy setting of scale and offset by either of two methods.

• With the coordinate reading method, the meter reads the high and low signal values, and the user enters the desired high an low reading values. The meter then calculates the span multiplier and offset. This method is ideal if an external calibration reference is available.
• With the manual coordinate method, the user enters the high and low input values in Volts plus the desired high and low reading values. This method is suitable if no external calibration reference is available.

Auto-tare

For weighing applications, auto-tare is standard. Auto-tare can set the displayed value to zero to subtract the weight of an empty container. Auto-tare may be controlled by an external pushbutton contact closure or logic signal through an input on the power supply connector. The tare value is stored in memory. Additional capabilities for weighing applications are provided by the Laureate weight / scale meter, as described in a separate web page.

Plug-in isolated analog output, dual setpoint controller, and RS232/485 serial data I/O boards can upgrade the Laureate from a stand-alone monitor to system interface and control. The 1/8 DIN case of Laureate meters and counters meets NEMA 4X (IP-65) standards from the front for high pressure wash-down when panel mounted.

To read the net weight of an object, the empty container is first weighed, and an external button is pushed to zero out the display. The meter will then read net weight when an object is added to the empty container. The tare value is stored in memory for subsequent readings.

An easy way to determine volume of an irregularly shaped tank with no need for linearizing is to weigh the tank using load cells. The meter will automatic- ally tare out the weight of the empty tank and then scale the load cell signals to units of volume, such as gallons.

Peak readings are automatically captured at rates up to 60 per second, while the display updates at a legible 3.5 per second. The peak reading can be recalled at the push of a button or be always displayed. It can also be transmitted to a computer via RS-232 or RS-485.