Rice Lake RL1800 Series Stainless Steel - Manual (Page 4)

4
2. Mechanical Installation
2.1 General Installation Guidelines for Weigh Modules
In circular mounting configurations, the preferred mounting orientation is with the
long axis of the load cell pointing toward the center of the vessel, as illustrated in
Figures 1 and 2 below.
Figures 3 and 4 illustrate other mounting configurations. For rectangular vessels,
the long axis of the load cell should be parallel to the long dimension of the vessel.
In any application where a recurring force is present in one direction, such as in a
conveyor belt or roller platform, the long axis of the load cell should align with that
force.
1. Mounting surface for base plate and top plate must be level within
±
0.5
°
to minimize side loads and extraneous forces. If the mounting surfaces are
not level, then shims or grout may be used to level the module.
If possible, check level and plumb again when container is fully loaded
because deflections in legs and supporting structures may cause additional
side forces which greatly affect accuracy. Reinforcement such as cross
bracing of legs or other support structures may be necessary to correct this.
Deflection of the module’s top or base plate due to loading should not
exceed
±
0.5
°
.
2. The load on each module should vary by no more than 20%. During
installation, add shims where necessary to verify that the correct load
distribution is achieved on each module.
3. During installation, dummy load cells can be used to prevent overload
damage. However, if the actual load cells are used during installation of the
weigh module, extreme care must be
taken to prevent overload damage. A
tank or hopper weighing several tons can
exert huge forces when dropped only a
fraction of an inch.
4. It is crucial that all piping or conduit be
horizontal and flexible sections are close
to the vessel. If flexible piping is not
used, make sure the distance from the
LEVEL
±
0.5
°
FLEXIBLE PIPING
J-BOX
Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 4 Figure 3