Calex Manufacturing Co. Inc. (Concord, CA) introduced its Model 8555 DIN-mount strain gage to frequency converter, which is a cost-effective solution for taking strain gage or load cell signals and converting them to a pulse for input into the high-speed counter of a power line conditioner (PLC). The 8555 accepts a 0 mV to 50 mV differential, or single-ended signal and converts it to a 0 kHz to 5 kHz pulse compatible with PLC high-speed inputs. The 8555 includes a 10 V excitation source.
For input requirements other than 0 mV to 50 mV, Calex has produced a number of variations all the way down to 0 mV to 2 mV full-scale for customer-specific applications. The output of the 8555 is an isolated floating optocoupler transistor that provides dc isolation from the input and dc power. The output frequency of 0 kHz to 5 kHz can also be adjusted by the factory for customer-specific applications. The output is linear to 0.01 percent, with a high accuracy of better than 0.1 percent. The built-in 10 V excitation source provides sufficient current to drive a 350 Ω bridge. The 8555 is powered by 24 Vdc with a maximum current draw of 45 mA.
The dimensions of the 8555 are 1.65 in x 1.06 in x 3.78 in. The unit is recognized to UL 508 and UL 1604. The 8555 is priced at $125, and when combined with a micro PLC, provides a cost-effective control system for a variety of weighing applications. Units are typically available from stock to three weeks.
