Is it allowed to connect multiple sensors in parallel to the same overload protection electronics?
Note:
This is a common practice for weighing systems (unamplified mV/V signals).
Answer:
No, because positive safety is no longer guaranteed.Positive safety is the safety function of a load limiter that will trip when load cell/load pin signal is lost, whatever the cause may be.With several sensors connected to one load limiter (BRIDGE-BOY, CRANE-BOY or INDI-BOY), one failed sensor will not be detected and system keeps operating in an unsafe mode
Solutions are:
- Safe parallel connection using a JBOX-LCI Smart Junction Box.Indeed, the JBOX-LCI, beyond providing a summed signal to the load limiter, performs the monitoring of each individual sensor signal.
Remarks:
• Up to 4 sensors.
• The JBOX-LCI is powered by limiting electronics.
• It is usable with CRANE-BOY and INDI-BOY but not with BRIDGE-BOY.
• The impedance of the sensors can be 350 Ω for 2 sensors. It must be 700 or 1,000 Ω for 3 or 4 sensors. - Individual overload protection: each sensor connected to BRIDGE-BOY, CRANE-BOY, etc. and the sum of loads using summing electronics (BRIDGE-BOY (with E-SUM option), CRANE- SUMD and DISP-SUMD).
- For overload protection of 2 force sensors (or load pins) and on the sum of loads, the CRANE-BOYDP and DISP-BOYDP are overload protection electronics with 2 analog inputs.
Note: Input signal in V with option T or in mA with option J or C