- Description
- Specifications
- Setup Software
- Mechanical
- Documents
- Technical FAQ
- Applications
- Accessories
Features
- Digital panel meter optimized for weighing applications
- Accuracy of 0.01% of reading ± 2 counts
- Display toggle between gross or net weight
- 4- or 6-wire hookup to avoid lead resistance effects
- 10 Vdc excitation to power four 350-ohm load cells in parallel (isolated)
- Count by 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 or 100 with rounding
- 5-digit resolution with scaling from 0 to 99,999
- Auto-tare or manual tare, with tare value stored in non-volatile memory
- All input ranges are user selectable and factory calibrated
- Up to 60 conversions per second, Ideal for peak or valley capture
- Digital span adjust from 0 to ±99,999, zero adjust from -99,999 to +99,999
- Front panel scalable to ±99,999 for use with current shunts
- 1/8 DIN size with bright red or green 0.56" (14.2mm), high LED digits
- Transducer excitation output, 5, 10, 12, or 24 Vdc (isolated)
- Power 85-264 Vac / 90-300 Vdc or 10-48 Vdc / 12-32 Vac (isolated)
- Operating temperature from -40°C to 85°C (-40°F to 158°F)
- Wide choice of Plug-in-Play options:
- 2 or 4 relays, mechanical or solid state, for alarm or control (isolated)
- 1 or 2 Analog output, 4-20 mA, 0-20 mA, 0-10V, or -10V to +10V (isolated)
- Communications: Ethernet, WiFi, USB, RS232, RS485 (isolated)
Certificates of Compliance
The Laureate™ 1/8 DIN Digital Panel Meter for scale weighing applications
is compact, inexpensive, and extremely accurate digital panel meter with special firmware for weighing applications. It is available with the Laureate load cell or DC signal conditioner board. If you do not need the special weighing firmware, consider using the Laureate load cell meter or Laureate process meter.The DC signal conditioner board can used in lieu of the load cell signal conditioner board, be set to ratiometric operation, and be used with the meter's 5 Vdc or 10 Vdc excitation. It's most sensitive full-scale range is ±200 mV with 10 µV resolution, while the load cell signal conditioner board offers most sensitive ranges of ±20 mV and ±50 mV, both with 1 µV resolution. Meters with both boards offer an accuracy of 0.01% of full scale ± 2 counts.
All signal conditioner board ranges are factory-calibrated, with calibration factors for each range securely stored in an onboard EEPROM. These factors can be scaled via software to accommodate external shunts, enabling field replacement of signal conditioner boards without necessitating recalibration of the associated digital panel meter. For optimal accuracy, factory recalibration is recommended annually. All Laurel Electronics instruments undergo factory calibration using the industry-leading Fluke calibrators, which are recalibrated yearly and certified traceable to national standards, ensuring the highest level of precision and reliability.
Scaling is from -99,999 to +99,999 (five full digits) with any decimal point to display readings in engineering units, such as PSI. Three scaling methods are user selectable: scale and offset, two-point method, and system-level calibration using actual transducer signals.
Digital panel meter accuracy in ratiometric bridge operation is 0.01% of reading ± 2 counts. Custom curve linearization, which is available with the optional Extended main board, can extend the working range of load cells. Custom curve linearization also allows greater accuracy to be achieved with lower cost, less linear load cells.
A built-in isolated excitation supply can provide up to 120 mA of current at 10V to power four 350-ohm load cells in parallel. The digital panel meter operates in a ratiometric mode to eliminate errors due to supply variations. When excitation sense inputs are used in 6-wire connection, the digital panel meter compensates for variation in resistance of the transducer leads, thereby allowing long cable runs.
Display & Setpoint Functions for Weighing Applications
- Relay setpoint offset. The ON/OFF setpoint control action can be programmed to occur with a specified offset. For instance, if bags are to be filled to 100 lbs and the material delivery spout is known to hold and dispense an additional 2.5 lbs following shut-off, an offset of -2.5 lbs can be programmed. The setpoint can then be set to 100 lbs, and the filling valve will be automatically shut off when the measured weight reaches 97.5 lbs.
- Count-by function. The weight meter can be programmed so that the display is rounded off to multiples of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 or 100. For example, if count-by 10 is selected, the digital panel meter will display 20 for an internal count of 15 to 24.
- Fixed right-hand dummy zero. The display can be shifted to the left for a fixed zero to the right, allowing values up to 999,990 to be displayed. The right-hand zero precludes the use of decimal points.
- Auto-zero function. An auto-zero limit from 0 to 9 counts can be programmed to compensate for load cell drift. Whenever the digital panel meter comes to rest within that limit from zero, it will auto-zero. Entering 0 disables auto-zero.
- Two tare functions: auto-tare and manual tare. In auto-tare, an input line is grounded by an external pushbutton. This causes the current weight, which is normally the empty weight of the container to be stored in memory as an offset. In manual tare, the tare value can be entered manually via the front panel or a computer using Laurel's free Instrument Setup Software. For instance, the tare value may be the stated empty weight of a truck or rail car. Pressing the Reset button on the front panel toggles the display between gross weight (total weight on the scale) and net weight (gross weight with tare subtracted).
The Laureate Digital Panel Meter is easily programmed with Laurel’s free Instrument Setup Software, downloadable from our website and compatible with Windows PCs, requiring a data interface board for setup.
Easy scale calibration is achieved using a simple two-point calibration method. First, the desired LO IN reading is set to 0, and the desired HI IN reading is set to a desired value. With no weight on the scale, a button is pushed for LO IN. With a known weight on the scale, that button is pushed again for HI IN. The digital panel meter then automatically computes scale and offset for readout up to five digits in weight units.
High read rate of up to 50 or 60 conversions per second, the Laureate™ Digital Panel Meter uses Concurrent Slope (US Pat. 5,262,780) analog-to-digital conversion to integrate signals over a full power line cycle (50 Hz or 60 Hz). This read rate enables peak and valley capture, real-time computer interfacing, and control applications. Peak and valley values are automatically captured and can be viewed using Laurel’s free Instrument Setup Software (compatible with Windows PCs) or transmitted as serial data.
- An unfiltered selection provides true peak and valley readings and aids in control applications.
- A batch average filter selection averages each 16 conversions.
- An adaptive moving average filter selection provides a choice of 8 time constants from 80 ms to 9.6 seconds. 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. An Auto setting selects the time constant selection based on signal noise.
Scale and offset can be provided by either of two user-selectable methods:
- With the coordinate reading method, the digital panel meter reads the high and low signal values, and the user enters the desired high an low reading values. The digital panel 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.
Peak and valley values are automatically captured. These may be displayed via a front panel pushbutton command or control signal at the rear connector, or be transmitted as serial data.
Two rear panel control Inputs (CMOS/TTL levels, logic 0 = tied to digital ground, logic 1 = open) or dry contacts that can be set to control / activate 14 meter commands.
An (isolated) 5, 10, 12, or 24 Vdc excitation output is standard to power transducers or two-wire transmitters. Ratiometric operation, which automatically compensates for changes in the applied excitation, is jumper selectable for applications, such as bridges, where the signal to be measured is proportional to the excitation level.
DC Signal Conditioner
| Full-Scale Input | Input Impedance | Zero Adjust | Span Adjust | Error at 25°C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ± 200.00 mV | 1 GΩ | |||
| ± 2.0000 V | 1 GΩ | -99,999 | 0 to | 0.01% FS |
| ± 20.000 V | 10 MΩ | to +99,999 | ±99,999 | ± 2 counts |
| ± 20.000 mA | 10 Ω | |||
| Recalibration: All ranges are calibrated at the factory. Recalibration is recommended every 12 months. | ||||
| Display | |
|---|---|
| Readout | 5 LED digits, 7-segment, 14.2 mm (.56"), red or green |
| Range | -99999 to +99999 |
| -999990 to +999990 (with fixed selectable right-hand zero) | |
| Rounding | Count by 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 |
| Indicators | Four LED lamps |
| Accuracy | |
| Error at 25°C | 0.01% FS ± 2 counts |
| Span tempco | 0.0015% of reading/°C |
| Zero tempco | 0.1 µV/°C (use auto-zero when temperature changes) |
| Calibration Method | 2 points using zero weight and known weight |
| Noise Rejection | |
| CMR, DC to 60 Hz | 130 dB |
| NMR at 50/60 Hz | 90 dB with min filtering |
| A-to-D Conversion | |
| Technique | Concurrent Slope (Pat 5,262,780) |
| A-to-D rate | 60/s at 60 Hz, 50/s at 50 Hz |
| Output update | 56/s at 60 Hz, 47/s at 50 Hz |
| Display update | 3.5/s at 60 Hz, 3/s at 50 Hz |
| Power Supply Boards (one required) | |
| Voltage, standard | 85-264 Vac or 90-300 Vdc |
| Voltage, optional | 12-32 Vac or 10-48 Vdc |
| Frequency | DC or 47-63 Hz |
| Power consumption (typ. with four 350Ω load cells at 10V) | 2.4W @ 120 Vac, 2.7W @ 240 Vac, 2.5W @ 10 Vdc, 2.6W @ 20 Vdc, 2.75W @ 30 Vdc, 3.0W @ 40 Vdc, 3.35W @ 48 Vdc |
| Power Isolation | 250V rms working, 2.3 kV rms per 1 min test |
| Excitation Output (standard) | |
| 5 Vdc | 5 Vdc ± 5%, 100 mA (jumper selectable) |
| 10 Vdc | 10 Vdc ± 5%, 120 mA (jumper selectable) |
| 12 Vdc | 12 Vdc ± 5%, 100 mA (jumper selectable) |
| 24 Vdc | 24 Vdc ± 5%, 50 mA (jumper selectable) |
| Output Isolation | 50 Vdc from signal ground |
| Ratiometric operation | Automatically compensates for changes in excitation level. |
| Analog Output Board (one optional) | |
| Output levels | 4-20 mA, 0-20 mA, 0-10V |
| Current compliance | 2 mA at 10V ( > 5 kΩ load) |
| Voltage compliance | 12V at 20 mA (< 600 Ω load) |
| Scaling | Zero and full scale adjustable from -99999 to +99999 |
| Resolution | 16 bits (0.0015% of full scale) |
| Isolation | 250V rms working, 2.3 kV rms per 1 min test |
| Relay Output Boards (one optional) | |
| Dual magnetic relays | 2 Form C, 10A max, 440Vac or 125Vdc max, 2500VA or 300W |
| Quad magnetic relays | 4 Form A (NO), 10A max, 440Vac or 125Vdc max, 2500VA or 300W |
| Dual solid state relays | 2 Form A (NO), AC or DC, 0V - 400V, 120Ma, 35Ohms (max at On-State) |
| Quad solid state relays | 4 Form A (NO), AC or DC, 0V - 400V, 120Ma, 35Ohms (max at On-State) |
| Relay commons | Isolated commons for dual relays or each pair of quad relays |
| Relay isolation | 250V rms working, 2.3 kV rms per 1 minute test |
| Relay latching modes | Latching or non-latching |
| Relay active modes | Active on or off, active high or low |
| Hysteresis modes | QA passband mode, split hysteresis, span hysteresis |
| Communication Boards (one optional) | |
| Board selections | RS232, RS485 with dual RJ11 connectors, RS485 with dual RJ45 connectors, USB, USB-to-RS485 gateway, WiFi with built-in antenna plus USB & RS485, WiFi with external antenna plus USB & RS485 |
| Protocols | Modbus RTU, Modbus ASCII, Modbus TCP (Ethernet), Laurel ASCII |
| Digital addresses | 247 (Modbus), 31 (Laurel ASCII), |
| Isolation | 250V rms working, 2.3 kV rms per 1 min test |
| Environmental | |
| Operating temperature | -40°C to 70°C (-40°F to 158°F) |
| Storage temperature. | -40°C to 85°C (-40°F to 185°F) |
| Relative humidity | 95% at 40°C, non-condensing |
| Protection | NEMA-4X (IP-65) when panel mounted |
| Mechanical | |
| Enclosure | 1/8 DIN, high impact plastic, UL 94V-0, color: black |
| Mounting | 1/8 DIN panel cutout required: 3.622" x 1.772" (92 mm x 45 mm). |
| Dimensions | 4.68" x 2.45" x 5.64" (119 mm x 62 mm x 143 mm) (W x H x D) |
| Maximum panel thickness | 4.5 mm (0.18") |
| Tightening Torque - Connectors | Screw terminal connectors: 5 lb-in (0.56 Nm) |
| Tightening Torque - Pawls | Digital Panel Meter Case Pawls: 5 lb-in (0.56 Nm) |
| Weight of base meter | 210 g (7.4 oz) typical (DPM, counter, timer, 6-digit remote display) |
| Weight of option boards | 30 g (1.0 oz) typical per board (analog output, relay output, communications) |
| General | |
| Programming Methods | Four front panel buttons or via Laurel's free Instrument Setup Software, which runs on a PC under MS Windows. |
| Security | Lockout options include using the front panel buttons, the free Instrument Setup Software, or a hardware jumper. |
| Warranty | 3 years parts & labor |
| Recalibration: All ranges are calibrated at the factory. Recalibration is recommended every 12 months. | |
Free Instrument Setup Software for Series 2 Laureates
Free Downloadable Windows-based Instrument Setup (IS) software (Data Interface Board Required) for use with our programmable Digital Panel Meters, Scale Meters, Counters, Timers, Remote Displays, and Transmitters, are an easy method to set up Laureate 1/8 DIN digital panel meters, counters, timers, remote displays, and DIN-rail transmitters, as explained in the Instrument Setup Software Manual. Laureate 1/8 DIN instruments can also be set up from the front panel, as explained in their respective Owners Manuals. Instrument Setup software is of benefit whether or not the PC is connected to the instrument.
- When the PC is connected to the instrument, Instrument Setup software can retrieve the setup file from the instrument or open a default setup file or previously saved setup file from disk View Setup, then provides graphical user interface (GUI) screens with pull-down menus applicable to input, display, scaling, filtering, alarms, communications, analog output, and front panel lockouts. Fields that are not applicable to the instrument as configured are either left out or grayed out. Clicking on any item will bring up a detailed Help screen for that item. After editing, the setup file can be downloaded, uploaded to the instrument, or saved to a disk. The same setup file can then be downloaded into multiple instruments.
- When the PC is not connected to the instrument, the above GUI screens can be used to set up a virtual instrument. The setup file can then be saved to disk. Switching toView Menu then brings up a screen with the required front panel programming steps. This view can be printed out for use at the instrument site and to serve as a hard copy record.
Download Free Instrument Setup Software
Installation
Set User Account Control (UAC) of MS Windows to "Never notifiy me" so that Instrument Setup Software can create directories. The UAC change screen can be reached as follows:
- Under Windows 7, click on the Windows Start button in the lower left of the desktop and enter "UAC" in the search field.
- Under Windows 8, navigate to Control Panel, then to the "User Accounts and Family Safety" section, and click on "Change User Account Control Settings."
- Under Windows 10, click on the Windows Start button in the lower left of the desktop, then on "Settings", and enter "UAC" in the search field.
- Reboot your computer for the changed UAC setting to take effect.
RJ11-to-DB9 cable with rear view of DB9 connector to PC

RS232 cable, meter to PC, P/N CBL01
Laureate 1/8 DIN Laureate instruments must be equipped with a serial communications board and be connected to the computer via a serial communications cable. The connection can be via RS232, RS485, USB or Ethernet. Following setup, the serial communications board may be removed from the instrument if desired. The wiring of the RS232 cable is illustrated above with end views of the two connectors.
Laureate LT Series transmitters come standard with a 3-wire serial interface, which can be jumpered for RS232 or RS485.
Laureate LTE Series transmitters come standard with an Ethernet interface.
Meter Setup Screens
Click on any of the reduced screens below for a full-size screen view, then click on the Back button of your browser to return to this page. The screens examples below are for a fully-loaded Series 2 Digital Panel Meter (DPM), which is connected to the PC via RS232. If the meter is a Series 1 meter (pre-2007), this is sensed by the software, and somewhat different screens are brought up. Please see Series 1 setup screens.
Meter Setup Utilities
From the Main Menu, click on Readings if your PC is connected to the meter. A pull-down menu then offers three choices: List, Plot and Graph.
- List presents the latest readings in a 20-row by 10-column table. Press Pause at any time to freeze the display. This is one method to capture peak readings.
- Plot generates a plot of readings vs. time in seconds. It effectively turns the DPM-PC combination into a printing digital oscilloscope.
- Graph generates a histogram where the horizontal axis is the reading and the vertical axis is the number of occurrences of readings. The display continually resizes itself as the number of readings increases.

Laureate™ 1/8 DIN Case For Laureate Digital Panel Meters, Counters, Timers & Remote Displays
Key Features
- Meets 1/8 DIN Standard.
- Installs from front of panel.
- Short depth behind the panel: only 4" (102 mm) plus connectors.
- Understated 0.157" (4 mm) thick bezel.
- Meets NEMA 4X (IP-65) for high-pressure wawshdon when panel mounted.
- Screw clamps connectors meet VDE / IEC / UL / CSA safety standards.
- Rugged GE Lexan® housing material.
- Safety certified per EN 61010-1.
Dimensions
Maximum panel thickness: 4.5 mm (0.18")
Weight of base meter: 210 g (7.4 oz) typical (DPM, counter, timer, 6-digit remote display)
Weight of option boards: 30 g (1.0 oz) typical per board (analog output, relay output, communications)
Tightening Torque - Connectors: Screw terminal connectors: 5 lb-in (0.56 Nm)
Tightening Torque - Pawls: Digital Panel Meter Case Pawls: 5 lb-in (0.56 Nm)
Dimensioned CAD assembly drawings in EPRT, STEP, x_t. dwg, pdf file formats: Laureate-meter-case.zip (zipping prevents browser from opening CAD files as text files).
Panel Mounting
Slide the meter into a 45 x 92 mm 1/8 DIN panel cutout. Ensure that the provided gasket is in place between the front of the panel and the back of the meter bezel.
The meter is secured by two pawls, each held by a screw, as illustrated. Turning each screw counterclockwise extends the pawl outward from the case and behind the panel. Turning each screw clockwise further tightens it against the panel to secure the meter.
Turning each screw counterclockwise loosens the pawl and retracts it into its well. This position allows installed meter to be removed from their panel, or new meters to be installed in a panel. Do not remove the screws from their pawls. Doing so would cause the screw and pawl to fall off and likely get lost. Do not overtighten so as not to damage the plastic parts.
Scale Meter Frequently Asked Technical Questions
Application Example: Weighing the Load on a Truck
The Laureate weight meter power all four 350 ohm load cells of the scale with its 10 V, 120 mA isolated excitation output. Six-wire connection eliminates the effects of lead resistance and allows long cable runs from the control room to the scale.
The five-digit meter can be scaled to display truck weight up to 99,999 lbs with 1 lb resolution or 999,990 lbs with 10 lb resolution. Accuracy is 0.01% of full scale at 25°C. To avoid the effects of system-level noise, different filter settings as well as "count by" of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 or 100 with rounding are selectable.
To read out net weight of the load, the truck can first be weighed empty, and this weight can be entered as tare at the push of a button in an auto-tare mode. Or the nominal tare value of the truck can be entered manually. Display of net weight or gross weight is at the push of a button. The gross weight and net weight can be alarmed, be transmitted to a computer via RS232 or RS485, or be transmitted via a 4-20 mA analog signal.
CAL-Analog
Certificate of Calibration
$65.00DLS-XLOG2
XLog2 Data logging Software
$495.00IPC
Splashproof Cover
$48.00CON01
CON01 Connector
$75.00CBL01
RS232 Cable for Meters
$35.00CBL02
USB-to-RS232 Adapter Cable
$47.00CBL04
RS232 Cable for LT Transmitters
$47.00CBL05
USB Data Cable for Meters
$47.00CBL06
USB-to-RS485 Adapter Cable
$47.00CBL07
USB Programming & Data Cable
$47.00CBL08
RS485 Splitter Cable
$33.00Modular Design for Maximum Flexibility at Minimum Cost
All boards are isolated from meter and power grounds. Optional Plug-in-Play boards for communications and control include Ethernet, WiFi, serial communication boards, dual or quad relay boards, and an analog output board. Laureates may be powered from 85-264 Vac or optionally from 12-32 Vac or 10-48 Vdc. The display is available with bright red or green 0.56" (14.2mm) high LED digits. The 1/8 DIN case meets NEMA 4X (IP65) specifications from the front when panel mounted. Any setup functions and front panel keys can be locked out for simplified usage and security. A built-in 5, 10, 12, or 24 Vdc excitation supply can power transducers, eliminating the need for an external power supply. All power and signal connections are via UL / VDE / CSA rated screw clamp plugs.
The Laureate™ Series features modular design with up to 7 isolated plug-in boards, applicable to all Laureate 1/8 DIN Digital Panel Meter.
Modular Hardware
The design of the Laureate™ Series is modular for maximum flexibility at minimum cost. All boards are isolated from meter and power grounds. The base configuration for a digital panel meter or counter consists of a main module (with computer and plug-in display boards), a power supply board, and a signal conditioner board. Optional plug-in-play boards include an isolated setpoint controller board, an isolated analog output board, and an isolated digital interface board. Modular design and a choice of plug-in options allow the Laureate to be customized for a broad range of applications from simple monitoring to control and computer interface. There can be up to five plug-in boards in a 1/8 DIN Laureate.
Connecting Laureate Digital Panel Meter to a Local Area Network (LAN)
Up to 30 Laureate Digital Panel Meter and/or LT Transmitters can be configured for RS485 and daisy-chained to an LT Transmitter using Laurel’s High Speed Ethernet-to-RS485 converter board for seamless LAN integration. Alternatively, Laurel LTE series Ethernet transmitters can connect directly to a LAN via an Ethernet cable. Setup for both configurations is streamlined using Laurel’s free Instrument Setup Software, which simplifies node discovery and transmitter configuration.
Flexible Communication Options for Digital Panel Meter
The Laureate Digital Panel Meter can be equipped with Laurel communication boards to support various interfaces and protocols. These include serial interfaces with ASCII or Modbus RTU protocols, and Ethernet interfaces with web access, ASCII, or Modbus TCP/IP protocols, ensuring versatile connectivity for your commercial applications.

What is a Digital Panel Meter for Scale and Weighing Applications?
A Digital Panel Meter is a precision instrument designed to measure, display, and monitor electrical signals from sensors used in scale and weighing applications, such as load cells. This device is essential in industries requiring accurate weight measurements, including manufacturing, logistics, agriculture, food processing, chemical production, and pharmaceuticals. By converting analog signals from load cells into clear digital readouts, this Digital Panel Meter ensures reliable data for process control, quality assurance, inventory management, batch control, and compliance with industry standards such as OIML R76, NTEP, and FDA regulations.
Unlike analog meters, this Digital Panel Meter offers superior readability with high-resolution displays, programmable features including tare and zero functions, advanced filtering for stable readings, and seamless integration with modern control and automation systems. This Digital Panel Meter is critical for applications where precise weight data drives operational efficiency, product quality, inventory management, cost control, or regulatory adherence.
Understanding the Digital Panel Meter for Weighing
A Digital Panel Meter for scale and weighing applications is often built to the 1/8 DIN standard, fitting compactly into panel cutouts (approximately 92 mm x 45 mm or 96 mm x 48 mm depending on manufacturer). This size ensures compatibility with control panels, instrument racks, and weighing terminals while maximizing space efficiency. This Digital Panel Meter is designed for durability, ease of use, and high accuracy, making it ideal for demanding environments like factories, warehouses, processing plants, truck scales, and harsh outdoor installations.
This Digital Panel Meter supports inputs from various load cell types including single-point, compression, tension, shear beam, and canister load cells operating in 4-wire or 6-wire configurations. It features customizable LED or LCD displays with 5-6 digit resolution, programmable tare and gross/net weight functions, multi-point calibration options, checkweighing setpoints, and communication interfaces (e.g., RS-232, RS-485, Modbus RTU/TCP, Ethernet/IP, Profinet) to integrate with industrial automation systems, PLCs, SCADA, and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. The versatility of this Digital Panel Meter allows it to handle various weighing tasks, from simple bench scales and counting scales to complex multi-load-cell systems in silos, hoppers, tank weighing, and vehicle scales.
How Does a Digital Panel Meter Work in Weighing Applications?
A Digital Panel Meter processes analog signals from load cells to provide accurate weight measurements. Here's a detailed overview of its operation:
- Excitation Voltage Supply:
This Digital Panel Meter provides precision-regulated excitation voltage (typically 5V or 10V with ±0.01% regulation) to power the load cell's Wheatstone bridge circuit. Excitation stability is critical for measurement accuracy and long-term stability. - Signal Acquisition:
This Digital Panel Meter receives a low-level analog signal from the load cell (typically 2-3 mV/V full scale output), which generates a voltage proportional to the applied weight or force. For a 10V excited load cell with 3 mV/V sensitivity, full capacity produces 30 mV output. These signals are low-level, requiring sensitive, high-impedance input circuitry with differential inputs for common-mode noise rejection. - Signal Conditioning:
The signal is amplified (gains up to 5,000x for millivolt signals), filtered using digital filters with selectable time constants (0.1s to 10s) to eliminate noise and vibration effects, or adjusted to eliminate temperature drift and ensure it matches the optimal input range of this Digital Panel Meter's ADC. This step is crucial for maintaining accuracy and stability in noisy industrial environments with motors, VFDs, or welding equipment. - Analog-to-Digital Conversion:
A high-resolution Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC), typically 16-bit, 20-bit, or 24-bit sigma-delta type, transforms the conditioned signal into a digital format. High-resolution ADCs (24-bit provides over 16 million counts) ensure precise weight measurements with fine resolution, even for small load changes, enabling accurate batching, filling, and checkweighing operations. - Processing and Display:
The digital signal is processed by the microcontroller of this Digital Panel Meter, which applies multi-point calibration (dead load, span calibration, or multi-point linearization for non-linear load cells), scaling, tare weight subtraction (container weight), gross/net weight calculation, or unit conversions (e.g., kg, lb, oz, g, ton, N, kN). The result is shown on a bright LED (red, green, amber) or backlit LCD display with 5-6 digits, decimal point positioning, and engineering units. Many models of this Digital Panel Meter include bar graph displays for visual fill indication or trend monitoring. - Output and Integration:
This Digital Panel Meter provides multiple outputs including 4-20 mA or 0-10V analog retransmission signals proportional to weight for chart recorders or PLCs, relay contacts (typically 2-4 SPDT relays) for programmable alarms (target weight reached, over/under weight, deviation limits), setpoint control for filling or batching operations, pulse outputs for totalizing, or digital communication protocols (RS-232, RS-485, Modbus RTU, Modbus TCP/IP, Ethernet/IP, Profinet, USB) for integration with PLCs, distributed control systems (DCS), SCADA systems, MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems), or data loggers for production tracking and traceability. - Calibration and Configuration:
Users can calibrate this Digital Panel Meter using multiple methods including zero calibration with no load, span calibration using known weights, multi-point linearization for improved accuracy across the weighing range, or automatic calibration with test weights. Configuration settings include tare functions (pushbutton tare, auto-tare, preset tare), measurement units (metric or imperial), decimal point position, filtering time constants, checkweighing setpoints with hysteresis, gross/net/tare display modes, or alarm thresholds to suit specific application requirements.
Technical Specifications
A typical Digital Panel Meter for scale and weighing applications includes:
- Input Type: Load cell (strain gauge bridge), 4-wire or 6-wire connection
- Input Sensitivity: 0.5 to 5.0 mV/V typical
- Excitation Voltage: 5V or 10V DC, ±0.01% regulation, <10 ppm/°C stability
- Excitation Current: Up to 400 mA for multiple load cells
- ADC Resolution: 16-bit (65,536 counts), 20-bit (1 million counts), or 24-bit (16 million counts)
- Display Resolution: Up to 10,000d (10,000 divisions) or 100,000d for high-resolution applications
- Accuracy: ±0.01% to ±0.03% of full scale
- Display: 5-6 digit LED or LCD, 0.56" to 1.0" character height
- Update Rate: 10-100 readings per second (adjustable)
- Tare Range: 100% of capacity (full-range tare)
- Setpoints: 2-4 programmable checkweighing or filling setpoints
- Filtering: Digital filtering with 0.1s to 10s time constants
- Communication: RS-232, RS-485, Modbus RTU/TCP, Ethernet/IP, Profinet, USB
- Relay Outputs: 2-4 SPDT relays, 5A @ 250VAC
- Analog Output: 4-20mA or 0-10V (optional)
- Power Supply: 85-265VAC or 12-48VDC universal
- Operating Temperature: -10°C to 60°C typical
- Environmental: IP65 or IP67 front panel protection
- Approvals: OIML R76, NTEP (for legal-for-trade), CE, UL/cUL
Key Features of a Digital Panel Meter for Weighing
A Digital Panel Meter for scale and weighing applications includes features that enhance performance and usability:
- High Precision: Advanced 24-bit ADCs, precision load cell excitation with ±0.01% regulation, and multi-point linearization deliver accurate weight measurements down to single-gram resolution, critical for applications like pharmaceutical batching, checkweighing, or quality control where measurement uncertainty must be minimized.
- Tare and Zero Functions: Programmable tare (pushbutton, automatic, preset, or keyboard entry) allows users to subtract container weights, packaging, or fixtures, while auto-zero and manual zeroing reset the scale for consistent readings and eliminate drift. Semi-automatic tare and tare memory storage enhance operator efficiency.
- Flexible Displays: High-brightness multi-color LEDs (red for normal, green for in-range, amber for warning), dual-line displays showing gross and net weight simultaneously, bar graphs for visual fill indication, or large-digit displays (0.8" to 1.0" height) ensure readability in various lighting conditions from bright sunlight to dim warehouses, and viewing distances up to 10 meters.
- Programmable Alarms: Multiple setpoints (typically 2-4) for checkweighing operations trigger visual and audible alarms or relay outputs for over/under weight conditions, target weight achievement, low/high limits, or deviation from setpoint, enabling control of external devices like conveyors, gates, valves, filling equipment, or rejection mechanisms in automated production lines.
- Communication Options: Multiple protocols including Modbus RTU (RS-485), Modbus TCP/IP, Ethernet/IP, Profinet, DeviceNet, or CANopen enable integration with PLCs from all major manufacturers (Siemens, Allen-Bradley, Schneider, Mitsubishi), industrial automation systems, SCADA platforms, MES systems, and cloud-based data analytics for remote monitoring and predictive maintenance.
- Rugged Design: IP65 or IP67-rated stainless steel or polycarbonate front panels resist dust, moisture, chemicals, and washdown in food processing or pharmaceutical environments, wide operating temperature ranges (-20°C to 70°C), shock and vibration resistance (IEC 60068), and EMC compliance ensure reliable operation in harsh industrial conditions.
- Peak Hold and Averaging: Capture peak weights for impact or drop testing, or average weights over time for improved accuracy with vibrating or unstable loads.
- Multi-Unit Display: Instantly switch between kg, lb, oz, g, ton, or custom units for international operations or diverse customer requirements.
- Data Logging: Internal memory stores weight records with timestamps for quality documentation, traceability, and regulatory compliance (FDA 21 CFR Part 11).
Applications of a Digital Panel Meter in Scale and Weighing Systems
A Digital Panel Meter is widely used in weighing applications across industries. Key applications include:
- Industrial Weighing:
This Digital Panel Meter displays weight data from load cells in platform scales, pallet scales, drum scales, tank weighing systems (silos, hoppers, reactors), conveyor belt scales, or crane scales, supporting tasks like inventory management, production monitoring, material tracking, and process control in manufacturing, chemical processing, and bulk material handling. - Batch Weighing and Filling:
In manufacturing, this Digital Panel Meter ensures precise ingredient measurements for batch processes like chemical mixing, pharmaceutical compounding, food recipe formulation, or paint blending, maintaining product consistency, meeting specifications, and reducing waste. Automatic batching systems use the setpoints of this Digital Panel Meter to control filling sequences and achieve target weights with high accuracy. - Logistics and Shipping:
Weighing systems in warehouses, distribution centers, or shipping facilities use this Digital Panel Meter to verify package weights, pallet loads, container weights, or vehicle loads, ensuring compliance with shipping regulations (DOT, IATA), accurate freight billing, avoiding overweight penalties, and optimizing load distribution. - Agricultural Weighing:
In farming and agriculture, this Digital Panel Meter monitors grain weights in silos or bins, livestock weights on platform scales, feed batching for animal nutrition, fertilizer application rates, or harvest yields (fruit, vegetables), supporting efficient resource management, inventory tracking, and regulatory compliance with USDA or organic certification standards. - Retail and Commercial Scales:
This Digital Panel Meter is used in retail scales for supermarkets, delis, butcher shops, or farmers markets, providing accurate measurements for pricing meat, produce, cheese, or bulk goods, ensuring consumer protection, legal-for-trade compliance (NTEP), and fair commerce. - Checkweighing:
This Digital Panel Meter monitors product weights on production lines, rejecting over/under weight items, ensuring fill accuracy in bottling, canning, or packaging operations, and maintaining compliance with net content regulations and quality standards. - Truck and Vehicle Scales:
This Digital Panel Meter displays axle weights, gross vehicle weights, or individual wheel loads for commercial vehicle weighing, overload protection, highway compliance, and material accounting in mining, aggregate, or waste management operations.
Where Is a Digital Panel Meter for Scale and Weighing Applications Used?
A Digital Panel Meter is critical in industries where precise weight measurements are essential. When paired with load cells in scale and weighing systems, a 1/8 DIN Digital Panel Meter provides compact, reliable solutions. Below are detailed use cases across key sectors:
- Manufacturing and Production:
In factories, this Digital Panel Meter monitors weights in assembly lines, batching systems, or material handling equipment. For example, in pharmaceutical production, this Digital Panel Meter ensures precise measurements of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) down to milligram accuracy, meeting strict regulatory standards (FDA cGMP, USP), preventing cross-contamination, and maintaining batch records for validation and traceability. In automotive manufacturing, it monitors part weights for quality control. - Food and Beverage Processing:
Load cells in filling machines, packaging lines, or checkweighers rely on this Digital Panel Meter to ensure consistent product weights and compliance with net content regulations. In a bottling plant, this Digital Panel Meter verifies fill levels to prevent under-filling (consumer protection violations) or over-filling (product giveaway), maintaining quality, cost efficiency, and FDA compliance. In bakeries, it ensures accurate ingredient batching for recipe consistency. HACCP documentation is supported through weight data logging. - Logistics and Warehousing:
This Digital Panel Meter in pallet scales, forklift scales, floor scales, or dimensioning systems provides real-time weight data, streamlining inventory tracking, optimizing warehouse space utilization, ensuring compliance with weight regulations for shipping (avoiding overweight fines), enabling accurate freight billing (dim weight calculations), and supporting cross-docking operations. - Agriculture and Farming:
In grain silos, feed bins, or livestock weighing systems, this Digital Panel Meter displays accurate weights, helping farmers optimize feed distribution for animal health, monitor crop yields for harvest planning, track moisture-adjusted grain weights, comply with trade standards (GIPSA), and manage commodity sales with documented weights for futures contracts. - Recycling and Waste Management:
Weighing systems in recycling plants, transfer stations, or landfills use this Digital Panel Meter to measure scrap metal, paper, plastic, or waste materials, supporting efficient sorting, material recovery tracking, customer billing (pay-by-weight), regulatory reporting (EPA), and sustainability initiatives through accurate waste diversion metrics. - Construction and Materials Handling:
In concrete batching plants, asphalt plants, or aggregate weighing systems, this Digital Panel Meter ensures precise material measurements (cement, sand, gravel, water, admixtures), improving the quality of construction materials, meeting mix design specifications, reducing waste, preventing overloads in transit mixers, and supporting quality documentation for commercial projects. - Retail and Commercial Weighing:
In supermarkets, delis, produce departments, or farmers markets, this Digital Panel Meter provides accurate weight readouts for pricing meat, cheese, fruits, vegetables, or bulk goods, enhancing customer trust, ensuring legal-for-trade compliance (NTEP certification, Weights and Measures), preventing pricing errors, and operational efficiency. - Chemical and Petrochemical:
This Digital Panel Meter controls precise batching of chemicals, catalysts, additives, or hazardous materials in reactor charging, formulation blending, or drum filling operations, ensuring product quality, safety, and regulatory compliance (OSHA, EPA). - Mining and Aggregates:
Mining operations use this Digital Panel Meter for truck loading, conveyor belt weighing, ore processing, or material stockpile inventory, enabling production tracking, load optimization, and overload prevention. - Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical:
This Digital Panel Meter supports high-accuracy weighing in tablet compression, capsule filling, powder dispensing, or ingredient batching with full audit trails, data integrity (21 CFR Part 11), and GMP compliance.
Benefits of Using a Digital Panel Meter in Weighing Applications
A Digital Panel Meter offers numerous advantages for scale and weighing systems:
- Accuracy and Reliability: High-resolution 24-bit ADCs, precision excitation regulation, multi-point calibration, and advanced filtering ensure precise weight measurements with repeatability better than 1 part in 10,000, critical for quality control, regulatory compliance, and cost reduction through minimized product giveaway.
- Compact Design: The 1/8 DIN size fits easily into control panels, weighing terminals, or instrument racks, ideal for space-limited setups, allowing multiple parameters to be monitored without panel expansion.
- Customizability: Programmable settings like tare functions, unit conversions, decimal points, alarm setpoints, filtering, or display modes adapt to specific weighing applications from precision laboratory balances to rugged industrial tank scales.
- System Integration: Multiple communication interfaces (Modbus, Ethernet, Profinet) enable seamless connection to PLCs, SCADA, MES, or ERP systems, enhancing data logging, production tracking, inventory management, automated process control, and Industry 4.0 connectivity.
- Durability: Built to withstand dust, moisture (IP67), chemicals, temperature extremes (-20°C to 70°C), vibration, and electromagnetic interference, this Digital Panel Meter performs reliably in demanding industrial, outdoor, or cleanroom environments.
- User-Friendly Operation: Intuitive controls, clear high-visibility displays, guided calibration wizards, and simple setup reduce training time, minimize operator errors, and improve productivity.
- Legal-for-Trade Compliance: NTEP and OIML R76 certifications enable use in commercial transactions, custody transfer, and applications requiring certified accuracy.
- Cost-Effective: Consolidates multiple functions (weighing, batching control, alarming, communication) in one compact device, reducing system costs versus separate instruments.
Choosing the Right Digital Panel Meter for Weighing
When selecting a Digital Panel Meter for scale and weighing applications, consider these factors:
- Load Cell Compatibility: Ensure this Digital Panel Meter supports the load cell's sensitivity (mV/V), input range, number of load cells (single or multiple), connection type (4-wire or 6-wire), and excitation voltage requirements (5V or 10V). Verify load cell capacity and divisions match weighing requirements.
- Accuracy Specifications: Verify the resolution (16-bit to 24-bit), number of display divisions (10,000d to 100,000d), accuracy class (OIML Class III or IIII), and linearity specifications of this Digital Panel Meter meet your application's precision requirements for batching, filling, or legal-for-trade weighing.
- Environmental Durability: Choose a Digital Panel Meter with appropriate IP ratings (IP65/IP67) for dust, water, or chemical resistance, wide operating temperature range for outdoor or extreme environments, and EMC compliance for electrically noisy industrial settings.
- Output Requirements: Determine if you need analog retransmission (4-20mA), relay alarm outputs for filling/batching control, pulse outputs for totalizing, or digital communication protocols (Modbus, Ethernet, Profinet) for integration with automation systems.
- Display and Usability: Opt for a display type (LED for brightness, LCD for low power), digit size and color for viewing distance and lighting conditions, and controls (pushbuttons, touchscreen, remote configuration) that suit your operators' needs and work environment.
- Calibration Features: Look for easy-to-use multi-point calibration, automatic span adjustment, tare functions (pushbutton, auto, preset), and calibration security (password protection, tamper seals) to streamline setup, maintenance, and regulatory compliance.
- Certifications: For commercial applications, ensure NTEP (USA) or OIML R76 (international) approval. For specific industries, verify FDA compliance, ATEX for hazardous areas, or other relevant certifications.
Conclusion
A Digital Panel Meter, particularly 1/8 DIN models, is essential for scale and weighing applications across industries like manufacturing, logistics, agriculture, food processing, pharmaceuticals, chemical production, mining, and retail. Its precision with 24-bit resolution, compact design, versatile features including tare functions and checkweighing, robust construction for harsh environments, and comprehensive communication options make it ideal for delivering accurate weight measurements in demanding applications. By supporting efficient batch processes, regulatory compliance (NTEP, OIML, FDA), system integration with Industry 4.0 technologies, cost reduction through minimized giveaway, and quality assurance, this Digital Panel Meter enhances productivity, profitability, and reliability in weighing systems. Whether for industrial scales, truck scales, filling systems, or retail applications, this Digital Panel Meter provides a robust, accurate, and cost-effective solution for modern weighing needs, ensuring measurement integrity from receiving to shipping operations.
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