load cell connection diagram

A 4‑wire diagram leaves out the sense lines. That means the reading at the logger includes the voltage drop in the excitation cables, which gets worse over long distances or in changing temperatures. A 6‑wire diagram connects sense+ and sense– directly to the excitation terminals at the cell, so the instrument can measure the voltage at the cell and adjust its output accordingly. If your cable run is over 10 meters, 6‑wire is usually worth the extra two conductors.

Use a multimeter to identify the pairs. Measure resistance between wires; the excitation pair typically shows the highest resistance (often in the 350 Ω to 1000 Ω range), while the signal pair shows a lower but similar resistance. Once you’ve found the excitation pair, apply a small voltage (if safe to do so) and measure the mV output from the other pair while lightly pressing the cell. This will confirm which is signal+ and signal–. Document what you find for next time.

Drift often points to moisture in the cable or connector, a ground loop, or a bind in the mechanical mounting. Check that the shield drain is grounded only at the logger end and that the cable grip is properly sealed. Also, inspect for any stress on the cable that could be pulling on the solder joints inside the load cell—this can introduce tiny resistance changes that look like a load shift.

Generally no. Even if the connector looks the same, pin assignments and color codes can vary. Always get the diagram specific to your sensor. Kingmach provides wiring documentation with each instrument; if you’re mixing sensors from different suppliers, keep the diagrams on file and label your junction boxes clearly to avoid cross-wiring.

Swapping the signal wires is the most common—you’ll get a reading that changes in the wrong direction (decreasing when load increases). Getting excitation polarity wrong may not damage the cell if it’s a passive strain gage bridge, but some amplified cells won’t work at all. Double-check the diagram before powering up.