Weighing boxes with uneven weight distribution...

[nickds1]

I need to weigh some wooden boxes - they are about 50cm square and would weigh up to 50kg - the contents may not be that evenly distributed...

I have to do this cheaply - if I use load cells, is there a way not to use 4? I've not played with loadcells but don't really see a problem in interfacing them, just in techniques for using them - the boxes are outside and WILL get wet etc., so I need something that will stand up to bad weather (maybe even salt).

Accuracy needs to be only about 5% - periodic measurement - maybe once a minute, probably logged to SD card. Did I say "cheap"

My plan is to monitor this from an IP66-sealed box with some analogue pre-processing and an ATmega328...

Thanks for any pointers...

 

[barry]

sounds like more of a mechanical problem. I think if you can ensure that the weighing plate always remains parallel to the earth you could get way with a single load cell.

 

[Choo5]

Hi nickds1,

Did you find a cheap solution? I am also searching for alternative ways to measure weight, wondered what you ended up using..