What Are the Common Causes of Weighbridge Breakdowns

Weighbridges are heavily depended on in the trade sector for determining the weight of lorries and calculating the weight of the loads that they carry. As such, they are relied upon to deliver accurate readings. However, sometimes you may experience an issue with your weighbridge that means it either doesn’t work or affects the accuracy of its performance.

Read on below as we discuss some of the common breakdown issues experienced by weighbridges and their causes.

Moisture

Moisture is one of the prime suspects of weighbridge failure, being particularly troublesome to load cells - both the most essential yet most vulnerable component of a the weighbridge (and any weighing system, for that matter).

Should any water find its way through the seals of a weighbridge and into the internal system, it would cause harm to the load cell connections and compromise their ability to sense weight accurately. This is an especially common issue with pit weighbridges when they don’t have sufficient drainage; if this is the case, the water levels can rise and submerge the load cells.

A typical indicator that your weighbridge is experiencing water damage is a changing or fluctuating weight display.

Debris

If you don’t maintain or clean your weighbridge regularly, then debris (such as sand, leaves, mud or dirt) can build up and form a blockage between the scale platform and foundation of your weighbridge. This can cause inaccurate weighing or even lead to your weighbridge experiencing downtime.

This is why you should regularly clean your weighbridge and remove any blockages, being careful not to cause any damage whilst doing so (remember not to use any chemicals or a pressure washer on any sensitive parts of your weighbridge).

Load Cell Damage

As we’ve mentioned, load cells are both the most important and most vulnerable component in your weighbridge, since these are responsible for detecting the weight of the vehicle you are weighing. There are many factors that can compromise their load detecting abilities.

This could include overloading, inaccurate loading, weather damage or damage from chemicals. If a load cell becomes damaged, then it will give an inaccurate reading. A qualified technician should check the load cells to determine whether they have been compromised, similarly regular weighbridge calibration should be carried out to ensure that they are working correctly.

Cable Failure

Another common cause of weighbridges failing to function is cable damage. It’s important to check that cables stay correctly installed, since they have the tendency to become over-tight due to load cell rotation. Another cause of cable damage is rodents; since most weighbridges will likely be located at a warehouse or industrial park - most of which are surrounded by fields - rats and mice are common, just as they are notorious for chewing through cables.

If you’re based in the North West of England and are experiencing troubleshooting with your weighbridges, then you need Scales Spares & Services Ltd. Based in West Yorkshire, we are able to perform weighbridge repairs, calibration and servicing. Get in touch today for more information.