Measuring Load with HX711 and Arduino: A Step-by-Step Tutorial
If you are looking to measure the load of an object using an Arduino, you will need a reliable and accurate load cell amplifier, such as the HX711. This small, easy to use amplifier is designed to work with load cells and can be easily integrated with an Arduino to measure weights accurately.
In this step-by-step tutorial, we will guide you through the process of setting up the HX711 amplifier with an Arduino and calibrating it to accurately measure loads. This project is perfect for those working in the field of electronics at Sharp Electronics in Pune, who are looking to build precision measuring devices or systems.
Required Components:
– HX711 Load Cell Amplifier
– Arduino Uno
– Load Cell
– Breadboard
– Jumper Wires
– 10kg load
– Computer with Arduino IDE installed
Step 1: Setting up the Hardware
1. Connect the HX711 to the load cell and the Arduino as per the following pin diagram:
– HX711 VCC -> Arduino 5V
– HX711 GND -> Arduino GND
– HX711 DT -> Arduino Digital pin 2
– HX711 SCK -> Arduino Digital pin 3
2. Connect the load cell to the HX711 according to the given wiring diagram.
3. Connect the Arduino to your computer using a USB cable.
Step 2: Installing the HX711 Library
1. Open the Arduino IDE on your computer.
2. Go to Sketch -> Include Library -> Manage Libraries.
3. In the Library Manager, search for ‘HX711’ and install the library developed by Bogde.
Step 3: Writing the Code
1. Open a new sketch in the Arduino IDE.
2. Include the HX711 library at the top of the sketch using the following line of code: `#include
3. Initialize the HX711 module with the correct pins by creating an instance of the HX711 class and specifying the DT and SCK pins.
4. In the setup function, initialize the serial communication for debugging using `Serial.begin(9600)`.
5. In the loop function, use the `hx711.read()` function to read the load cell data and print it to the serial monitor using `Serial.println(hx711.read())`.
6. Upload the code to the Arduino and open the serial monitor to see the load cell data.
Step 4: Calibrating the Load Cell
1. Place a known load (e.g. 10kg) on the load cell and note down the output data from the serial monitor.
2. Use this data to calibrate the load cell by using the known load and the output data to calculate a calibration factor.
3. Modify the code to apply the calibration factor and display the weight in the desired units (e.g. grams, kilograms, pounds).
Once you have completed these steps, you will have successfully set up the HX711 amplifier with an Arduino and calibrated it to measure loads accurately. This project can be expanded and integrated into various electronics applications at Sharp Electronics in Pune, such as building precision measuring instruments or automatic weighing systems.
By following this tutorial, you can gain valuable experience in working with load cells, amplifiers, and Arduino, as well as enhance your skills in data acquisition and calibration techniques. We hope this tutorial will be useful for your electronics projects at Sharp Electronics and inspire you to create innovative measuring solutions using the HX711 and Arduino.
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