How do you isolate weigh-bridge systems from lightning strikes?

It is impossible to isolate weigh-bridge systems from lightning strikes as it impossible to separate them from the ground. It is possible to mitigate any damage by understanding what is happening when a surge or transient enters your scale system. It is looking for the best source to ground. Your scale weigh-bridge is just in the way to ground or is the ground. The load cells, circuitry of the summing and the digital indicator are simply by-standers. Collateral damage so to speak. Usually transients come in the electrical transmission lines. If you have a single point ground located at the scale foundation you can run a large gage wire from that ground rod to the ground rod located at your power supply breaker box. The makes the ground common and gives any transients a path that has less resistance bypassing your scale compnents.Phone lines also carry a ground and can enter through the DSL or modem (same for cable modems). Identify those grounds and also make those common.This eliminates 99% of all transient surges and doesn't cost the end user a great deal of money to take precautions. I sincerely hopes this helps you.

What Makes Pioneer Scale Unique

Yesterday I asked the question - "What makes your service office unique from your competition?" I constantly look for ways to improve both my personal life and Pioneer Scale. I find that reading helps me do this. Currently I'm reading a book called Neuromarketing. It's a good book on the psychology of decision making by the people and most importantly out customer. The question that they pose in Chapter 2 - Differentiate your claims - is "What is special about this place that makes someone want to buy there?" We have a special company that is truly unique in the weighing industry but we too often waste opportunities to present our company in light of what we feel is unique about us.

The person who can up with the best thought out and concise answer was ...............?

Before I congratulate them I would like for your to read what they wrote:

What makes Pioneer Scale – Texarkana excel over its competitors.
I will sum it up in 2 words…. Personable Relationship!
Okay Keith.. I am just going to explain as it flows out of my heart.. so it will not be all perfectly typed and organized… I am rushing..lol
First of all.. the contracts I run are my customers.. not pioneers.. so to speak. I try to maintain a personal relation with my customers. The first example that pops into my mind is Momentive-Longview.. I was just there a few days ago. I know that she has a disabled child at home. And that a year ago she started training for a marathon walk for Susan B Khoman race for the cure. So all last year I was always asking her how her training was going. So, when I was there for the first time this year.. I asked her.. was she still training? So, she filled me in on how she has stepped up her training and how much weights she was wearing while she was walking.
Another example, Gay, at Tyson- Broken Bow. I know that she lost her son a couple of years ago in an accident. Now that a little time has passed an she is comfortable talking about it. She is always asking me about my son.. We compare the similarities between them.
There are tons of more examples I could say. But I will just give 1 last example.. and I think it will sum it up pretty well.. I still have some of your Dads customers that are always asking me about him.
So, I feel we give them great service.. oh wait.. another example.. Just today.. I was at Clayton Lumber in Clayton, Ok. They called us a week ago.. I was somewhere else.. so David went there an replaced their load cell. I went there today to calibrate it. They told me the scale company they had used before.. had just called them today.. it took them this long to respond to their service call. I told him we strive to make same day service. He said he would be calling us for any future repairs.
So.. basically in a nutshell.. we give great service with a personal touch.

Thank you Larry Cain. What you wrote embodies what dad tried to create with each and every customer he ever had. He knows the value of a personal relationship. Although this is not the only thing whaich makes Pioneer Scale unique it is definitely as important as any other.

What to consider when buying a Truck Scale .............. a personal/personable relationship with a scale company.

Cost vs. Price

It has been said that price is a onetime thing whereas cost is a lifetime thing. It is important that when determining which scale to buy that you determine the quality of the service that comes with the scale. A truck scale is the biggest cash register that is built. Every dime of most plants’ operations are counted using the weights from the truck scales. Your scale doesn’t just need to work but it needs to weigh accurately on a consistent basis.

Expected traffic and downtime

If I had to point to the worst mistake that most companies make when designing and building their receiving portion of their operation is the lack of planning for traffic and downtime. If a company weighs more than 25 trucks per day it is cost effective to purchase two scales versus one. The reasons for this are:
Provides self checking – With two scales weights can be checked on both scales to determine if they are the same. If they are then it can be safely assumed that the weights should be correct. The greatest problem with one scale is debris builds up causing the scale to weigh light resulting in the loss of thousands of dollars over the lifetime of the scale.
Bottlenecking – Single scales have a tendency in peak usage times to cause traffic jams at the scale. Although this can seem minor it can cause higher purchase prices, higher labor rates for trucking and less trucking companies willing to deliver to a site.
Downtime – Even in a perfect world with the best engineered and installed truck scale there will always be downtime due to repairs, maintenance and calibration. With one scale there is no backup and few companies are willing to accept an unknown, untested scale’s weights from down the road.

Type of Scale – Currently there are three types of scales being offered today

Mechanical – This is the oldest type of scale available. The advantages are lower cost of maintenance and replacement part and longer life expectancy. The disadvantages are most designs require a pit installation and there are currently only three companies that still manufacture a mechanical scale.
Electronic Scales – This is the preferred type of scale being sold by scale companies today. The scale is designed with 8-10 load cells that sense the pressure being applied to the weigh bridge. The advantages are the low profile design and it is the most understood by servicing scale companies. The disadvantages are expensive, often unnecessary scale repairs, susceptibility to lightning and surges, and downtime when parts aren’t readily available .
Hydraulic Scales – This is most reliable and durable type of scale being manufactured today. The electronic load cell is replaced with a hydraulic compression canister which is connected to pressure transducers or a single load cell (depending on the manufacturer). There are no mechanical or electronic components located under the scale deck to go out or be destroyed. The major advantages are life time warranty on the load cells, no susceptibility to lightning or surges, and much lower maintenance costs. The drawback of this scale is limited brands and dealers available ( make sure you deal with a reputable scale dealer with plenty of references.

Above ground versus Pit installation

Above ground truck scales – 90% of all scales manufactured today are of this design. Typically when installed on a level roadway they have a height of about 12 - 15” above the foundation. This requires the construction of approaches and ramps to access the scale. The typical footprint for a scale of this type is 150’ x 12’ wide. State laws have requirements that specify the length and grade of the approach ramps. Each state is different but Louisiana requires the first 10’ to be level with the top of the scale deck before starting the ramps. The length of the approach cannot be any less than 35’. The biggest advantage of this scale is the access for maintenance and cleanout of debris.
Pit installed Scales – There are installations that require the minimum amount of footprint because of space considerations. In this application a pit type scale is installed. The scale is constructed in a 4’-6’ deep pit and is set to the grade of the roadway. The major drawbacks of this type of scale are 1) confined space regulations, cleanout, higher maintenance and increased construction costs.

Capacity – Currently there are three types or qualities of truck scale out there:

Cheap, low capacity throw away scales – These scales almost always have a capacity of 100 tons but have a low CLC (Concentrated Load Capacity) – less than 25 ton CLC. These scale don’t last because of their bridge design. Typically they use sheet steel that has been sent through a press to create three sides of a tube. The fourth side is created when welding to the deck steel. Ususally the steel used is lower gage and the welds do not hold up to heavy traffic. Life expectancy on these scales are 5-7 years.
Quality, low capacity scales – These scales are typically used in shipping finished products out of a manufacturing plant or warehouse where each truck is carrying a legal load and the duty cycle is light. These scale all carry a nominal capacity of 100 tons and a CLC from 30 to 35 tons. The difference on these scales is the construction is made from heavy gage tubing (typically 8” or 10” depending on the bridge span. Life expectancy on these scales are 15-20 years if in the proper application.
Quality, High Capacity scales – These scales are used wherever raw materials are being brought in from off site or from a pit where the axle loads are extreme. These scale carry a nominal capacity of 135 tons or greater and a CLC of no less than 35 tons. The deck is constructed out of heavy gag tubing with a greater concentration and number of beams or the deck is constructed of pressed I beams and concrete. Life expectancy on these scales are 20-50 years. Note: This is the capacity we recommend in any timber application!