The main application of strain gauges is the manufacture of force and pressure transducers, particularly load cells. A load cell is a type of transducer that measures the mechanical load on an object by converting it to readable electronic signals. They are used in various industries such as automation, process control, biomechanics, equipment monitoring, building integrity analysis, bulk material weighing, testing, and quality control.

Higher voltages through the resistive strain gauges (which comprise the Wheatstone bridge) will cause more current to flow and heat the strain gauges. The cell body acts as a heat sink to keep the gauges cool. If the maximum rated excitation voltage is exceeded, the heating will cause signal perturbation or gauge failure. Additionally, in battery operated devices, high excitation voltage (and thus, current) will cause the battery to deplete much faster than with lower excitation voltages through the circuit.

① Creep Recovery The change in no--load output occurring with time after removal of A load which had been applied for a specific period of time. Usually measured over a specific time period immediately following removal of rated load and expressed as a percent of rated output over a specific period of time. ② Deflection The change of length along the primary axis of the load cell between no--load and rated load conditions. ③ Drift A random change in output under constant load conditions.

1. Linearity (Nonlinearity) 2. Hysteresis 3. Repeatability 4. Creep 5. Sensitivity 6. Resolution 7. Drift