What device provides direct weight reading for the load during lifting operations?

• A. Load cell
• B. Thermocouple
• C. Flow meter
• D. Pressure gauge

Answer: (A)

A load cell provides direct weight readings for a lifted load. It converts the axial force in the lifting rig into an electrical signal that corresponds directly to the weight being supported. In practice, a load cell is installed in the hoist line, hook block, or another point in the load path so the force from the weight causes a predictable deformation in a sensing element (often a strain-gauged beam). The tiny deformation changes the resistance of the gauges, and the electronics convert that change into a weight value that can be displayed and monitored for safety. This direct measurement is why a load cell is used for weight reading. The other devices measure different quantities—thermocouples for temperature, flow meters for fluid flow, and pressure gauges for pressure—so they do not provide a direct readout of load weight.