Tension Load Cell Guide: Rigging, Pull Tests, Hanging Tanks and Calibrated S-Type Kits

By MNM Scales · Last updated November 1, 2026

Reviewed by MNM Scales technicians · Updated November 1, 2026 · Prices checked November 1, 2026

This guide is about tension jobs: where a tension load cell goes, how to size it with the maker’s overload ratings, the hardware that holds it, and how to read it. MNM Scales has sold, calibrated and repaired scales and load cells for over 30 years from our shop in Cypress, Texas.

New to load cells? Our load cell types guide explains S-type, beam and canister designs, the load cell buying guide walks through capacity, accuracy class and environment, and compression scale vs force gauge vs load cell helps when you are still choosing the instrument.

Where a tension load cell is used

Rigging and pull tests

Placed between an anchor and the pulling device, the cell reads the force on a strap, fixture, anchor point or assembly while it is pulled. An indicator with peak hold keeps the highest reading on the display after the pull, which is the number most pull tests record.

Line and cable tension

A cell installed in line between a cable end and its anchor reads the tension on a winch line, guy line or test cable, so the line can be set to a target tension and checked again later.

Hanging tanks and hoppers

A tank or hopper hung from a beam can sit on one S-type cell per hanging point, with the cells summed in a junction box and read on one indicator. The contents are weighed as they fill and empty, and nothing has to be lifted onto a platform.

Below-the-hook weighing

Hung between a hoist hook and the load, an S-type cell with an indicator works as a crane scale. ASME B30.26, the rigging hardware standard, lists load-indicating devices alongside shackles, eyebolts and swivels, so the cell and its hardware are treated as part of the rigging. For a ready-built hanging scale, see our crane scale calibration guide and tension and compression scales.

Capacity and safety factor for a tension load cell

Start with the highest pull the cell will see, including any jerk when a load starts, stops or shifts. ASME B30.26 calls that momentary increase a shock load. Size the cell so that peak stays within its rated capacity; the buying guide covers how much headroom to plan for.

Load cell makers publish two overload ratings. The safe overload is the most the cell can carry without a lasting change to its calibration; the ultimate overload is where the cell itself can fail mechanically. Published figures for cells on this page:

• Zemic S-type load cells: safe overload 1.5 times capacity and ultimate overload 3 times capacity (Zemic S-type data).
• A&D LC1205-T005: maximum safe overload 2 times rated capacity (A&D LC-1205 specifications).
• Brecknell 20,000 lb crane scale kit: safe overload 1.2 times capacity (listing specifications).

These ratings protect the cell’s accuracy and structure. They are separate from the working margin of the rigging around it, so plan the working load against rated capacity, and treat the overload rating as protection against an accidental shock.

For the rigging, ASME B30.26 defines the rated load (also called the working load limit, WLL) as the maximum working load set by the hardware maker, and the design factor as the ratio between the hardware’s breaking strength and its rated load. Use shackles, eye bolts, rod ends and clevises with a rated load at or above the full load on the cell, as marked by their maker.

Hardware: eye bolts, rod ends and clevises

• Match the thread: S-type cells take threaded hardware at each end. The Zemic B3G-N10-10K-6YB uses 3/4-16 UNF threads; confirm the thread on the listing before you buy hardware.
• Eye bolts: the simplest way to hang a cell between two shackles. The Brecknell 20,000 lb kit ships with two eye bolts.
• Rod-end bearings: let the cell self-align with the pull so the load runs along its axis. Rod-end bearings for the A&D LC1205-T005 are not included.
• Clevises: connect the cell to a plate, lug or pinned fixture on a test rig. Clevises are not included with the cells or kits on this page.
• Shackles and slings: not included with any cell or kit on this page; rig with hardware rated for the full load.
• Alignment: keep the pull straight through the centerline of the cell, with nothing else touching it, so the reading is the full force on the line.

Pairing a tension load cell with an indicator

A bare load cell needs an indicator to power it and turn its signal into a reading. When you pick one for tension work, look for:

• Peak hold for pull tests, so the highest force stays on the display. The SBI-521 indicator in the Brecknell kit captures peaks at 80 Hz.
• Battery power for test rigs and rigging away from an outlet.
• A serial port (RS-232) to send readings to a printer or computer for a test record.
• Units that match your paperwork, such as lb and kg.

Browse indicators and load cells. After a cell and indicator are wired together, the pair is calibrated as one system with known weights. If a cell reads oddly, our guide on how to test a load cell walks through the checks.

Why a calibrated S-type kit saves setup time

A kit arrives with the cell and indicator already wired and calibrated together, so there is no wiring, no indicator setup and no calibration step before the first pull. The MNM Scales 2,000 lb calibrated S-type kit ($259) reads 2,000 lb x 0.5 lb in lb or kg with hold and RS-232 output, and runs on its power supply or rechargeable battery. For heavier pulls, the 5,000 lb kit ($314) adds peak hold, and the Brecknell 20,000 lb kit ($799) pairs an S-type cell on a 20 ft cable with the SBI-521 indicator and two eye bolts.

Tension load cells and kits in stock

Model	Type and capacity	Best for	Hardware	Price
MNM Scales 2,000 lb calibrated S-type kit	S-type cell + indicator, calibrated, 2,000 lb x 0.5 lb	Pull tests and hanging loads, ready to use	Shackles and slings not included	$259
MNM Scales 5,000 lb calibrated S-type kit	S-type cell + indicator, calibrated, 5,000 lb x 0.5 lb, peak hold	Pull tests with peak readings	Shackles and slings not included	$314
Brecknell 20,000 lb crane scale kit	S-type cell + SBI-521 indicator, 20,000 lb x 1 lb	Below-the-hook and heavy pulls	Two eye bolts included; shackles and slings not included	$799
MNM Scales MS-1-1K	S-type cell, alloy steel, 1,000 lb	Light pulls and small hanging hoppers	Eye bolts or rod ends not included	$99
MNM Scales MS-1-2K	S-type cell, alloy steel, 2,000 lb	Hanging hoppers and test rigs	Eye bolts or rod ends not included	$88
Zemic B3G-N10-10K-6YB	S-type cell, stainless steel, 10,000 lb, NTEP CC 06-099A2	Hanging tanks and crane scales, 3/4-16 UNF	Eye bolts or rod ends not included	$247
MNM Scales MS-1-15K	S-type cell, alloy steel, 15,000 lb	Heavy line tension and lifts	Eye bolts or rod ends not included	$299
A&D LC1205-T005	Tension/compression cell, tool steel, 5 tf	Test rigs and force measurement	Rod-end bearings not included	$189.35

See every model in tension and compression scales and load cells.

Rules: tension load cells, NTEP and Texas

A tension load cell used for pull tests, rigging checks or process control measures force for your own records. When a hanging scale or tank scale built on S-type cells sets a price, such as selling material by weight, it is a commercial device and needs to be legal for trade in Texas. TDA does not require an NTEP certificate for every device, but the scale must meet NIST Handbook 44 and suit its use; some scales do need one, so we recommend NTEP models and can check yours. The Zemic B3G-N10-10K-6YB in the table belongs to the B3G series on NTEP Certificate of Conformance 06-099A2 (Class III, 50 lb to 15,000 lb). For trade use, our TDA-registered technicians can place the finished scale in service. See our NTEP guide and TDA scale certification guide.

Calibration and rental

• Calibrating a tension load cell system: the cell and indicator are calibrated together with known weights. Systems over 150 kg take in-house calibration with a certificate or NIST calibration with a NIST-traceable certificate; see industrial scale calibration in Houston for scheduling.
• On-site service: $295 + $2 per mile per visit across the Houston area, with calibration charged per system; see on-site calibration in Houston.
• Certificates: see NIST vs in-house certificates.
• Legal for trade: see legal-for-trade calibration in Texas.
• Repairs and rentals: we test and replace load cells and repair the brands we sell, offer mail-in calibration, rent crane scales, and rent all types of scales.

Frequently asked questions

What is a tension load cell?

A tension load cell is a load cell built to measure a pulling force. Most are S-type cells with a threaded hole at each end, hung in line with the load and read on an indicator.

Can an S-type load cell measure tension and compression?

Yes. S-type load cells are designed to read force in both directions, and the calibrated S-type kits on this page are sold as tension and compression scales.

What capacity tension load cell do I need?

Size the cell so the highest pull, including any jerk when the load starts or stops, stays within its rated capacity. The maker’s safe overload rating protects the cell from an accidental shock and is separate from your working load.

What is the safe overload on a tension load cell?

It depends on the maker. Zemic lists 1.5 times capacity safe overload and 3 times ultimate overload for its S-type cells, and A&D lists a maximum safe overload of 2 times rated capacity for the LC-1205.

What hardware do I need to hang a tension load cell?

Eye bolts or rod-end bearings threaded into each end of the cell, plus shackles or clevises rated for the full load. Match the thread on the cell, such as 3/4-16 UNF on the Zemic B3G 10,000 lb.

Do I need an indicator with a tension load cell?

Yes, a bare cell needs an indicator to power it and display the force. A calibrated S-type kit, such as the MNM Scales 2,000 lb kit ($259), comes with the indicator matched and calibrated.

Can MNM Scales calibrate a tension load cell?

Yes. We calibrate the cell and indicator together with known weights, in our Cypress shop or on-site across Greater Houston. On-site service is $295 + $2 per mile per visit, with calibration charged per system.