Single Point Load Cell: How to Choose Capacity, Platform Size and Wiring

Shop our top single point load cell: the A&D LC4102-K030, 30 kg (300 N / 30.59 kg) on a 400 x 400 mm platform, IP54, on sale for $149.00 (regular $305.03), in stock.

If you are building or repairing a bench scale, a checkweigher or a compact packing scale, you usually want one cell under the deck, not four cells and a summing box. That is what a single point load cell is for: A&D adjusts it so an off-center load, the four-corner error, stays inside the stated combined error, as long as the platform stays inside the maker’s size limit.

What a single point load cell does

A single point load cell sits alone under the weighing platform and takes the whole load, in tension or in compression. The aluminum LCB03, LCB04, LC4101, LC4102 and LC-4204 series in the table below are all single-point designs. For a map of every cell shape we sell, start with our load cell types guide.

How it differs from other cell types

Use a single point load cell when one cell will carry the whole platform and the deck stays inside the official maximum size. If you are hanging a tank or doing in-line tension work, that is an S-type load cell. Low-profile compression under a tank or a tester is usually a pancake load cell. Four-cell floor, tank and large platform scales usually use shear beam cells and a load cell junction box, which is a different build.

Single point load cells in stock at live prices

Single point load cell	Rated capacity	Max platform	IP rating	Rated output	Price	Best fit
A&D LC4101-G600	6 N (611.8 g)	300 x 300 mm	IP22	1.0197 mV/V	$149.00 (reg. $270.00)	Small precision platforms and compact checkweighers
A&D LCB03K003M	30 N (3.059 kg)	300 x 300 mm	IP54	2 mV/V	$149.00 (reg. $326.00)	Compact 3 kg bench and filling scales
A&D LCB03K006M	60 N (6.118 kg)	300 x 300 mm	IP54	2 mV/V	$149.00 (reg. $326.00)	6 kg bench, portion and packaging scales
A&D LC4102-K010	100 N (10.20 kg)	400 x 400 mm	IP54	1.0197 mV/V	$149.00 (reg. $330.00)	10 kg bench and small platform scales
A&D LC4102-K030	300 N (30.59 kg)	400 x 400 mm	IP54	1.0197 mV/V	$149.00 (reg. $305.03)	Most 30 kg bench, checkweigher and packing scales
A&D LCB04K100M	1 kN (102.0 kg)	400 x 400 mm	IP54	2 mV/V	$118.00 (reg. $190.00)	100 kg platforms at the compact LCB04 size
A&D LC4102-K150	1.5 kN (153.0 kg)	400 x 400 mm	IP54	1.0197 mV/V	$139.00 (reg. $295.03)	150 kg platforms that use the LC4102 output and cable
A&D LCB04K150L	1.5 kN (153.0 kg)	400 x 400 mm	IP54	2 mV/V	$118.00 (reg. $175.03)	Best-value 150 kg single point load cell
A&D LC-4204-K300	3 kN (305.9 kg)	600 x 700 mm	IP54	1.5296 mV/V	$499.00 (reg. $750.00)	Larger 300 kg platforms up to 600 x 700 mm

Browse every cell we stock in load cells.

How to choose capacity, platform size and output

Capacity. Add the weight of the platform, any hardware and the heaviest item you will weigh, then pick a rated capacity above that total. A&D rates these cells in newtons and publishes the kilogram equivalent; the LC4102-K030, for example, is 300 N / 30.59 kg. Leave some headroom for shock and the occasional overload rather than running a cell at its limit all day.

Platform size. Stay at or under the official maximum: 300 x 300 mm on the LC4101 and LCB03, 400 x 400 mm on the LC4102 and LCB04, and 600 x 700 mm on the LC-4204-K300. A larger deck increases corner moment and can push the cell past its allowable moment, even when the weight is under capacity. That is the mistake we see most often when a new platform will not corner correctly.

Output and environment. Match the cell’s rated output to the indicator you will use. The LCB03 and LCB04 output 2 mV/V ±10%. The LC4101 and LC4102 output 1.0197 mV/V (+15% / −0%). The LC-4204-K300 outputs 1.5296 mV/V ±0.2%. Combined error is 0.02% of rated output on the LCB series and 0.015% of rated output on the LC4101, LC4102 and LC-4204 series. Most of these models are IP54; the LC4101-G600 is IP22, so keep it in a dry enclosure. For very high-accuracy laboratory cells, see our Class 1 load cell guide.

Mounting. Mount the cell to a flat, rigid base and a flat platform plate, with the official mounting-hole pattern and no hidden twist in the deck. Build overload stops into the platform so a dropped box cannot take the cell past its safe overload: 150% of rated capacity on the LCB03 and LCB04, 300% on the LC4101 and LC4102, and 200% on the LC-4204-K300. Ultimate overload is higher, but that figure is a failure limit, not a working rating.

Wiring a single point load cell to an indicator

One single point load cell usually runs straight to the indicator, with no summing card. A&D’s cable color code on these series is red for +excitation, white for −excitation, green for +signal, blue for −signal and yellow for shield. Recommended excitation is 5 to 12 VDC, 15 VDC maximum. The LC4101 and LC4102 ship with a φ4 mm cable 1.5 m long; the LCB03 is φ3.5 mm / 0.4 m, the LCB04 is φ3.5 mm / 1.5 m, and the LC-4204-K300 is φ6 mm / 5 m. Pick an indicator that accepts the cell’s mV/V output and excitation range; our scale indicator buying guide walks through that match. If you need a USB or PC interface on the finished scale, see USB load cells and interfaces.

Once the scale is together, verify the cell with a millivolt and resistance check. Our guide on how to test a load cell covers the meter setup.

NTEP status

The nine A&D single point load cells in the table are non-NTEP. We checked each model against the NCWM NTEP certificate database on November 10, 2026. If you are building a scale that will be used to sell by weight, the finished system needs NTEP-certified components and must be set up for legal-for-trade use. Read what NTEP and legal for trade mean, or check a complete scale with our legal-for-trade scale checker. Call or get a quote and we will help you specify a legal-for-trade bench or platform scale.

Notes from our Cypress, TX shop

• Measure the deck first: if the platform is larger than the cell’s official maximum, corner error shows up even on a brand-new cell.
• Match the output to the indicator: a 2 mV/V LCB cell and a 1.0197 mV/V LC4102 are not drop-in swaps. Check excitation and mV/V before you order.
• Test a failed cell before you replace it: a meter check of excitation, output and bridge resistance, as in our load cell test guide, tells you whether the cell, the cable or the indicator is at fault.

Need a hand matching a replacement? Call us or drop the old cell at our Cypress, TX shop (21249 FM 529 Rd, Cypress, TX 77433) by appointment.

Calibration and repair

• The finished scale is what gets calibrated: once the cell, platform and indicator are assembled, get a quote for in-house or NIST calibration of the complete system.
• On-site calibration: we calibrate on-site across Houston and its suburbs at $295 plus $2 per mile round trip.
• Repair: we repair all brands and types of scales through our Houston scale repair service.

Frequently asked questions

What is a single point load cell?

A single point load cell is one cell, already adjusted for off-center loads, that carries a bench, checkweigher or small platform scale by itself. The A&D LC4102-K030 30 kg cell is our usual pick at $149.00.

What size platform can I put on a single point load cell?

Stay at or under the maker’s maximum: 300 x 300 mm on the A&D LC4101 and LCB03, 400 x 400 mm on the LC4102 and LCB04, and 600 x 700 mm on the LC-4204-K300. A larger deck can exceed the cell’s allowable moment even when the weight is under capacity.

Do I need a junction box with a single point load cell?

Usually no. One single point load cell wires straight to the indicator. A load cell junction box is for four-cell platforms that have to sum and trim several cells.

What is the difference between the 2 mV/V and 1.0197 mV/V cells?

The LCB03 and LCB04 series output 2 mV/V. The LC4101 and LC4102 series output 1.0197 mV/V, and the LC-4204-K300 outputs 1.5296 mV/V. Match that output, and the 5 to 12 VDC excitation, to your indicator.

Are these A&D single point load cells NTEP?

They are non-NTEP. We verified that against the NCWM certificate database on November 10, 2026. For a scale used to sell by weight, get a quote on a complete legal-for-trade system. See what NTEP means.

How do I test a single point load cell that already failed?

Measure excitation, output in millivolts and bridge resistance, and compare them with the rated output on the datasheet. Follow how to test a load cell and call us if you want the replacement cell matched and shipped.