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Lost $300 on a faulty load cell because I didn't check the weather seal
I bought a used load cell off Facebook Marketplace for a tower crane job in Cleveland. Looked fine in the pics but the rubber seal was cracked (you know, letting moisture in). Readings were all over the place on site and I wasted a whole afternoon troubleshooting before I figured it out. Has anyone else gotten burned buying secondhand sensors without checking the seals first?
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kai8071mo ago
Blew the dust off my old sensor with compressed air and then put a bead of silicone caulk around the cracked seal before I even mounted it on the boom. Ended up holding up for the whole job, no drifting readings or moisture issues. If the hardware itself is still solid and the damage is just to the weather seal, you can totally salvage it with some cheap caulk and a bit of patience. Also started keeping a cheap moisture-proof bag in my truck for any sensor I pick up secondhand (makes a huge difference in the field). Your $300 lesson is rough, but at least now you know to check those seals first thing next time.
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