LOAD CELL LOCATION
The MBS dynamometers use beam load cells to measure torque. Depending on the physical configuration for belt coupled systems, the load cell may either measure the torque of the motor or the torque of the brake. The location of the load cell needs to be determined based on the application of the dynamometer.
For the most precise torque measurements, the load cell measures the motor's torque by mounting it to a pivoting structure coupled to a load cell. Consequently, the range of the dynamometers' torque is limited by the load cell.
For the broadest range of torque (or to test a wider range of motors) the load cell measures the torque of the brake. Though measuring the torque of the brake increases the torque range of the dynamometer, it introduces more errors such as belt friction, pulley drag, bearing friction, etc. The accuracy of the load cell measuring the brake is better than 5%; the accuracy of the load cell measuring the motor is better than 1%.