A weighing device installed under the elevator car platform that measures passenger load to optimise dispatching, prevent overloading, and enable load-compensated starting.
Full Definition
Car load sensors (also called load weighing devices) use strain gauges, load cells, or pressure sensors mounted under the car platform or on the car sling to measure the weight in the car. The data is used for multiple purposes: overload protection (the elevator refuses to move if load exceeds 110% of rated capacity and an audible warning sounds); load-compensated starting (the drive adjusts its torque output based on the known car imbalance to achieve smooth, jerk-free acceleration without rollback); and traffic analysis (load data reveals occupancy patterns). In destination dispatch and group control systems, car load data helps the dispatcher avoid assigning additional passengers to nearly-full cars. EN 81-20 requires overload detection and prevention. Modern load sensors are highly accurate (±1–2% of rated load) and communicate over the controller CAN bus.
