Mechanical Dynamometers

F.A.Q.

How do I zero (tare) a Dillon AP Mechanical Dynamometer when using heavy rigging hardware?

 The Dillon AP Mechanical Dynamometer features a manual zero-control knob located on the rear of the housing that provides up to 20% tare cancellation of the rated capacity. Once your slings, hooks, or rigging attachments are suspended in a no-load state, rotate the zero knob until the main indicator pointer aligns directly with 0 on the dial, and manually move the red maximum peak pointer back against the main pointer.

Should I choose a 5-inch or 10-inch dial size on a Mechanical Dynamometer?
  • 5-Inch (125 mm) Dial: Available in capacities from 500 lbs to 20,000 lbs (200 kg to 10,000 kg), the 5" dial offers a compact, lightweight footprint (under 9 lbs with shackles) that is easy for linemen and tower crews to carry up utility poles or towers.
  • 10-Inch (250 mm) Dial: Available from 1,000 lbs up to 100,000 lbs (500 kg to 50,000 kg), the 10" anti-parallax dial provides wider scale divisions and finer resolution for long-distance viewing from a crane cab or winch station. Note that capacities from 30,000 lbs to 100,000 lbs are manufactured exclusively in the 10" dial frame.

Why are Mechanical Dial Dynamometers preferred over digital models in extreme cold?

 Standard digital LCD screens can become sluggish or unreadable below -4°F (-20°C), and lithium or alkaline battery chemistry loses voltage rapidly in freezing conditions. Because the Dillon AP Mechanical Dynamometer relies on a calibrated alloy-steel flexing beam rather than electronics or batteries, it maintains ±0.5% full-scale accuracy across extreme temperatures from -50°F to +140°F (-45°C to +60°C).

What happens if a Mechanical Dynamometer is subjected to sudden load release or shock loading?

 While the Dillon AP Series is built with a generous 5:1 ultimate safety factor and retains its calibration after normal peak-load testing, sudden snap-back (such as destructive break testing where a cable snaps under full tension) can jar the internal dial mechanism. For destructive pull testing, always use recoil arrestors or select a remote wireless load cell from our Digital Dynamometers subcategory.

Dillon AP Mechanical Dynamometer

$1,700.00 - $10,649.00
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About this item
Dillon AP Mechanical Dynamometer
Dillon AP Mechanical Dynamometer
  • Mechanical Dillon AP Dynamometers
  • For tension, traction and weight measurement
  • Available in capacities from 500 to 100,000 pounds, 200 to 50,000 kilograms, 2,000 to 500,000 Newtons
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Dillon CraneGard Clamp-on Load Cell Cable Overload Protection

Discontinued Product
About this item
Dillon CraneGard Clamp-on Load Cell Cable Overload Protection
Dillon CraneGard Clamp-on Load Cell Cable Overload Protection
  • Clamp-on Load Cell Cable Overload Protection
  • Clamps on cables for wire rope hoist, elevator and crane overload prevention and slackline detection.
  • Installs in minutes with screwdriver and Allen wrench.
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