Part Number:PGA308
Hello,
I'm looking at the PGA308 to amplify a strain gauge on a force sensor. I need to be able to measure both tension and compression forces so my strain gauge will produce both +ve and -ve output signals to the PGA308 inputs.
The gauge is powered from a 3V reference so it's output will be 1.5V with no load (assuming an ideal zero balance). It has a 1mV/V rated output so I will only get a few mV swing around this mid rail voltage.
Before discovering the PGA308 I was designing a traditional load cell amplifier and manual variable gain stage. I was calculating gains of about half what the PGA formulas are suggesting which to me indicates that the PGA308 will only work +ve VDiff voltages (i.e. compression forces only, not tension).
Is this a true limitation of the amplifier or can it work with a strain gauge that can bend in tension and compression and therefore provide +ve and -ve VDiff voltages?
Any help is appreciated.