Q&A Forum
I am running a small engine dyno testing engines in the 2-8hp range.
My current setup is using a 6" load cell arm.
Would I see more accurate and detailed torque readings from these small engines if I had a much longer load arm?
What effect does the load arm length have on my results when its length is changed from say 6" to 12" or even 24"?
Attaching a picture of the current load cell arm setup.
Thanks
Generally shorter arm is better because it picks up less vibrations. Apart from that, you the arm impacts the load on the load cell, so choose a combination of arm and load cell such that it just about matches the max torque the brake can produce.
In your setup I would not go shorter, thinking about the stiffness of the wood construction. Shorter arm means the construction needs to be very stiff. I would cut off the excess arm beyond where you connect the load cell.