Adafruit HX711 24-bit ADC for Load Cells / Strain Gauges

Jargon buster

Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.

ADC

An analogue-to-digital converter reads a changing voltage and turns it into a number the microcontroller can use. It matters when connecting analogue sensors such as light, sound, or variable-resistor sensors.

breakout

A breakout board carries a small or fine-pitched component and brings its connections out to standard, breadboard- and header-friendly pins. Describing a part as a breakout means it can be wired into a project without soldering directly to the component's tiny contacts.

CircuitPython

A beginner-friendly version of Python designed to run directly on microcontroller boards. If a product supports CircuitPython, you can often program it by copying code files onto the board rather than setting up a more complex toolchain.

microcontroller

A microcontroller is a small computer on a single chip that runs a stored program and controls connected inputs and outputs such as buttons, sensors, displays and communication interfaces. In a device built around one, it is the part that executes the code and coordinates the device's behaviour.

multiplexer

A multiplexer (mux) is a chip or circuit that selects one of several input signals and routes it to a single shared output, with select lines choosing which input is connected; running the same idea in reverse, to send one input to a chosen output, gives a demultiplexer. Multiplexers let a single controller or line work with several signals or devices that would otherwise clash on a shared connection.

SPI

A fast serial communication bus often used for displays, memory cards, and sensors. It matters because SPI devices need specific pins for clock and data, plus a separate chip-select line for each device.

SPS

SPS means samples per second, the number of measurements an analogue-to-digital converter takes each second. A higher SPS gives faster updates, while on many converters a lower sample rate allows higher-resolution or lower-noise readings.

STEMMA QT

A small plug-in connector system for I2C boards that lets you connect compatible sensors and controllers without soldering. It matters because it can make wiring faster and less error-prone, especially when adding several small modules to a project.

Strain gauge

A strain gauge is a sensor element whose electrical resistance changes when it is stretched or compressed. It is commonly used to measure force, weight, pressure or bending, and because its resistance change is small it usually needs precise differential measurement electronics such as a high-resolution ADC.