Recommended Load Cells for Aluminum Box on Barge

I am looking for guidance regarding load cells for our current design.
We are in the aquaculture industry and currently designing a 4’x4’x4’ aluminum box that will placed on a barge at sea. The operating load is approx. 200-500kgs and will be subjected to seawater regularly.
I came across this model: ATO-LC-TC03
Is this something you would recommend? We need 9 quantities of this.
Also, this product's overview suggests a digital panel meter or transmitter. How much each of these would cost? Again, it would be 9 quantities of everything.

Malcolm wrote:
Our load cell can be used in a seawater environment, we can customize it as stainless steel material with a waterproof function.
But to recommend a more suitable capacity, we also need you to provide a sketch, or a simple drawing by hand to show the shape of this 4'x4'x4' aluminum box. Also, how did you install the 9 load cells? What is the total weight (Kg) of this aluminum case? What is the measuring range (Kg) of each load cell?

ATO wrote:
Thank you for your response. So, after some more research, I have two options for design, and we can figure out which one will work best. If you have any other ideas, please let me know.
Box weight: We are still working on the design of the box. It will either weigh around 50-70kgs, or 110-130 kgs.
Operating conditions: subjected to seawater and sea temperature fluctuations.
Box operating weight: 200-500kgs
We are weighing the total fish load as they are dumped inside the box.
Option 1:
I was thinking of having one compression load cell in the center of the floor where the box sits. One issue I see with this is the box wobbling and rendering the reading inaccurate if it leans and rests on support ribs on four sides of the floor.
One question I have with compression load cells, can the box sit directly atop it? Or do I need some kind of plate over the top of the load cell for the box to sit on?
Option 2:
Please correct me if I am wrong, I came across this load cell, and I am assuming this one is a shearing load cell? This one I find can be more stable as the box will sit on a base plate without wobbling and load-bearing brackets/knobs sit on the floor. Is this typical for such uses? so I guess for this option we need 4 cells per box.
Option 3:
4 compression load cells on each corner per box.

Malcolm wrote:
We recommend Option 3:
4 compression load cells on each corner per box, is a better solution.
Put a bottom plate under the box, like a platform scale, so that the box will be more stable.
See the attached photo of our installation.
This load cell ATO-LC-TC03 can be made of stainless steel housing with an IP67 protection level, and the current minimum range is 0-300kg.

ATO wrote:
Thank you for your feedback. I think that’s a good option as well. I will talk to my design team and get back on this.
Question 1:
Also, from the image you forwarded, can you tell me how these bolts help? (See marked). From my understanding, if the column is bolted to the bottom flange, won't the cell already be compressed based on the torque of the bolt?
Question 2:
Also what is holding the load cell in its place? I see a small plate with 4 bolts underneath the cell, above the bottom flange. Is the load cell just placed on top of the plate or is it bolted somehow?

Malcolm wrote:
1. The two bolts on the bracket are not fully tightened. There is still a certain distance between the screws and the steel plate at the bottom. It is only used for limiting.
2. There are 4 screws on the sensor base, which are used to fix the sensor and prevent the sensor from moving.

ATO wrote:
For now, can you just quote assuming we just need only one load cell?
The capacity is 500kgs just to be on the safe side (since we are using only one for the quote)
Hence only one load cell amplifier for the single load cell and one display.

Malcolm wrote:
Ok, for the load cell amplifier, you can order on: https://www.ato.com/digital-load-cell-amplifier-output-4-20ma-0-10v-rs485
For the load cell ATO-LC-TC03
Made of stainless steel housing with IP67 protection level, capacity: 500kg.
See specs, price and you can order online by credit card at: https://www.ato.com/compression-load-cell-200kg-to-30-ton