HX711_MP

June 30, 2026 ยท View on GitHub

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HX711_MP

Arduino library for HX711 24 bit ADC used for load cells. Has a multipoint calibration (MP) to compensate for non-linear sensor readings.

Description

Experimental

This https://github.com/RobTillaart/HX711_MP library is derived from https://github.com/RobTillaart/HX711 version 0.3.5. Although related and partly similar interface there are not compatible.

Currently HX711_MP is experimental and need to be tested more. Good news is that it is based upon tested code, so no big problems are expected.

The original HX711 library uses a linear relation between raw measurements and weights. This improved library uses multi point calibration - up to 10 points for now. This allows to compensate for non-linearities in the readings of the sensor. Between these calibration points interpolation is still linear.

WARNING: An important difference is that HX711_MP (version now) does not interpolate beyond the calibration data points.

If problems occur or there are questions, please open an issue at GitHub.

Feedback as always is welcome.

10 or 80 SPS

The datasheet mentions that the HX711 can run at 80 samples per second (SPS). To select this mode connect the RATE pin(15) of the chip to VCC (HIGH). Connecting RATE to GND (LOW) gives 10 SPS.

Having the RATE set to 10 or 80 SPS also changes the time to start up. At 10 SPS it takes 400 milliseconds, at 80 SPS it takes 50 milliseconds.

All breakout boards I tested have RATE connected to GND and offer no pin to control this from the outside. Adafruit however has a breakout board with RATE exposed. See https://www.adafruit.com/product/5974 There might be more.

If you have the schema of your board you should be able to expose the RATE pin, e.g. by removing the pull down resistor to GND.

This library provide experimental means to control the RATE, see below.

If you need more SPS you could consider using the HX71708 device. This is a close "relative" of the HX711 that allows to set the SPS to 10, 20, 80, or 320 Hz.

Discussion about resolution of the ADC

Support for the HX71708 device (close related)

Load cells go to very high weights, this side sells them up to 200 ton. Never seen one and cannot tell if it will work with this library.

Breakout with RATE exposed by ADAfruit

Faulty boards

Differences HX711

Although the library is derived from the HX711 library they are not compatible. Almost is the right word here.

Due to the different way of calibration the default tare() function is not supported any more. This function used to calculate the offset in the raw data to get the zero point. As in the multi point calibration there are up to 10 points that can indicate the zero point the whole concept of offset and scale has "left the building".

In practice the return value of get_value(), read() functions et al differs that original raw-zero offset from the HX711 library. This means the libraries are not 1 to 1 interchangeable, even a HX711_MP with only two points will behave slightly differently on this point. This is even more true as the zero point does not need to be the lowest possible value. Due to the support of non linear negative weights / forces the zero point can be at any point in the array.

The performance is not tested yet, expect a slightly slower get_units() as there is more math involved for converting raw data to weights.

Interface

#include "HX711_MP.h"

Constructor

  • HX711_MP(uint8_t size) constructor. Parameter sets the size of for the calibration arrays. Allowed range for size is 2..10.
  • ~HX711_MP() destructor.
  • void begin(uint8_t dataPin, uint8_t clockPin, bool fastProcessor = false, bool doReset = true) sets a fixed gain 128 for now.
    • The parameter fastProcessor adds a 1 uS delay for each clock half-cycle to keep the time greater than 200 nS.
    • The parameter doReset is experimental in 0.6.3. It defaults to true (== backwards compatible) causing a call to reset(), taking extra time before the device is ready to make new measurements. See reset() below. Note that not calling reset() leaves the ADC in the previous or even an undefined state, so use with care. (needs testing)
  • void reset() set internal state to the start condition. Reset() also does a power_down() / power_up() cycle. This cycle adds a delay of 400 (RATE = 10 SPS) or 50 (RATE = 80 SPS) milliseconds. Reset() does not reset the calibration data.

isReady

There are different ways to wait for a new measurement.

  • bool is_ready() checks if load cell is ready to read.
  • void wait_ready(uint32_t ms = 0) wait until ready, check every ms.
  • bool wait_ready_retry(uint8_t retries = 3, uint32_t ms = 0) wait max retries.
  • bool wait_ready_timeout(uint32_t timeout = 1000, uint32_t ms = 0) wait max timeout milliseconds.

Read

Warning: the read calls are blocking calls, which can take up to 400 ms in the first read() call. Best practice is to check with isReady() before calling read().

  • float read() get a raw read.
  • float read_average(uint8_t times = 10) get average of times raw reads. times = 1 or more.
  • float read_median(uint8_t times = 7) get median of multiple raw reads. times = 3..15 - odd numbers preferred.
  • float read_medavg(uint8_t times = 7) get average of "middle half" of multiple raw reads. times = 3..15 - odd numbers preferred.
  • float read_runavg(uint8_t times = 7, float alpha = 0.5) get running average over times measurements. The weight alpha can be set to any value between 0 and 1, times >= 1.
  • uint32_t last_read() returns timestamp in milliseconds of last read.

Gain + channel

Use with care as it is not 100% reliable - see issue #27 (HX711 lib). (solutions welcome).

Read datasheet before use.

Constants (see .h file)

  • HX711_CHANNEL_A_GAIN_128 = 128 This is the default in the constructor.
  • HX711_CHANNEL_A_GAIN_64 = 64
  • HX711_CHANNEL_B_GAIN_32 = 32 Note fixed gain for channel B.

The selection of channels + gain is in theory straightforward.

  • bool set_gain(uint8_t gain = 128, bool forced = false) values: 128 (default), 64 or 32. If one uses an invalid value for the parameter gain, the channel and gain are not changed. If forced == false it will not set the new gain if the library "thinks" it already has the right value. If forced == true, it will explicitly try to set the gain/channel again. This includes a dummy read() so the next "user" read() will give the right info.
  • uint8_t get_gain() returns set gain (128, 64 or 32).

By setting the gain to one of the three constants the gain and the channel is selected. The set_gain() does a dummy read if gain has changed (or forced == true) so the next call to read() will return info from the selected channel/gain.

According to the datasheet the gain/channel change may take up to 400ms (table page 3).

Warning 1: if you use set_gain() in your program the HX711 can be in different states. If there is an expected or unexpected reboot of the MCU, this could lead to an unknown state at the reboot of the code. So in such case it is strongly advised to call set_gain() explicitly in setup() so the device is in a known state.

Warning 2: In practice it seems harder to get the channel and gain selection as reliable as the datasheet states it should be. So use with care. (feedback welcome) See discussion #27 HX711.

Read mode

Get and set the operational mode for get_value() and indirect get_units().

Constants (see .h file)

  • HX711_RAW_MODE
  • HX711_AVERAGE_MODE
  • HX711_MEDIAN_MODE
  • HX711_MEDAVG_MODE
  • HX711_RUNAVG_MODE

In HX711_MEDIAN_MODE and HX711_MEDAVG_MODE mode only 3..15 samples are allowed to keep memory footprint relative low.

  • void set_raw_mode() will cause read() to be called only once!
  • void set_average_mode() take the average of n measurements.
  • void set_median_mode() take the median of n measurements.
  • void set_medavg_mode() take the average of n/2 median measurements.
  • void set_runavg_mode() default alpha = 0.5.
  • uint8_t get_mode() returns current set mode. Default is HX711_AVERAGE_MODE.

Get values

Get values from the HX711.

Note that in HX711_RAW_MODE the times parameter will be ignored => just call read() once.

  • float get_value(uint8_t times = 1) return raw value, optional averaged etc.
  • float get_units(uint8_t times = 1) return units, typical grams.

Tare & calibration I

The multipoint calibration array is based upon https://github.com/RobTillaart/multiMap. One can compensate for a non linear sensor by interpolating linear over multiple points. It does not use a smooth nth degree function to interpolate.

The user has to measure a number of raw weights, typical including a zero weight. These numbers are set into the object with setCalibrate(index, raw, weight). Note: Increasing indices must have an increasing raw number.

Typical use is to hardcode earlier found values in the setup() phase.

  • bool setCalibrate(uint8_t index, float raw, float weight) maps a raw measurement to a certain weight. Note the index is zero based so a size of 10 uses index 0..9.
  • float getCalibrateSize() returns the size of the internal array, typical 2..10
  • float getCalibrateRaw(uint8_t index) get the raw value for the calibration point at index. Returns 0 is index is out of range.
  • float adjustCalibrateRaw(uint8_t index, float amount) changes the raw value at the array. Returns 0 is index is out of range. Used for run time calibration.
  • float getCalibrateWeight(uint8_t index) get the mapped weight for the calibration point at index. Returns 0 is index is out of range.

This way of calibration allows:

  • to compensate for a non linear sensor by interpolating linear between two adjacent points.
  • to adjust runtime the values in the array, adjusting the mapping.
  • to use of negative weights (forces) as the

Power management

  • void power_down() idem. Explicitly blocks for 64 microseconds. (See Page 5 datasheet).
  • void power_up() wakes up the HX711. It should reset the HX711 to defaults but this is not always seen. See discussion issue #27 GitHub. Needs more testing.

Note: Having the RATE set to 10 or 80 SPS changes the time to start up. At 10 SPS it takes 400 milliseconds, at 80 SPS it takes 50 milliseconds. (See datasheet, Output settling time on page 3)

Rate

Experimental

See section "10 or 80 SPS" above.

Note this only works if the RATE pin is exposed and connected to the IO pin configured in set_rate_pin(). If not configured the other functions won't work.

  • void set_rate_pin(uint8_t pin) sets the IO pin for SPS selection.
  • void set_rate_10SPS() sets rate to 10 SPS.
  • void set_rate_80SPS() sets rate to 80 SPS.
  • uint8_t get_rate() returns 10 d(default) or 80.

Notes

Connections HX711

  • A+/A- uses gain of 128 or 64
  • B+/B- uses gain of 32

Colour scheme wires of two devices. Check the datasheet of your device!

HX711 PinColour dev 1Colour dev 2
E+redred
E-blackblack
A-whiteblue
A+greenwhite
B-not connectednot connected
B+not connectednot connected

Temperature

Load cells do have a temperature related error. (see datasheet load cell) This can be reduced by doing the calibration and take the tare at the operational temperature one uses for the measurements.

Another way to handle this is to add a good temperature sensor (e.g. DS18B20, SHT85) and compensate for the temperature differences in your code.

Multiple HX711

Separate lines

Simplest way to control multiple HX711's is to have a separate DOUT and CLK line for every HX711 connected.

Multiplexer

Alternative one could use a multiplexer like the https://github.com/RobTillaart/HC4052 or possibly an https://github.com/RobTillaart/TCA9548. Although to control the multiplexer one need some extra lines and code.

Share CLOCK line

See HX_loadcell_array.ino

Another way to control multiple HX711's is to share the CLK line. This has a few side effects which might be acceptable or not.

Known side effects - page 4 and 5 datasheet.

  • The CLK is used to select channel and to select gain for the NEXT sample.
  • The CLK is used for power down.
  • After wake up after power down all HX711's will reset to channel A and gain 128. WARNING: if one of the objects does a powerDown() or reset() it resets its internal states. The other objects however won't reset their internal state, so a mismatch can occur.

So in short, sharing the CLK line causes all HX711 modules share the same state. This can introduce extra complexity if one uses mixed gains or channels. If all HX711's use the same settings it should work, however extra care is needed for powerDown() and reset().

WARNING: Sharing the data lines is NOT possible as it could cause short circuit.

See https://github.com/RobTillaart/HX711/issues/40

Future

Points from HX711 are not all repeated here

Must

  • update documentation
  • keep in sync with HX711 library.

Should

  • investigate interpolation beyond calibration range.
  • investigate malloc/free for the mapping arrays
  • Calibration
    • Returns 0 is index is out of range ==> NaN ?

Could

  • add error handling?
    • HX711_INDEX_OUT_OF_RANGE
  • add examples
    • runtime changing of the mapping.
    • example for using rate functions.
  • investigate temperature compensation.

Wont

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