You can perform a WAIT function after installing the load
cell to see the drift. WAIT(hh:mm:ss) for 15-30mins for example. This will show how long the load cell takes to stabilize
with time and temperature. The load cell should stabilize once its temperature has settled.
After the load cell has been tared (ZERO LOAD), you can
apply a small force with a finger and see if the load cell returns to the
same reading afterwards. Keep in mind touching the load cell will cause some
heat to be transferred, but this will give a good idea of the ability of the
load cell to re-settle to a baseline value.
A common indicator that the load cell has been overloaded/damaged is that the “Offset” has changed drastically. This value is logged in any data .txt file every time a test is saved, so you can likely find examples from past dates of this value compared to the value now.