I am calibrating a load cell based on an actual value provided by a calibrated dynamometer. In the first scenario, the winch is pulling back and the wire is anchored to the deck of a boat. The dynamometer observes 2000lbs. We are discussing if we need to account for the various components of the system above the dynamometer (shackles, wire) to get an accurate value of the observed load on the load cell.

For a dramatic example, if we were to add a 1000lb weight above the dynamometer, at 500lbs the weight is still hanging and there is no tension on the deck. At 1001lbs there is now tension on the deck. Would the value measured at the dynamometer be 1lbs, or, because the whole system is under tension, does the dynamometer read the correct value that would be observed by the load cell? If the dynamometer observes 2000lbs, does the load cell also observe 2000lbs?