Quick Tips
Get the most out of your scale with our simple guide
1. Handle With Care
DIGITAL SCALES ARE PRECISION ELEMENTS THAT MUST BE HANDLED CAREFULLY.
Mishandling your scale by dropping, throwing, or banging the scale can cause permanent damage to the fragile internal components. The accuracy of a digital scale is dependent on the condition of the scale’s sensors, which can be damaged with even slight reverberations.
2. Use Fresh Batteries
MAKE SURE YOUR BATTERIES ARE PROVIDING ENOUGH POWER TO THE SCALE.
Low batteries and poor battery connections are the most frequent source of digital scale errors reported by our Warranty & Repairs Department. If your scale is having problems, try changing the batteries first to ensure the batteries are providing sufficient power to the scale’s internal components.
3. Setup On A Level Surface
ALWAYS PLACE YOUR SCALE ON A FLAT AND STABLE WEIGHING SURFACE.
Digital scales must remain in a consistent & exact horizontal position in order to achieve consistently accurate results. Many scales include a level bubble and adjustable feet to ensure the scale is resting evenly. If your scale has adjustable feet and the level bubble is not centered, adjust each foot height by turning the wheels clockwise or counter-clockwise until the level bubble is centered.
4. Warm Up Before Using
GIVE YOUR SCALE A FEW MOMENTS AFTER POWERING ON.
The internal components of a scale may need a few moments to adjust to the environment before being ready to provide optimal performance. When possible, power on the scale then wait for 15 – 30 seconds before beginning typical usage
5. Start From Zero
REMOVE ALL OBJECTS FROM THE WEIGHING PLATFORM BEFORE POWERING ON.
Digital scales have precise calibration settings that are adjusted during the power-up sequence. Powering on a digital scale with an item on the weighing platform can cause inaccurate readings. If you would like to weigh an item(s) using an expansion tray, use the tare feature with the tray after your scale is powered on.
6. Aim For The Middle
PLACE ITEMS BEING WEIGHED ON THE CENTER OF THE PLATFORM.
Digital scale load cells perform the most accurately in the center of the weighing platform because it is where the greatest number of sensors can detect external pressure. If a scale’s weighing platform is too small for all items being weighed, we recommend using a tared tray or container that can be placed in the center of the weighing platform to hold the items.
7. Have A Soft Touch
ALWAYS SET ITEMS DOWN GENTLY ON THE WEIGHING PLATFORM.
Item(s) placed on a digital scale’s weighing platform should be done slowly and softly to avoid applying additional pressure to the sensors. A load cell can detect the additional force from the impact of dropping or slamming an item on the platform, which may affect all subsequent readings until the scale has been recalibrated. Additionally, adding items at a slow pace will help avoid crushing a load cell due to scale overload.
8. Calibrate Frequently
KEEP YOUR SCALE CALIBRATED AT ALL TIMES FOR CONSISTENT ACCURACY.
Minor reverberations on the scale sensors can cause inaccurate readings in digital scales. If your scale is used to weigh highly precise items, we recommend calibrating your scale frequently for optimum accuracy.
9. Consistent Climate
USE AND STORE YOUR SCALE WITHIN THE OPTIMAL TEMPERATURE RANGE OF MOST DIGITAL SCALES – USUALLY 10-40°C (50-104°F).
Scales perform inaccurately when they are either too cold or too hot, and recently shipped digital scales may need 24-hours of temperature acclimation before using. Drastic temperature changes are common for items shipped by air, stored in warehouses or delivered during hot/cold months of the year. We recommend using your scale in environments within the optimal temperature guidelines in the user manual, and allowing your digital scale to rest within the optimal temperature range for at least a day after being shipped.
10. Wind Free Environment
AVOID WEIGHING ITEMS IN SURROUNDINGS WITH WIND PRESENT.
Much like wind speed can be measured by an anemometer, a digital scale can detect wind force while weighing items. Digital scale sensors are incredibly sensitive and can detect incredibly light breezes. This may interfere with the sensor’s ability to accurately detect the amount of pressure being applied to the platform, and can result in inaccurate measurements.
11. Beware Of Radio Waves
DO NOT WEIGH ITEMS NEAR DEVICES THAT EMIT RADIO FREQUENCIES.
Radio waves can interfere with a digital scale’s electrical components and compromise weighing accuracy. Keep items that emit radio waves at least 10 feet (3 meters) from the digital scale when conducting precise measurements. A few common items that emit radio frequencies are: cell phones, tablets, computers, wi-fi routers, and wireless cameras.
12. Dedicated Power Outlet
DO NOT PLUG YOUR SCALE INTO AN ELECTRICAL OUTLET BEING USED BY ANOTHER DEVICE.
A digital scale that is sharing a power outlet with another electrical appliance may provide inconsistent results due to electrical interference. Multiple devices using the same power outlet can cause electrical currents received by the scale to fluctuate, which can then result in mediocre performance and inaccurate measurements.
13. Be Static Free
STATIC ELECTRICITY CAN AFFECT ACCURACY.
Discharge all static electricity when possible, and occasionally use a static removing spray on both sides of the weighing platform.
14. Keep It Clean
CLEAN YOUR SCALE FREQUENTLY TO AVOID DISCREPANCIES CAUSED BY FOREIGN SUBSTANCES.
Your digital scale is an incredibly precise instrument that must be able to sense slight changes in weight being applied. Having dirt, dust, chemical residue or other debris on the scale platform or body can affect the scale’s ability to distinguish minor changes. We recommend occasionally cleaning your scale platform and body with a light disinfectant – see your scale’s user manual for more instructions.