These scales are extremely important for many different reasons and it is always important to keep these scales accurate. If not, you do need to contact local scale repair services. These facilities are able to calibrate the scales and ensure everything is functioning properly. Although this is desirable for home scales, this is extremely important for all industrial scales and SECA scales calibration, which is a medical scale calibration, used to measure babies and other individuals who are not able to step on a standards scale themselves.

Avoid Scale Repair Services

To avoid scale repair services, you need to regularly test the scale to make sure it is functioning properly. In order to do this, you need to have a weighed object in which you know what the exact weight is. You can use a weight purchased from a local sporting goods store or for larger floor scales, a heavy object with the printed weight on it. Make sure the object is heavy enough to be measured by the scale as some scales do require a minimum weight present.

When using smaller scales such as a SECA scales or laboratory analytical scales you can use small gram weights, which you can place on the scale to receive an exact measurement. Once the weight is on the scale you are able to adjust the current measurement of the scale to ensure the equipment is properly calibrated.

For home scales, you do not need to perform this calibration process very often, but for larger floor scales and laboratory analytical scales, where a slightly off scale may possibly be fatal, you need to perform this task at least once a week, if not before the start of every day, just to make sure the scale is always functioning correctly.

If the scale does fall into disrepair, and you don’t want to go out and purchase another, costly, it is important to contact a professional scale repair facility. Here, an individual is able to come out and inspect your scale, then perform any routine maintenance on the equipment in order to make sure it is functioning correctly. Once the scale repair technician has taken care of the equipment, you are able to again perform the calibration process yourself on the desired schedule.

Performing these actions are going to help you avoid any costly scale repair errors in the future, which in turn is going to cost your business additional money, which comes out of your bottom line and reduce your total profits.

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The Seca 376 can also be fitted with a measuring rod to measure height of infants. The Seca 376 Electronic Baby Scale With Shell Tray – Class III is well suited for hospitals and clinics, particularly paediatrics because it is safe for babies and infants ,the large tray provides maximum safety. It weighs babies and infants up to 15 kg. ,the controls are clearly laid out on the side of the scale facing the user with large LCD display making the reading quick and easy.

The Electronic Baby Scale-class III has the advantage of also operating on batteries ,so can be used anywhere and, it’s hygienic robust surface of high quality plastic makes it easy to clean quickly.
The digital baby scales has an adjustable damping function which is combined with a hold key to ensure fast and accurate readings.

This class III has alot of features and functions , some are , when pressing the hold button the weight is stored to be noted when ready,It has raised sides to keep baby feeling secure and safe, large LCD display to determine weight, compatible with other wireless products, has alot of other optional add-ons. Some accessories for this scale are the Seca 105 analytics, Seca 233 measuring rod, Seca 418 head and foot positioners and there are many more.

Hospitals and clinics will use this scale more than any other because of it’s many features and high quality made materials. It is very time saving and ergonomic the adjustable damping function and hold key ensures precise and fast work, and the fact that it runs on batteries so that there is no need for electrical outlets is a huge plus. It has a feature of determining the breast milk intake of an infant ,plus the net weight of a baby wearing a nappy.

To understand the history of these beautiful antique scales, one must know why they are used and where. Sweet shops are another name for candy and pastry stores that became very popular in the early 1900′s. Primarily found in the UK, sweet shops catered mostly to children, who are known for craving sweets at all hours of the day. Whether you were looking for Blackjacks or liquorice sticks, the sweet shops were always ready to accommodate any sweet tooth.

Most of these little shops were known by the name’s of the owners. “Mr. Kinkaid’s shop”, or “Mr. Tyson’s shop” and the store owners knew almost all their customers on a first name basis. You walked into the store, and were immediately hit by the sweet smell of sugar. When making a purchase, the owner would take your selection, place a specific amount on the sweet shop scales, and then expertly pour your candy into a nice little paper bag.

These antique scales can now be found in only a few places, or sold by collectors who fondly remember the sweet shop memories of their childhood. A company called Avery manufactured most of these beautiful vintage relics of England, and made these scales to only weigh up to two pounds of any given product at a time.

An old fashioned sweet shop in 1958 would have carried a line of Avery scales that featured a full set of seven brass bells to be used on one side of the scale. It was stamped with the Crown mark of Elizabeth II, and inset with a weights and measurements mark. These scales are still manufactured today, though now made by many companies who try and recreate the magic of the sweet shop scale for collectors who are looking for newer items for the vintage kitchen.

If ever in England, there are still some of the original sweet shops open for business. They have been passed down through generations of sweet shop owners and still carry most of the original products that children found so enticing many years ago. Try finding one of these stores to view an old Avery scale that may still be weighing the sweet treats of the young.

photo: infomatique

For record keeping and to properly assess a patients overall health, it is important to weigh the patient each and every time they come to your office or clinic. Keeping an accurate measure on weight fluctuations can help shed light on any condition the patient may be afflicted with. Using calibrated scales is the easiest way to maintain the needed accuracy. This article will cover a series of simple steps to make sure that you are getting the most accurate reading possible. Before proceeding to the steps, let us make sure we are all using the same equipment. What this article describes is weighing a patient on non-digital calibrated scales, so please ensure this is the mechanism you have present or have access to.

How to weigh patients with calibrated scales

First, have the patient remove their coat, shoes, handbags, or any other heavy items on their person.

Second, have the patient step on to the scale. Using your best professional judgment, estimate the weight range you expect the patient to fall into. Move the bottom slide over until it clicks into the range you have selected.

Third, note how the balance on the far upper right of the equipment is reacting. If it is perfectly still and lies level, then you have accurately weighed the patient. However, if it is not, there are two ways to proceed.

-Option one: If balance is leaning down, the weight is too heavy. This means that you must move the bottom slide back one category. After doing this, you would proceed to the next step listed below.

-Option two: If the balance is leaning up, the weight is not heavy enough. Now you must move the top, smaller, slide to the right until the balance becomes level.

The final step is to always move both slides back to the “zero” position after the patient steps off. This prevents interference with the accuracy of future readings.

The process of weighing a patient with calibrated scales is a relatively simple one that will quickly become second nature. Keep in mind that a person’s weight may fluctuate by a few kilograms throughout the day, so small changes in weight should not be of concern. However, it is important to note if the patient is having large fluctuations in weight to maintain accurate diagnostics. Additionally, it is important to maintain the proper calibration on your scales, so have the equipment checked periodically.

photo credit: (3)

In the past gold was measured using some of the available manual gold scales, yet with time and advancement in technology, things have changed. It is evident that jewellers no longer use class 2 scales. Many of them are using electronic and more specifically, digital gold-scales which also include coin scales and the amazing thing is that they are trade approved.

So, what do you need to know about gold scales?

- The scale that your jeweller uses should be approved to be fit for weighing. You obviously know that gold is a precious metal and even a loss in a milligram is a loss too much. You need your jeweller to satisfy your curiosity by him/her using approved scales.

- A good gold scale should always be well kept and maintained. You should be aware that these scales handle delicate weights and hence if they get to be damaged in one way or another then they will tamper with the scaling. This means that if you are buying gold then you need to make sure that the jeweller stores his/her scale under protective cover whenever it is not in use.

- Avoid jewellers who use the manual weighing scales for they are subject to human manipulation. You need the jeweller to use electronic and digital gold scales to make sure you get value for your purchase.

Finally, if you are a jeweller that is seeking to buy a good electronic or digital scale for weighing gold, then one of the best places to start your search is on the internet. The internet offers one of the best shops with great prices. You need to go for a good brand that will offer you value for your money. More so, do not settle on one shop before you compare prices.

Different shops will offer different prices and hence you can always choose the one that offers the best bargain. Purchasing a scale is not all, you need to know how to clean and maintain it for accurate results.

photo: karindalziel

Animal weighing scales measure the weight of an animal utilising compression or tension force. A wide spectrum of animal weighing scales are highly accurate and of strong construction for long dependable service in animal care, veterinary and livestock services. lamb and pig scales, cat and dog scales, and cattle scales are some common types of scales. To select the best scale for your needs it is important to consider the following suggestions.

Size of Scale
Animal weighing scales should be large enough in size for the largest animal which should fit directly on the weight platter. The size of the holding pen or cage holding the animal is a good indicator of size needed, but the maximum weight of an animal plus 10 to 15 percent overload is recommended. Scales may have an additional 100 percent overload protection to prevent damage to housing and load cells. Do not choose a scale with too large of needed capacity, because accuracy loss becomes a factor.

Resolution
Determine the level of accuracy needed for display of weight increments, such as a reduced maximum capacity of 0.01 pounds or 0.05 pounds. A typical rated capacity, 150 x 0.05 lb. indicates the rated capacity of 150 pounds with a display resolution of 0.05 pounds. The accuracy statement of the scale will state its accuracy rating. Remember accuracy is temperature sensitive, so consider whether the scale will be used indoors or outdoors, too.

Display
Consider the location and lighting conditions the animal scale will be used. The light display types, LED, LCD, and backlit LCD, have indoor and outdoor visibility strengths and weaknesses.

• LED is bright and visible for indoor use. Direct sunlight washes out the display.
• LCD is difficult to see in dim lighting and highly visible in direct sunlight.
• Backlit LCD has a back light for dim lighting conditions which is turned off during use in direct sunlight.

Cleanup Factor
Inspect construction of scale to determine waterproof capability. Stainless steel loadcells and structure do not rust from high pressure water cleanups. IP and NEMA rating indicates the manufacturer tested the device ensuring it is waterproof, water cannot enter the electronics components of the scale.
An animal scale may have a stainless steel weight platter which allows wiping down, high pressure cleaning unnecessary, which would eliminate the waterproof feature cost.

Software and Hardware Compatibility
Determine software used in weighing and recording program is compatible with the electronics of the scale. Scales with RS-232 interface have the communication language available in its service manual to address compatibility issues.

photo credit: donjd2

One of the best ways to find out if you are at an ideal weight is by learning what your BMI is, otherwise known as a Body Mass Index . The BMI is a number calculated from your weight and height, which will tell you if you are obese, overweight , underweight or perfectly fine. The category obese is further divided in three categories.

The higher your BMI, the higher the chance you have of weight-related illnesses including Type-2 diabetes, breathing problems, certain cancers, and more. Understanding your weight is the first step in controlling it and getting it into a healthy range to avoid weight problems.

Calculating Your BMI

In metric units, you will take your total mass in kilograms and divide that by your height in meters, squared.

BMI= mass in kilograms / (height in meters)2

There are also weighing scales that you can purchase that have BMI function which will calculate your BMI simply by standing on it, much like a standard household scale.

The National Institute of Health (NIH) uses BMI to assess risk in adults. BMI is also used by the World Health Organization to calculate obesity. Each category has a different range to help categorize people to know whether you are in a healthy range or not. Upon doing the calculations, take a look and see where your number appears on the BMI Scales .

Underweight

If your BMI is below 18.5, then you fall into the underweight category. This can be just as serious as being obese because you could be missing key components of nutrition in your diet. Consult with a doctor to learn if you should gain weight to avoid problems, such as potential bone loss and reduced immune system functions.

Normal Weight

You are considered of a normal weight for your height if your BMI Scales are between 18.5 and 25. People who are of normal weight typically live longer lives and have a lower risk for serious illness. Further, this range of BMI is considered more attractive than those of a higher or lower number.

Overweight

If the BMI scale is between 25 and 30, then you are overweight . You can benefit from lowering your weight to a healthier range through diet and exercise. At this BMI, you can start to experience health problems including high blood pressure and diabetes.

Obese

Obesity is classified as a Body Mass Index of 30 or higher. Further, if you have a BMI of 40 or higher, then you fall into Class III , which is morbidly obese. This is when a doctor needs to be consulted immediately as the weight has gotten to a point that it will result in weight-related disease and could result in premature death.

There are some caveats to BMI. If you are below the age of 18, the formulas will not be accurate because your body is still growing and maturing. If you are above the age of 65, similarly it will not work as accurately because of lost muscle mass. Also, if you are an athlete or body builder, the BMI will be inaccurate because muscles are heavy and will skew the calculation. For everyone else, however, BMI is a very accurate, very important tool for determining a proper weight that will keep you and your body healthy.

Calculating your BMI and understanding your score is very important for your continued livelihood. Anything other than a normal weight Body Mass Index range means that you should consult a doctor and work with your diet, for either increasing or decreasing your caloric intake, as well as an exercise routine.

photo credit: Tobyotter

• Digital Weight Scale
• 1 Kilo Calibrated Weight
• A Paper Clip

1. Turn the scale on and let it warm up for a minute or two.
2. Make sure the scales is sitting on a smooth, level, part of a hard floor.
3. Place the calibrated weight in the middle of the scales. Give the scales a few seconds to determine the weight.
4. Check the digital read-out. Is it reading 1 Kilo?
5. If it is, your scales is correctly calibrated and life is good.
6. If the scales is not reading 1 kilo, remove the weight and turn the scales off so it will reset.
7. Allow several minutes to reset. While waiting, locate the calibration or mode button. It may be labelled as: Function, FUN, CAL, MODE, LG, KG, or CAL/MODE.
8. If you find no such button, turn the scales over and look for a small hole. Unwinding the paperclip and poking it through the hole to press a small button inside will put the scales into calibration mode.
9. After the reset waiting period has passed, turn on the power and press the calibration button (or use the paperclip) until the digital readout changes. Most will read CAL or 000.
10. Place the scales in the floor and put the calibration weight in the centre of the scales.
11. After a few moments the digital read-out will change again – probably just go blank.

Turn your weight scales off again and let it set for at least 30 seconds. When you turn the scales back on, test it again with the calibrated weight to be sure it is displaying 1 kilo. Your scales are now properly calibrated and ready to use.

Be sure you check the manual that came with your scale to see if your manufacturer uses a different technique, but this is the process for most models.

On every continent medical professionals, hospitals, and elderly care facilities, rely on the exceptional quality of the Seca medical scales. They work hard to make the tasks of doctors and nurses easy. That is why Seca developed a unique wireless scale with measuring rods. It automatically sends measurements to the computer, analyses the data, and then gives a graphical output.

Regardless of the type scale in use, is important to calibrate it a few times per year. This is to make sure the results stay accurate. There is no need to send the unit to a service department because the process of calibrating a Seca scale is simple.

Instructions:

• Find the on button. Each unit will have a different location.
• Turn the scale on. The measurement screen will blink.
• Then wait approximately 30 to 60 seconds for the unit to fully cycle.
• Find the calibration button. It will be near the on button.
• Press and hold calibration button until it goes in the calibration mode
• “0” “000”, “CAL” or “CAL0” will appear on the screen when in calibration mode
• Place the calibration weight on the scale. It was shipped with unit. If the weight is missing, another one can be purchased and shipped right away.
• Wait five seconds for the scale to recognize the weight.
• The screen will say “CAL”, “CAL1” or “END” when complete.
• Turn your scale off and wait approximately 60 seconds before turning the scale back on.
• The scale is now calibrated and ready for use when the screen reads “0”.

Scales can become inaccurate for a wide variety of reasons. That is why they should be calibrated from zero at least once, preferably three times per year. For best results, the scale should be placed on a flat surface. An unlevel surface can cause vibrations when the patient mounts the scale. The resulting vibrations eventually change the calibration. It is best to avoid locations that are extremely cold, hot, or humid. Certain electrical devices such as televisions and computers can alter the readings. Therefore, it is best to place the scale away from such items.

Scale Calibration Services from Oakley Weigh

How to Calibrate Laboratory Scales

• The measuring device should be clean and free of dirt, oil and debris, to ensure that proper calibration, from procedure to performance, meets all compliance certification and specifications; failure to do so, will affect the mass tolerance leading to false readings.
• External environmental conditions and temperatures outside of pre-determined limits must be accounted for; these factors will affect calibration and tolerance performance readings.
• Consult user or operator manual for preparing the device for calibration.
• Press related buttons to begin the calibration process per operator’s guidelines (Be sure that the platform is mass free before doing this.)
• The balance should initially read “0” (“CAL 0”).
• After a moment or so, the internal calibration programming will display the calibration mass needed.
• Place the calibration mass on the platform and press the associated calibration button and await reading.

Overall, this is a simple procedure. The lab scale manufacturers and brands may vary, but the process is generally the same. Be certain that the device is free of dirt, debris and oil. Check that proper procedural conditions are in order such as external conditions pertaining to weather variances and temperature. Take care that external conditions fall within predetermined limits to ensure that this high precision instrument is operating per the operator’s manual specifications and under full compliance to procedural and performance certification.