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New AWS LB-501 WAY off after multiple calibrations. Troubleshooting tips?
submitted over 7 years ago by adntigger710

Hey all! Just opened my new AWS LB-501 and was ready to mix my very first DIY batch. To my dismay, however, it just won't calibrate correctly. I go through the calibration with the 2 200g weights, it says "PASS", and then immediately tells me the 400g of weights weighs 616.96g. Now I'm not one to automatically get angry and think something is broken, I try to chalk it up to user error first. Is there anything I could be doing wrong? There's no fan on, table is clean and flat, etc. I took a video to show you all, I did this about 20 times. Even watched people on YT calibrate it, seems like I'm doing it right. Google's of no help. Put the weight on my kitchen scale next to it just to show there's nothing wonky going on with my table. Any ideas? Thanks so much!

https://youtu.be/kjoHGOE0tN8

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6 points
 
by TomatoSlayerover 7 years ago

Just seems like a defective scale to me. I would exchange it for another one.

3 points
 
by HocusKrokusover 7 years agoHis Bearded Holiness

Are you running a fan, high air flow heater, or air conditioner in the room?

1 points
 
by adntigger710over 7 years ago

None of the above, completely still. With that I would imagine some fluctuation as well but it always is the same weight and stays that way as well. Do you think it's probably defective as well?

2 points
 
by HocusKrokusover 7 years agoHis Bearded Holiness

Seems likely. It maybe have been damaged during shipping.

1 points
 
by insidiis_diaboliover 7 years ago

I have the same scale and noticed that it drifts by a a couple hundredths of a gram.

It's probably my ceiling fan that's running full speed. I'll leave it off when mixing this evening and see if it helps.

Loud music will vibrate the table and throw it off as well; even a smart phone blaring music right next to it.

3 points
 
by isuamadogover 7 years ago

I’ve had it calibrate weird if I keep the 200 mass on there when it starts. I put the thing on after it flashes. Not sure if that helps but it solved my weird calibrations.

2 points
 
by WallabyDingoover 7 years ago

I don’t know this particular scale but sometimes they have a screw, bolt or similar that protects it from being overloaded while being transported. If there is something that could be stopping the pan, removed it. It could be under the pan or on bottom of the balance.... even check under stickers!

1 points
 
by PHisHnGrOoViNgover 7 years ago

That would cause it to weigh less not more.

1 points
 
by WallabyDingoover 7 years ago

Yeah. But it’s also messing with the calibration.

1 points
 
by Jason_Worthingover 7 years ago

I've this scale for about 2 years. Never had an issue calibrating.

1 points
 
by Impecunious_Slothover 7 years ago

Mine took a full 48 hours on my bench to acclimate to the climate in my house before it would calibrate correctly. Not sure if your unit is defective, but right out of the mailbox, it's going to need time to adjust before calibration. If that isn't the case, maybe try another set of calibration weights?

1 points
 
by adntigger710over 7 years ago

I've had it in box a couple of weeks while I tried to decide which flavors I wanted and actually buy them without forgetting something. Not able to actually take anything out of the cart and finding that the tally just kept rising, I finally put in a $200+ order at BCF last week. This doesn't count the $200+ Nic River order. Hey -- go big or go home. =) Doesn't help I'll be mixing for about 6 people with varied interests. I'm just lucky that my hobby is collecting more hobbies so the DIY mixing of chemicals thing is something I've been doing for years.

1 points
 
by Vapeduddeover 7 years agoDiketones, Schmiketones

lmao I did same thing took 2 month's to get order ready but I could make almost all the shit I needed to

1 points
 
by Ubelover 7 years ago

I would send it back.

I have an AWS 25g micron scale and it's accurate to ~3microns and I calibrated it within minutes of taking out of the mail (years ago) had no problems calibrating and it still works great.

Now like I said this scale calibrates with two 10g weights and it's accurate to microns so you shouldn't be having any problems with their larger scales.

2 points
 
by adntigger710over 7 years ago

Agreed, packed it up and just gave it to the UPS guy. Ordered the same scale, though, due to the overwhelming reviews on it, and figured if it happens to this new one I can troubleshoot it again with the tips given here. =)

-2 points
 
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