Digital pocket scales are devices used to get measurements of items like letters, jewelry, and various small things. The scales are small enough to fit in your pocket or be easily carried with you. They are normally not as large as most smartphones are.
If you carry digital pocket scales, you probably use them often and rely on their measurements. When your scales malfunction or break it is very important to get them repaired as quickly as possible.
A lot of the things that happen to these scales can be repaired or fixed by you. Before you buy new scales or send yours off to a repair clinic see if the problem is one you can solve yourself.
In 3 Ways Repair Your Broken Pocket Scale
1. Change The Battery
The most common reason for your digital pocket scales to stop working is the battery. If the battery in your scale gets old or loses power then your scale will not work or will not read accurately.
It is recommended that you keep the instructions that come with the pocket scale. The instructions from the manufacturer usually contain troubleshooting tips and advice that you may need in the future. If you do not have your instruction manual you can try the following things to help make your scales begin to work properly again.
Changing the battery may be all you need to do. Do not just jerk out the old battery and toss a new one in its place. If you really want your scales to be accurate and reliable then do the following.
- Open the battery compartment and carefully remove the old battery so you do not disturb the contacts.
- Check the battery and the contacts for signs of corrosion. Corrosion is normally caused by moisture that has gotten inside the battery compartment. If corrosion on the contacts is present you must clean the contacts before installing a new battery.
- Using a small brush clean the interior of the battery compartment so it will be free of any dust or particulates. Dust and debris can interfere with the operation of the device.
- Install a fresh battery.
- Place the cover back on the battery compartment.
- Lay the scale on a flat and level surface and try it.
2. Reset the Scale
Repairing your pocket scale may require nothing more than resetting the scale to zero. Most digital pocket scales can be reset by pressing the power button and waiting until you dee 0.0 on the display screen
Once you see the 0.0 display you need to press the button and hold it down until you see CAL displayed on the screen. This will take as long as three seconds.
Once you see CAL on the display you need to place your known weight on the scale. The scale should quickly display the weight and the weight should corre4spond to what you know the item weighs.
Once you have the weight on the display all you need to do is press the calibration button to get out of the process.
3. Partial Readings
If you see a partial reading when you look at the display screen on your digital pocket scales you may be able to easily correct the problem. Most of the time a partial display is caused by a loose connection.
To correct this problem, you can lay the scale on a flat and level surface and firmly press on the display area. Apply slight pressure on the display screen then remove your hands.
If that does not make the screen display a full reading remove the bottom plate from the scale. You will need to remove the batteries from the scale. Then visually inspect the internal components of the scale and see if you can identify a loose connection or a connection that may be corroded from moisture exposure.
If you can easily reach the connection that appears to be lost you can try to tighten the connection. If you cannot reach the connection easily then send the unit to a repair clinic.
Hints and Tips
Sometimes when your scales do not seem to be working properly the problem is with the surface they are setting on and not with the scale. Always check the surface you have chosen before you begin to try and repair your scale unit.
If you do not have a small level with you then you can take a small round object, something like a marble, and steady it on the surface where you will be placing the scale. Remove your hand and if the round object moves then the surface has a slant to it.
Feel the bottom of the scale and make sure it is free of any debris. A small amount of dirt or debris can cause the scale to be unlevel and give an inaccurate reading.