How to calibrate my digital scale without a weight

How to calibrate my digital scale without a weight

On the road to a healthier lifestyle, many people have an electronic scale at home to monitor their weight. Calibration of this digital scale is important for accurate and precise results. If you use it regularly, it is advisable to calibrate the scale from time to time. Calibration weights are available on the market for the calibration process. However, these scales are expensive and can be easily confused. To help you calibrate your scale at home without spending a fortune, here is a simple step-by-step procedure.

How do you calibrate a digital scale that is not weighed?

1 Prepare the scale for the calibration process.

The first step is to clean the scale and remove any dust or particles from its surface. These factors can also lead to unsatisfactory results. To clean the scale, you can wipe the top with a damp cloth. Alternatively, you can use ethanol or acetone. After cleaning, let it dry completely for about 20 minutes. 2.

2. Find a suitable surface for your balance.

Now you need to find a flat surface on which to place the digital balance. Make sure the surface is stable so that it will not move or wobble. You can calibrate your balance by placing it on a table or on the floor.

3 Zeroing the balance Calibrate the balance without weights.

Turn on the balance and wait until the zero point appears on the display. Do not put anything on the balance until you have obtained a reading. Make sure the reading does not fluctuate and, if it does, move the balance to another position. Many digital scales have these fluctuations if not placed on a suitable surface and are also affected by external factors such as pressure, temperature, etc. 4.

4. Checking the calibration process

Each digital scale has a calibration process, indicated in the user's manual. Please read all instructions carefully to understand them. Normally, there is a button on the digital scale to calibrate it.

 

5. Select the weights to calibrate the balance.

Select the appropriate weights to calibrate the balance. Although it is recommended to use certified weights to calibrate the scale, you can also use chocolate bars or other similar objects. However, it is necessary to know the exact weight of the item you want to use to calibrate the scale. All household items have a net weight on the packaging that is suitable for calibration.

U.S. coins are also a good choice. You can use pennies, dimes and nickels, as the weights of these coins are already known.

Choose your weight and calibrate the scale.

It is advisable to start with a smaller weight, such as 5 or 10 grams. You can place the chosen weight on the scale and press the calibration button. If you use a nickel as the calibration weight, the display will show 5 grams. 6) Press the Enter button to save the data on the scale.

Continue increasing the weight until the maximum weight limit is reached.

To perform the calibration procedure correctly, it is recommended to calibrate up to the maximum weight limit. Therefore, if nickels are used, place 8 to 10 coins on the scale. Stacking ten nickels will give a result of 50 g, which is the maximum limit of many digital balances. Information on weight limits can be found in the user's manual or on the manufacturer's website. Once the weights have been added, press the Calibrate button to calibrate the balance.

8. Checking the calibrationCalibration

Once the balance has been calibrated, it is important to know whether it has been calibrated correctly. To check this, turn off the scale and turn it on again after a few minutes. To weigh, take any other kitchen item whose weight is already known. Weigh the item and check that it shows the correct weight or is within the margin of error indicated in the instructions.

 

If you get an accurate reading, your scale is now correctly calibrated and you can continue to use it.

Final Remarks

This is therefore a simple and very suitable procedure for calibrating a digital scale at home, without wasting a lot of money or time. Remember to use items whose weight is already known. If you do not use digital scales, you should calibrate them more frequently, once or twice a year. When not in use, also store your scales in a suitable place.