In detail: do-it-yourself scarlet scales repair from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.
DIY electronic kitchen scale repair, calibration.
Electronic kitchen scales are becoming an increasingly popular kitchen appliance. In pursuit of a healthy diet and desire to lose weight, it is important for many to know the exact amount of ingredients in a dish. Yes, it's just convenient when you need to accurately observe the ratio of ingredients in a new dish. This little useful device can sometimes fail. Then it is important to know how to quickly fix such a scale yourself. Before taking the scale for repair, check if you can repair it yourself. Or maybe you just need to change the battery or do a calibration.
Possible breakdowns and ways to eliminate them
Battery suitability
Often, if the balance goes out and stops showing numbers, this is due to the power supply of the device. It runs on batteries, therefore, to check the suitability, you must carefully remove the case of the balance. Then remove the batteries and check their operation on another working device for which they are suitable. In 80 cases out of 100, the scales stopped working due to the fact that the batteries simply ran out. Replacing them yourself is as easy as shelling pears.
The balance board and display are connected by a loop in most devices. Sometimes it does not fit tightly to parts, which is why a malfunction is observed. To cope with the problem, you just need to lift the board and press it tightly against the display. It is convenient to do this using a wooden block. Install it between the board and the bottom of the case.
As statistics show, such a problem occurs due to the fact that the contact ends of the scales become thinner. It is important that the contact ends fit snugly against the special feet of the balance. To fix the problem, you need to find a relay of the right size and replace the contacts on it. Then attach the wires to the contacts, and it is best, if possible, to solder.
Video (click to play).
Very often, the kitchen scales stop working due to the fact that food particles and loose substances get inside. The inside of the kitchen electronic clock must be constantly cleaned. If, suddenly, water gets on the balance, you need to quickly wipe it with a clean towel. Also, make sure that the balance indicates the correct weight and that the initial weighing value does not exceed the limit.
How do I calibrate?
Much depends on the specific model, but the general scheme is the same. It is necessary to press the appropriate button (the instructions say which one exactly) and hold it for about thirty seconds so that the inscription CAL appears on the display. Next, the digital mass value should appear, with the help of which the calibration is carried out. As a reference, you can choose any object on which there are indicators of the exact weight. As soon as a few seconds have passed, the word PASS will appear, indicating that the calibration has been successfully completed. It remains only to delete the inscription and turn off the device.
Important! If FAIL appears, then the calibration was unsuccessful and the whole circuit must be repeated again.
These are the main malfunctions that occur with electronic kitchen scales, which housewives most often complain about. Unlike more complex household appliances, problems of this plan can be solved on their own, without even resorting to the help of a husband, son-in-law or father. But, if none of the above methods helps to eliminate the cause, then it is necessary to stop amateur activities and contact specialists.
Electronic scales operate in different ways than mechanical ones.Ignoring the level of sophistication of the instruments, the ubiquitous underlying principle remains the same. The basis is the measurement of resistances of strain gauges. The craftsmen, conducting the repair of electronic floor scales, are carried out in a uniform manner. Professional knowledge of the principles of operation of the device will allow you not to be afraid to spoil the case by interference. The master will not touch on the key details.
Electronic bathroom scales are composed of four fundamental elements:
Load cells.
Display.
Electronic printed circuit board.
Buttons.
The first thing to remember is that the display is out of our reach. If air penetrates under the sealed bag, the polarization of the crystals will be disturbed, the screen will turn ugly black, covered with stains. It is forbidden to touch the screws, glue, fasteners holding the part.
The last element may not be present in simple models. The buttons of the floor scales are touch-sensitive, start the inspection with batteries. Tablet with a working voltage of 3 volts.
Comment. Does the pulled out tablet work on another less powerful device? The fact does not mean that the power supply is sufficient for the household bathroom scale. Buy a new battery. When testing, supply the terminals with 3 volts DC with a suitable power supply, observe the response of the balance. Further repairs to the bathroom scale are advisable if the previous step is ineffective.
Let's take a look at the scales first. The cover is unscrewed, a visual inspection of the device is performed. Research subject:
quality of electrical connections, installation of the electronic board of the floor scales;
the integrity of parts, regardless of purpose.
The steps taken are sufficient to determine the nature of the problem. Solder the torn wires back, restore the damaged tracks of the electronic board. The place of the defect is cleaned with emery, degreased, tinned. A jumper is soldered on top, a solid layer of tin. It is advisable to cover the damaged area with a special varnish, suitable for nails (female).
The inner frames are bent, it can be seen: the scales were tested by an elephant weighing more than the maximum allowable model for the repaired model ... It is worth carefully aligning the metal products so that the parts take their previous shape. Use standard measuring instruments: building level, vernier caliper, angle.
Mechanical damage will lead to incorrect readings. Correction of parts of floor scales is completed with one hundred percent restoration of operability. When repairing the scales, work with a screwdriver, pliers. If visual inspection does not reveal any damage, we read the material further. A grain of theory will come in handy for understanding the principles of the floor scales, creating an idea of \ u200b \ u200bthe repair method.
Let's discard the well-known information about mechanical scales. The platform of the electronic counterparts is stationary. The measurement is taken by the legs. Hidden under each frame are solid carbide frames, which deform when a person operates the scales.
Changes cannot be fixed with the eye, the difference is so small - not determined by the building level. Each frame has a tiny plate less than 2 centimeters across. The designated is the sensor assembly of the electronic scales. The part serves as the basis for floor and other models. Products differ in the way the strain gauge is mounted.
The sensing plate is firmly imprinted into the frame, sealed with a compound (glue). The sensor is powered by three wires that measure the resistance of the bridge arms. A person wants to know the weight of the body, tramples the platform, the four corner frames bend, dividing the excess weight in proportion to the lengths. The total readings are obtained by summing the numbers. The process is controlled by the printed circuit board of the scale: three wires run into each corner.
The measuring bridge is formed by a square, each side contains a resistor. One diagonal receives power, the other is the source of readings.Official sources are silent about the composition of the concept. Suppose two resistors have chosen the frame, the others - the printed circuit board of the scales. Three wires ensure a reliable electrical connection. A detailed explanation is given so that the reader understands that it is difficult to damage the balance sensors. Ordinary glands, destroyed exclusively by mechanical means. Resists moisture (but not PCB).
The scale model is characterized by the maximum weight of the installed load (human body, weights), the limit cannot be exceeded - you will bend the power elements of the frame. It is enough to straighten the iron, restoring the working capacity, as mentioned above.
Let's say the bathroom scales are visually in order. The tester will help you identify the problem. Each sensor is carefully soldered from the board, the resistances between the three wires are measured. The result should be the same at the four corners of the scale. If a gap is observed, the problem is found.
It is recommended to carefully pry open the glue (compound) covering the sensing plate. Mechanical damage to the part will instantly cause complete failure of the assembly. A copper-colored plate will be found inside: three wires are soldered here. Rarely, but it happens, one is torn off. Re-establish the electrical connection, the scale will be operational again.
Once you find a dead sensor, find (buy) a similar one. Repair of kitchen scales will not be difficult: you will find a large number of load cell models on sale. If the component is purchased, there is a calibration problem. Special equipment is required, it is practically difficult to find a third-party sensor that demonstrates similar parameters. Your bathroom scale can lie a lot.
The load cell is unique, there is no copy in the Universe, even if two compared products leave the conveyor as an inseparable pair. Bridging connections, while making measurements, will always give an error, the calibration is designed to eliminate the negative phenomenon. Let's note the trick. Since the total weight is calculated by summation, if the only sensor of the floor scale is faulty, the broken leg can be excluded from the process. We offer two options for action:
simply release the faulty leg from the load;
or simulate the desired zero load values with ohmic resistors.
The first works if the sensor is lying, incorrectly calibrated. The second (see the list) is made with ease, because the resistances were measured earlier. It remains to connect according to the diagram and carefully put it inside the case. The faulty sensor is disconnected, continuing to play the role of an ordinary leg. The totalizers will count the leg weight as zero.
Some models will allow you to manually calibrate, typical of professional models, which is rarely found in everyday life. After excavating a similar broken specimen, remove the required parts.
It is important to understand: repairing floor scales with your own hands requires ordinary ingenuity. A smart device is a bunch of resistors plus a microscopic electronic board.
The latest novelties show body weight, fractional composition of human tissues:
muscular;
subcutaneous fat;
bones;
water;
visceral fat.
The first four parameters are needed by athletes who make up training methods, the last indicator characterizes the deposits that cover the internal organs. Harmful fats that contribute to disease. Smart bathroom scales will tell you about the current values of the parameter, recommend the calorie content of the daily diet in order to achieve the healing effect. Moreover, the level of actual physical activity is not important. The parameter is set by special commands, changing the final size of the calorie content of the food.
A wonderful bathroom scale looks amazing. Much easier than the human imagination imagines.
Various home bathroom scales are distinguished by electronic filling. Models that determine the biometric parameters of the body, a set of resistors, microcircuits.The devices are no different from the simplest Chinese pink bathroom scales for teenage girls.
What about biological parameters? Calculates the microcircuit, guided by a priori information entered by the user according to the manual. Mathematical operations are carried out by the built-in controller, which collects the readings of the load cells. It is unnecessary to be afraid of bathroom scales, no matter how difficult it may seem.
Avoid repairing household electronic floor scales that are under warranty. Not a washing machine, but expensive, properly decorated models are repaired by professionals.
Severe cases are handled by private firms. They restore the functionality of electronic scales. The activities are accompanied by calibration. Another option for troubleshooting. Taring is a scientific word that is alien to the hearing of most citizens. The meaning of the process is limited to the correlation of the physical states of the sensor with numbers.
The coming age of microcontrollers makes it hypothetically possible for ordinary citizens to create smart devices. The unique information of the Internet broadens the horizons, helping to master unfamiliar professions. Programming algorithms requires a special mindset. You can train everywhere: shop, logistics of your own movements, mental calculations. Professionals discourage outside interference. The foundations of science are transmitted by a narrow circle of people. The Internet is helping to change aging traditions.
In any electronic scales, the same principle applies, which means that their typical malfunctions are of the same nature.
For people who are at least a little familiar with the laws of physics, repairing electronic scales with your own hands should not be a problem. Enough care, neatness and ingenuity.
Moreover, in this way you will save on calling a master from a specialized company. In addition, the malfunction is often trifling and a minimum of time is spent on its own elimination. Maybe the battery just ran out or it's time to calibrate?
This is the most common and at the same time quite easy breakdown of floor scales, which can be easily and quickly eliminated by anyone, even a technically unprepared person, with his own hands.
Most often, everything is in order with electronic scales - you just need to replace the battery
The main sign that the batteries need to be replaced is a sudden refusal to display numbers on the screen (it simply does not turn on). To get to the batteries, you need to unscrew a few screws or open a special cover that covers the entrance to the battery compartment.
To check the functionality of the batteries, they should be placed in another electrical appliance. Or you can insert new batteries and visually make sure that the problem is in them - the bathroom scales will work after that.
The board and the screen of an electrical appliance are most often connected by a so-called loop. It happens that its contact with other parts of the mechanism weakens and, as a result, the scales stop showing numbers.
To eliminate the malfunction, you need to install the board in its place, using, for example, a wooden block. But remember not to put in a lot of effort, otherwise you risk completely breaking the bathroom scale.
If the appliance is used constantly and frequently, the contact ends become thinner over time. This leads to a loose fit to the special legs on the body.
To eliminate the breakdown, replace the contacts of the corresponding relay. Moreover, it is desirable that you not just strap the wires to the new contacts, but solder them.
Sometimes particles of food, bulk goods or even water get into the middle of the case. Since bathroom scales are often used outdoors, wind, frost or extreme heat, for example, will only make matters worse.And then the electrical appliance stops working suddenly and for no apparent reason, but there is always a reason.
If water gets inside the case, it will have an extremely negative effect on the device.
The owner (or the person in charge) must constantly monitor the cleanliness of the case and do not allow water and aqueous solutions to get on it. If this happens, you need to immediately wipe the area with a dry rag or napkin.
A strain gauge (strain gauge) is a device that converts the amount of deformation of an object into a signal that is convenient and understandable for a person. They are used in floor scales for high precision results.
The changes recorded by the strain gauge are so small that they cannot be seen with the naked eye and even at the building level. And the main work is done by a tiny sensitive plate measuring about 2 cm. It receives data from each corner of the floor scale, processes it and transfers it further - for display on the screen.
In fact, a strain gauge is a small piece of iron that can only be damaged by physical impact (it is not afraid of moisture), which is a rather difficult task. So an electrical tester may be required for accurate and fast diagnosis.
Less often, there is a break in the wiring going to the strain gauge. It can be soldered to restore a normal electrical connection. Well, in case of complete inoperability, the load cells are replaced with new ones.
Please note that when selecting a new element for your bathroom scale, you should choose a spare part with exactly the same parameters. Otherwise, the balance may exceed the allowed error limit when displaying data on the screen.
Calibration is needed in order for the appliance to work correctly. After all, there are no two absolutely identical sensors in the world, even if they are made on the same machine with a minimum period of time.
If one load cell fails, it can be turned off altogether (designated as "zero"), and its functions can be transferred to the remaining operable ones. This method is suitable as a temporary repair of floor scales, but this approach has the right to life when there is no way to buy a new part quickly, but you need to work now.
Technically, to carry out the calibration procedure, you just need to press one button specified by the manufacturer of the electrical appliance. And this process takes, as a rule, no more than one minute, accompanied by appropriate inscriptions on the screen.
