Scales & Weight

**BKG** · 10-14-2016, 02:31 PM

Okay...I know this is going to sound off but here me out.

I understand that a pound of weight is a pound regardless but would the way that an object sits on a scale affect the pressure sensors on a scale, thus the recording of the weight?

Basically, if the object (e.g. tangled wires like a tumbleweed) is spread out in such a way that the downward pressure is offset and the sensor of the scale doesn't register the full weight.

Does this make sense?

**aph** · 10-14-2016, 04:12 PM

Yes, I think I get what you are talking about.
Large scales have more than one spot where they register weight.
At the local Goodwill people weigh themselves on a pallet sized floor scale.
You have to stand dead center to get the accurate weight.
If you stand closer to the edge it will register a lower weight.

**alloy2** · 10-14-2016, 07:00 PM

Originally Posted by BKG

Okay...I know this is going to sound off but here me out.

I understand that a pound of weight is a pound regardless but would the way that an object sits on a scale affect the pressure sensors on a scale, thus the recording of the weight?

Basically, if the object (e.g. tangled wires like a tumbleweed) is spread out in such a way that the downward pressure is offset and the sensor of the scale doesn't register the full weight.

Does this make sense?

The mechanisium used on mechnaical scales are built on the principal of the beam scale in other words whatever weight is placed on the pan or platform regardless of its possition will still be weighed accurately.

Large modern platform scales now almost exclusivly used electronic load cells from whuch the data is feed through a micro cumputer which resides inside the digital read out enclosure, the problem with relyuing on the digital sale is that whatever had been previously tared in has not been cleared from memory. Say a wooden pallet full of copper wire the fist scale in then a five gallon pail of brass the next weigh up.

The pallet weighs more than a bucket but if the pallet weight is still being used as the tare in weight your going to get screwed at the cash register.

I actually preffer having my truck weigh on a full lenght truck platform beam scale, for those of you older will remember seeing the beam inside the scale shack, it had a sliding weight in addition to weights that could be added at the end of the beam.

The old fashion beam scales are very accurate buy much easier for the scale operator to cheat you on. I always would get out of my truck then head into the scale shack to make sure the scale operator wasnt playing games. When the beam comes to rest it will be dead center.

If the scale platform is covered with wet mud or other garbage its going on your ticket.

**Repurposer** · 10-14-2016, 07:19 PM

The place I sell to has a small yard and a small drive on scale that is dead ended by a wall. I have a one ton crew cab dually and a flat 20 foot trailer. I have to back the trailer on the scale which is a challenge becuase of all the stuff in the way. I have weighed it unhooked from the truck and hooked to the truck. It came up the same each time.