4 weighing scale maintenance tips

1. Keeping the Foundation Debris-Free
It isn’t unusual for a lot of debris to accumulate during solid waste or recycling operations. You must remove the debris and dust build-up regularly to avoid inaccuracies in weight measurements. You can use a pressure sprayer to clear the debris and keep the foundation and weighing scales clean and debris-free. However, before using the pressure sprayer, make sure that the junction boxes, load cells and electronics are rated to withstand pressure washing so that you don’t damage the equipment.

2. Keeping the Scale Grounded
Several truck scales these days use sophisticated electronics. You must have a securely grounded scale as a basic defense from power surges and lightning. The scale must be connected to the manufacturer’s specified grounding system, with no interruptions in the system.

Remember that transient voltage seeks the easiest path to ground. If you haven’t grounded your scale though a ground rod connection, it surely is grounded through other components. When you disrupt the ground connection, it will shunt the power surges to other places like electronics and load cells. This will cause a lot of damage to your equipment, resulting in high repair costs.

3. Conducting Regular Inspections
Look out for anything that seems out of place. Conduct a regular inspection of weighbridges for signs of wear and tear, damage or corrosion. Inspect the junction boxes, module connection hardware and wiring of the system. Look out for any kind of moisture that may enter the electronics. Check if the paint of the scales is faded or peeled; if it is, repaint it as it acts as a critical barrier against corrosion on the weighbridge scale. Carry out regular inspections on your own and fix issues as soon as they are spotted to avoid further damage of the scales or to avoid high repair costs.

4. Making Necessary Adjustments
It is natural for weighbridges to expand and contract a little at different times of the year. This thermal expansion requires you to make necessary adjustments for it to give accurate readings. A thorough checking system will keep the weighbridge in place — too small a gap in checking will cause weighing and binding errors while too much time gap will allow excessive movement and might include scale tipping and cause wear to tear to other components. Make sure that the scale is accurate by testing with certified weights.
Importance of Regular Preventive Maintenance

Regular preventive maintenance plays a huge role in prolonging the life of your weighing scales. Apart from traceability, the cost of ownership is a significant issue in the recycling and waste industry, which is why equipment durability is essential. You must choose the right equipment for the harsh environment that is found in most recycling and waste management facilities. Selecting the wrong equipment will impact the cost of ownership. If your equipment needs low maintenance, it means that there will be fewer service trips, less money will be spent over the life of the weighing scale and the down time will be less.

It is important to choose qualified and reputed technicians to install and maintain your equipment, which includes regular servicing, calibration and repair. When you prioritize preventive maintenance, you can be assured of your equipment working at maximum efficiency. Further, it reduces downtime and the likelihood of expensive emergency breakdowns.

Having trained technicians on your team helps in identifying potential issues before they become a massive problem. At the same time, they ensure that the weighing scales are running in an accurate and reliable manner, thus maximizing your ‘up time’.