I had someone looking this week for a floor scale 4×4 5000lb with stainless load cells. I think they were looking for what some folks refer to as the All Weather or Outdoor rated pallet scale. We do offer a couple of different versions of this but let’s dive a little deeper into this topic.
Standard Floor Scale Components
Most standard floor scales are designed to be used inside a warehouse. These scales would enjoy complete coverage from any rain or snow because of the roof of the building. The digital weight indicator is usually plastic. The load cells are usually alloy steel. The junction box is usually plastic. This is great for use in the climate controlled warehouse. However, this scale system would not be a good choice to place outside in the elements like rain and snow.
All Weather or Outdoor Rated Scale Components
If you’re in the market for a floor scale to be placed outdoors, the “All Weather” scale is probably the type of system that you’re looking for. Now, let’s be honest, there are a lot of different levels of “waterproofness” (is that a real word?) when it comes to scale equipment. Many of the entry level priced “outdoor” or “all weather” scale systems are going to have minimal protection. You will likely see ratings like IP65 for example. The big reason for this is the price point. It’s easier to make the sale if you offer an “All Weather” scale at a cheaper price.
Ideally if a pallet scale is going to be placed outside in the elements at a scrapyard for example, you would want some good quality components in your scale system. In a perfect world I would recommend something like a Rice Lake Synergy 380X weight indicator which features IP69K rated protection from water along with a Roughdeck painted steel floor scale with stainless steel junction box and upgraded stainless steel and hermetically sealed load cells. This would be a great system. Unfortunately, it would be priced quite high and would not meet the price requirements that most buyers work with these days.
So…. instead I would probably have to go with something like the Inscale All Weather floor scale and possibly an Indiana Scale Company SS weight readout or maybe I could use a Rice Lake 480 or Ohaus stainless steel weight indicator. This would work out pretty good but it would not be as tough as the Roughdeck system I mentioned earlier.
Final Thoughts
I guess the point of today’s What Exactly Does All Weather & Outdoor Rated Mean for Weighing Scales entry is to mention there are different levels of “Outdoor Rated” or “All Weather“. The bare minimum scale equipment that you see on the internet is mostly going to consist of IP65 rated scale equipment that is likely good enough. But, make no mistake, this is not the best scale equipment designed for protection from water.
So, here are a few pointers for you to consider. If I were in the market for an “Outdoor Rated” floor scale system, I would contact a scale supplier first. It could be us or anyone else that you trust, and discuss either via email or phone, what features you absolutely need.
My number one suggestion would be to place as much of the scale system under a shelter or overhang as you possibly can. Anything that you can protect from the elements can extend the life of your new purchase. I’d also make sure if the scale is outdoors, I’d have a way of protecting and/or removing the weight indicator so it can be kept indoors and/or not stolen during off hours.
Ultimately, I think that you’ll find most scale sales folks will recommend a weight indicator that’s at least IP66 rated and possibly a floor scale like the Avery Weigh-Tronix Prodec, Rice Lake Roughdeck, or B-Tek Clydesdale. One scale you might want to check out is the B-Tek 4-Square 4×4 5K with T104S weight indicator. It’s probably a good choice for most outdoor applications with its IP66 rated weight display and high quality scale design. Hope this entry has helped you out some. Please contact our customer service department if you need some assistance in making a purchase from us.