It shows the power of mass production when they can sell a full digital luggage scale in a pound shop.
What's really neat about this design is that the full load is entirely across the strain gauge via the strap and hook, and the electronic circuitry really just sits round it and does not interfere with the weighing or have to handle the weight.

13 thoughts on “Inside a ridiculously cheap digital luggage scale.”
  1. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Stewart mcminn says:

    Not cheap now

  2. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Blondie SL says:

    It turns out that there's another great use for these cheap scales.

    That is, to calibrate Torque wrenches!

    Very simple too.
    Some use a vice, but I'd probably suggest some other way as when I tried that a few weeks ago, my vice just broke in half!
    I have a new one now, but as these crap vices from China are made from "white metal" (that metal with the bubbles in it) instead of SOLID steel, they break with the pressure that the torque wrench creates at the socket end.

    So anyway, apparently the way to use this to test if a torque wrench is accurate is to first measure from the center of the front end socket spindle (its center) to about the middle of the handle (if it's 12 inches or more). Using a piece of tape, put a mark and note down the number of this distance.

    Let's say it's 23 inches.

    Then, choose a setting on the wrench, perhaps 1/2 of its rating (unless its max is 250, then perhaps choose 80 foot pounds).
    Put this scale right onto the line of the measurement you just made and VERY SLOWLY pull it until the wrench CLICKS (or shows a digital number)

    The moment the wrench clicks, take note of the number on this scale.

    Take that number and the number of the measurement from center of head to point on the handle and do the following math:

    – torque wrench set to 80 (for this example).

    – center of head to middle of handle, let's say is 23 inches.

    – the scale reads say, 42 when it clicks.

    to get foot pounds that the wrench clicked at, take
    42 times 23 divided by 12
    This would get 80.5

    It works!

  3. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars WeiHeng Manufacturer says:

    thanks for sharing

  4. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars HifiCentret says:

    If it's like mine you can enter calibration mode by pressing and holding all buttons from off state. Again if it's like mine you need a 20 kg calibration weight to calibrate it. No your 20 kg dumbell, kettlebell etc. isn't accurate enough.

  5. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Josh Abbott says:

    I want to see what's inside the blob, Clive!

  6. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Daniel Horne says:

    i got a few of the weight sensors from a wii fit board

  7. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Acting Flight says:

    Speaking of scales, Here in the US we have digital scales you stand on that say your weight.

    I wonder what's inside them and how they work…hmmm? Idea Clive?

  8. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Domino52o says:

    I weigh things down to tenths of a gram… cough cough

  9. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Andy Madden says:

    So sad that Poundworld just disappeared.

  10. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars SloppyK1ller says:

    Where did you buy and where can I buy one of those black screw drivers?

  11. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Hola! Iain Roberts says:

    +bigclivedotcom "It shows the power of mass production when they can sell a full digital luggage scale in a pound shop."

    Now that's what I call economies of scale.

    (Sorry! Someone had to 😉

  12. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Sarah says:

    It's also possible that these weren't actually meant to be sold for a pound. They may have been designed to sell for five pounds and then they had surplus inventory that they couldn't sell and decided that the half pound they'd get from selling them in bulk to pound world would be better than nothing. I think a lot of dollar-store type stuff is basically inventory clearance.

  13. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars thepeacekeeper2013 says:

    O.o Clive do you have a magnetic implant in one of your fingers or something? could swear some of the metals were attracted to a finger on your left hand.. maybe just me..

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