Bathroom scales

Steamdrivenandy · 24th January 2021, 16:23

A silly subject, but Mrs SDA is giving me earache about our scales. They're about 6 years old and John Lewis own brand. When you step on them it switches on a digital display which is supposed to settle on a weight and blink twice after which the display is fixed for about 30 seconds so that it can be read.
The trouble is that ours rarely alights on a weight, but keeps flashing through a range until it eventually goes blank and you have to start all over again. It can go on for ages 'til it suddenly decides to give a confirmed reading. This happens even if a new battery is fitted.
Looking underneath the scales it would appear that there are four circular plastic objects (strain gauges?) that are connected. I assume these provide some central gizmo with a reading from each corner and the gizmo is supposed to decide on a common weight and display it on the screen. Only it appears that it finds it hard to decide a weight and defaults to a blank screen.
Is there anyone who knows about such devices and can explain why ours aren't working properly and if there's anything that can be done?

Number 6 · 24th January 2021, 17:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steamdrivenandy

A silly subject, but Mrs SDA is giving me earache about our scales. They're about 6 years old and John Lewis own brand. When you step on them it switches on a digital display which is supposed to settle on a weight and blink twice after which the display is fixed for about 30 seconds so that it can be read.
The trouble is that ours rarely alights on a weight, but keeps flashing through a range until it eventually goes blank and you have to start all over again. It can go on for ages 'til it suddenly decides to give a confirmed reading. This happens even if a new battery is fitted.
Looking underneath the scales it would appear that there are four circular plastic objects (strain gauges?) that are connected. I assume these provide some central gizmo with a reading from each corner and the gizmo is supposed to decide on a common weight and display it on the screen. Only it appears that it finds it hard to decide a weight and defaults to a blank screen.
Is there anyone who knows about such devices and can explain why ours aren't working properly and if there's anything that can be done?

It could be deciding weather to tell you the truth or not, And deciding not to tell you so you dont get upset

mileshawk56 · 24th January 2021, 17:45

If you listen carefully does make a laughing noise or is it just a groan?Chris.S.

MGjim · 24th January 2021, 18:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by mileshawk56

If you listen carefully does make a laughing noise or is it just a groan?Chris.S.

Or "one at a time please".

MGjim · 24th January 2021, 18:22

On a more serious note, ours did something similar, in the end we bought new ones....

Steamdrivenandy · 24th January 2021, 19:27

Well, when they do eventually work they show that I weigh a stone less than this time last year, which may, or may not be accurate.

I just wonder how/why the gubbins has decided not to work in the way it was originally built to do?

FLYING BANANA · 24th January 2021, 19:31

Plug in to a T4 might resolve the issue.

COLVERT · 24th January 2021, 19:39

Fortunately these electronic scales are getting cheaper and cheaper.---

---Bite the bullet and get rid of this dead weight.---

SCP440 · 24th January 2021, 19:52

We used to have a set of similar electronic scales and they failed while still under a year old. Luckily we had the receipt and they were replaced FOC. The second set lasted about another year and then would tell us we were a lot heavier even though we had not doubled in size.

These went in the bin and we now have a good old fashioned set with a needle that has no battery or fancy electronics that will eventually fail. It does not batter that they are not lb perfect as we only need to know if we are getting heavier in truth.

3 things in our lives will always give us hassle, things with batteries, things with wheels and finally people that have things that go in bras ( think about it).

Steamdrivenandy · 24th January 2021, 20:12

I fear you may be right Jon.

I'd still like to know why/how it's gone u/s though.

T4 - I think it would maybe blow its fuse.

24th January 2021, 16:23	#1
Steamdrivenandy Avid contributor Thinking on Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Madeley, Staffs Posts: 188 Thanks: 31 Thanked 37 Times in 25 Posts	Bathroom scales A silly subject, but Mrs SDA is giving me earache about our scales. They're about 6 years old and John Lewis own brand. When you step on them it switches on a digital display which is supposed to settle on a weight and blink twice after which the display is fixed for about 30 seconds so that it can be read. The trouble is that ours rarely alights on a weight, but keeps flashing through a range until it eventually goes blank and you have to start all over again. It can go on for ages 'til it suddenly decides to give a confirmed reading. This happens even if a new battery is fitted. Looking underneath the scales it would appear that there are four circular plastic objects (strain gauges?) that are connected. I assume these provide some central gizmo with a reading from each corner and the gizmo is supposed to decide on a common weight and display it on the screen. Only it appears that it finds it hard to decide a weight and defaults to a blank screen. Is there anyone who knows about such devices and can explain why ours aren't working properly and if there's anything that can be done? __________________ Morris 8 S2 Convertible, Fiat 500C Topolino, 105E Anglia, 1071 Austin Cooper S, MK 3 Cortina, Mk 2 Escorts, Renault 6, Renault 12, Maestro, Talbot Alpine, Citroen BX19, Vauxhall Carltons, Ford Mondeos, RAV4, Volvo 850, Octavia Est., Yaris Verso, Transit Camper, Adria motorhome, Kia Sorento, Kia Cee'd Est., Volvo V70, Yeti, Skoda Scala but where will it end?

24th January 2021, 19:27	#6
Steamdrivenandy Avid contributor Thinking on Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Madeley, Staffs Posts: 188 Thanks: 31 Thanked 37 Times in 25 Posts	Well, when they do eventually work they show that I weigh a stone less than this time last year, which may, or may not be accurate. I just wonder how/why the gubbins has decided not to work in the way it was originally built to do? __________________ Morris 8 S2 Convertible, Fiat 500C Topolino, 105E Anglia, 1071 Austin Cooper S, MK 3 Cortina, Mk 2 Escorts, Renault 6, Renault 12, Maestro, Talbot Alpine, Citroen BX19, Vauxhall Carltons, Ford Mondeos, RAV4, Volvo 850, Octavia Est., Yaris Verso, Transit Camper, Adria motorhome, Kia Sorento, Kia Cee'd Est., Volvo V70, Yeti, Skoda Scala but where will it end?

24th January 2021, 19:31	#7
FLYING BANANA Moderator/Club Shop MG ZT 1.8t+. No.3 of 4 in Sunspot Yellow & Ford Fiesta in Black. Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Rattler Farm Posts: 22,565 Thanks: 9,270 Thanked 15,645 Times in 6,806 Posts	Plug in to a T4 might resolve the issue. __________________ 233,431. That’s our second meet done, no.3 next weekend. onen hag oll

24th January 2021, 19:39	#8
COLVERT This is my second home R75 Saloon. Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: France/or Devon. Posts: 14,003 Thanks: 3,851 Thanked 2,167 Times in 1,816 Posts	Fortunately these electronic scales are getting cheaper and cheaper.------Bite the bullet and get rid of this dead weight.---

24th January 2021, 20:12	#10
Steamdrivenandy Avid contributor Thinking on Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Madeley, Staffs Posts: 188 Thanks: 31 Thanked 37 Times in 25 Posts	I fear you may be right Jon. I'd still like to know why/how it's gone u/s though. T4 - I think it would maybe blow its fuse. __________________ Morris 8 S2 Convertible, Fiat 500C Topolino, 105E Anglia, 1071 Austin Cooper S, MK 3 Cortina, Mk 2 Escorts, Renault 6, Renault 12, Maestro, Talbot Alpine, Citroen BX19, Vauxhall Carltons, Ford Mondeos, RAV4, Volvo 850, Octavia Est., Yaris Verso, Transit Camper, Adria motorhome, Kia Sorento, Kia Cee'd Est., Volvo V70, Yeti, Skoda Scala but where will it end?

24th January 2021, 17:45	#3
mileshawk56 Posted a thing or two MGZT Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Berkshire Posts: 1,281 Thanks: 1,738 Thanked 299 Times in 216 Posts	If you listen carefully does make a laughing noise or is it just a groan?Chris.S.

24th January 2021, 18:22	#5
MGjim Loves to post MG ZT-T 160+ Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Peasmarsh Posts: 390 Thanks: 45 Thanked 140 Times in 87 Posts	On a more serious note, ours did something similar, in the end we bought new ones....

24th January 2021, 19:52	#9
SCP440 I really should get out more....... MG ZT-T 260 Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Witney Posts: 2,504 Thanks: 6 Thanked 910 Times in 571 Posts	We used to have a set of similar electronic scales and they failed while still under a year old. Luckily we had the receipt and they were replaced FOC. The second set lasted about another year and then would tell us we were a lot heavier even though we had not doubled in size. These went in the bin and we now have a good old fashioned set with a needle that has no battery or fancy electronics that will eventually fail. It does not batter that they are not lb perfect as we only need to know if we are getting heavier in truth. 3 things in our lives will always give us hassle, things with batteries, things with wheels and finally people that have things that go in bras ( think about it).