Is there a recommended 500 Gram capacity scale with an 0.01g resolution scale that will operate on AC, and battery?
Recommended weight scale
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This is the one I have. It seems to be a popular choice around here.
Amazon.com: American Weigh Scales LB-501 Digital Kitchen Scale: Kitchen & Dining
Amazon.com: American Weigh Scales LB-501 Digital Kitchen Scale: Kitchen & Dining
I have been looking at that one, but seems that the ac operation isn't available on that one, just the bigger ones.
Although it isn't specifically stated on the Amazon page, mine came with a calibration weight and an AC power adapter. Using the AC adapter will prevent the auto shutoff feature from operating. The reviews on Amazon say it will run up to 10 minutes even on batteries but I don't even have batteries in mine. It stays plugged into AC all the time.
I've got the same one and it also came with an adapter. However, I've never used it. Not interested in the extra wire cluttering up my desk. The amperage draw is likely quite low so I expect the batteries will last a long time. The only thing you have to be aware of when using batteries is the auto shut-off. You don't want it shutting off in the middle of adding something to your mix. Since you have to tare the scale before adding each ingredient, don't tare it until you're ready to add it and it's no problem.
Just be aware that a $30 scale isn't a true precision instrument. Mine tends to drift a bit when adding those last few hundredths of a gram but I just wait 30 seconds or so for it to settle down. I have used precision scales but they are very expensive. I consider this one accurate enough for diy mixing and the price is right.
Got it ordered. I have a small pocket scale that I've been using, and it's worked well for me, but it's kinda finicky to use. I am going to be teaching the wife how to mix her own juices and wanted something a little bigger, easier to read, and doesn't shut off so quickly. I want to make it as easy as possible for her. 
So, 500gram capacity is enough for small bottles and the LB-501 seems to be the choice for a lot of vapers. 500mg = about 1.1lb, so I guess that's enough weight capacity.
250ml of ejuice would weigh a little over 300 grams, so that's well within the range for the juice sizes I would create in one batch once I get the recipe tested and locked in. I vape around 200ml a month, or at least that's what I've been ordering in Hangsen juices.
The pan on the LB-501 looks like a good feature. If you spill it stays secured and won't run out on the workbench and could probably be mostly recovered with a syringe or pipette.
250ml of ejuice would weigh a little over 300 grams, so that's well within the range for the juice sizes I would create in one batch once I get the recipe tested and locked in. I vape around 200ml a month, or at least that's what I've been ordering in Hangsen juices.
The pan on the LB-501 looks like a good feature. If you spill it stays secured and won't run out on the workbench and could probably be mostly recovered with a syringe or pipette.
That is why I don't care for the AW scale mentioned above. It takes a while to catch up. It also does auto shut off in battery mode which is annoying. The bowl that comes with it just gets in the way and I ditched it. I curently use the AW and it woks but I liked my old scale that met an untimely death due to a fall much better. I will eventually get another one of these and move the AW to back up
500g x 0.01g High Precision Digital Scale SF-400D2 Counting w/ USB Wall Adapter
I happen to like the bowl on the AW LB-501 because it catches any accidental spills and is easy to clean up. But I might be interested in the one you linked as well. Especially if it "settles" faster than the AW. But it's still in the same (hobby) category as the AW. That's not what I meant by "precision". I thought about buying a laboratory grade scale such as this one...
Adam Equipment® - HCB 602H - On Sale - Affordablescales.com
...but it costs over $300 for 0.01g accuracy and 600g capacity. The AW and it's kin are accurate enough for the intended purpose and I can use the savings to buy more nic and flavoring.
Adam Equipment® - HCB 602H - On Sale - Affordablescales.com
...but it costs over $300 for 0.01g accuracy and 600g capacity. The AW and it's kin are accurate enough for the intended purpose and I can use the savings to buy more nic and flavoring.
This is one that has caught my eye but i can't find any real reviews yet:
2000g/0.01g Accurate Digital Balance Laboratory Counting Weight Scale White
2000g/0.01g Accurate Digital Balance Laboratory Counting Weight Scale White
That might or might not be better than the LB-501, but I have two problems with it.
First, I wouldn't trust it to be any more accurate simply due to the price. I know it costs over twice as much as the LB-501 but it claims to be a laboratory scale and in my experience to get true lab grade precision costs many hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars. There are some great bargains on fleabay but I don't think they're that good.
The other thing is I wouldn't want a 2000g capacity. I'll never make any batches of eliquid that large. In my experience, any measuring instrument (not just a scale) will be more accurate with a lower capacity than a higher one. With a smaller range you should get more precise measurements.
.01g is 1/3 of a drop. Just how accurate do you think you need to or even can get without going to extremes? Buy some Ohas as check your scale every once in a while but the fact is most of the scales in the $30-40 price range are way more accurate than we really need. The AW works just fine and the one I mentioned earlier in this thread woks even better. No real need to try to get any more accurate.
My interest in this scale is not so much for any increase in precision; as it is for capacity. I concur that it would most likely not be comparable to the $500, $1,000, and $2,500 dollar lab scales. Nor do I need/want it to be. I am making recipes for goodness sake.
(Though, on those more expensive scales, I wonder how much of that additional cost is in actual increased quality/performance, and how much is paying for all the extra testing and certification?)I do mix larger batches from time to time (8-16 oz.) and I like to do it directly into my glass boston round bottles which are not the lightest to begin with. I would probably be fine with a 1,000g scale but they are harder to come by AND more expensive (cheapest I've seen are just under $100).
I'm sorry capt., buy some what?
I wholeheartedly agree with you. Even if it wasn't MORE than I needed; it is certainly more sensitive than I can dispense.
My wish-list includes:
- bench/tabletop style for larger (more stable) platform, larger (easier to read) display
- plug-in power supply (I hate dealing with batteries unless they are in my mod )
- 0.01g resolution (and I am lucky if my pour control is any more accurate than 0.05!)
- 1,000g capacity (allows me to mix my larger batches in their final storage glass)
- Minimal lag and good sensitivity (I want to see every drop register and I don't want to wait 5 seconds between drops)
- auto shut-off override (would be nice to have but not a deal breaker)
- <$100 (the more I save; the better)
- durable (I am not interested in replacing every year)
Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying you need a $1000 scale for DIY. I absolutely agree that the AW LB-501 is adequate for our purposes. It's not a laboratory grade instrument but it doesn't have to be.
And my ability to pour or drip accurately is nothing to brag about either, so it's probably more accurate than I am.
And my ability to pour or drip accurately is nothing to brag about either, so it's probably more accurate than I am.
For people living in non-US places where the recommend scales(SF-400D2 or LB-501) are very expensive with shipping/customs, then I have used this small 500g/0.01g scale for over a year and still going strong for 10 bucks with free shipping from china:
2.4" LCD Portable Jewelry Digital Pocket Scale - 500g/0.01g (2xAAA)
When checking a coin 10 times, then it can differ 0.01, very rarely 0.02, but that is less than a drop and for sure good enough for me. It updates imidiatelly or within a second, also single drops, and includes batteries and has a big display that is easy to read. It has 60 sec cutoff, but if you press tare before pouring new ingredient, then you have 60 secs between each drop added which is fully enough, even 30 secs is perfectly fine imho.
I mix in a 500ml bottle that is very light(35g) and in hard amber plastic, which my nicbase came in at a time and I cleaned/kept, and then I afterwards pour some of it into my "working" 100ml bottle used for dripping(vaping) and then place the 500ml bottle in a dark closet which works fine for me, as is used in under a month, so don't need glass imho. I vape only unflavored, so have it pretty easy with only a single "recipe"
If thinking about trying out measuring by weight instead of volume, but don't know for sure if it's for you yet and don't like wasting money in that case, then you cannot go wrong with the above linked scale, if nothing else then just to test the waters out with, and for 10 bucks with free shipping and even including batteries, then it's a no-brainer imho, as you have really nothing to loose, well yeah 10 bucks, lol... If getting a better one later on, then you still have a perfectly fine backup at hand additionally.
If I was in the states though with there cheap prices/shipping, then i'd refrain and jump straight into the SF-400D2 or LB501 though.
2.4" LCD Portable Jewelry Digital Pocket Scale - 500g/0.01g (2xAAA)
When checking a coin 10 times, then it can differ 0.01, very rarely 0.02, but that is less than a drop and for sure good enough for me. It updates imidiatelly or within a second, also single drops, and includes batteries and has a big display that is easy to read. It has 60 sec cutoff, but if you press tare before pouring new ingredient, then you have 60 secs between each drop added which is fully enough, even 30 secs is perfectly fine imho.
I mix in a 500ml bottle that is very light(35g) and in hard amber plastic, which my nicbase came in at a time and I cleaned/kept, and then I afterwards pour some of it into my "working" 100ml bottle used for dripping(vaping) and then place the 500ml bottle in a dark closet which works fine for me, as is used in under a month, so don't need glass imho. I vape only unflavored, so have it pretty easy with only a single "recipe"
If thinking about trying out measuring by weight instead of volume, but don't know for sure if it's for you yet and don't like wasting money in that case, then you cannot go wrong with the above linked scale, if nothing else then just to test the waters out with, and for 10 bucks with free shipping and even including batteries, then it's a no-brainer imho, as you have really nothing to loose, well yeah 10 bucks, lol... If getting a better one later on, then you still have a perfectly fine backup at hand additionally.
If I was in the states though with there cheap prices/shipping, then i'd refrain and jump straight into the SF-400D2 or LB501 though.
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I bought an Etekcity 500 gram digital pocket scale for $16.99 from Amazon, got free shipping with Amazon Prime.
It doesn't have an AC adapter but that hasn't been a problem. I just line up my ingredients in the order I'll use them and start. If something interrupts, I just stop between adding flavors and let the scale shut off. Come back, turn the scale on (it displays 0.00) and resume mixing.
It doesn't have an AC adapter but that hasn't been a problem. I just line up my ingredients in the order I'll use them and start. If something interrupts, I just stop between adding flavors and let the scale shut off. Come back, turn the scale on (it displays 0.00) and resume mixing.
This has been working well for me so far - https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01B4KX6JQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It has a 3 minute auto shut off which hasn't been an issue so far with using the Tare or just touching the scale if already tared it has not yet shut off on me mid recipe. It does require a 500g weight for calibration though that I had to order separately. I have a 100g weight from an old less precise scale that I use from time to time to make sure it is still accurate.
It has a 3 minute auto shut off which hasn't been an issue so far with using the Tare or just touching the scale if already tared it has not yet shut off on me mid recipe. It does require a 500g weight for calibration though that I had to order separately. I have a 100g weight from an old less precise scale that I use from time to time to make sure it is still accurate.
My scale often shuts off on me, but I don't get the issue, lol... Just as MaxUT also stated... Why do you have a need for either having 30 or 60 sec+ between each drop added, and why is it important to press tare when adding new ingredient instead of power on... I don't get the attention with power-off...
OK, if you are adding drops of an ingredient and then someone comes in and talk to you and you stop in the middle of adding said ingredient and finish the conversation, then OK, but personally I just say "just a minute and i'll be there" and finish my damn ingredient... That's the only reason to be interested in no power-off... I'll bet many never used a scale before doesn't understand this, or else they really wanna hold conversations in the middle of single-ingredient-adding... Nothin wrong with no-power-off of course, but it's just not very important if at all imho..
Between ingredients, I either press tare or power-on, depending on if the scale has shut itself down or not, but it's both just a single press and the old value of previous ingredient isn't needed anymore as is a finished object so why keep telling me whatever ingredient last added in grams... Might as well shut down to save power as I don't need the value anymore... The scale knows nothing happens, hence it shuts down to save power/batteries...
OK, if you are adding drops of an ingredient and then someone comes in and talk to you and you stop in the middle of adding said ingredient and finish the conversation, then OK, but personally I just say "just a minute and i'll be there" and finish my damn ingredient... That's the only reason to be interested in no power-off... I'll bet many never used a scale before doesn't understand this, or else they really wanna hold conversations in the middle of single-ingredient-adding... Nothin wrong with no-power-off of course, but it's just not very important if at all imho..
Between ingredients, I either press tare or power-on, depending on if the scale has shut itself down or not, but it's both just a single press and the old value of previous ingredient isn't needed anymore as is a finished object so why keep telling me whatever ingredient last added in grams... Might as well shut down to save power as I don't need the value anymore... The scale knows nothing happens, hence it shuts down to save power/batteries...
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