Hive Scales

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Highest quality - lowest cost - easy setup

Instructions for keeping hive scale electronic circuitry dry

Waterproof Scale

Moisture can be the death of electronics. 

The Fat Bees scale enclosure is industry standard. It has industry standard waterproof glands for leads and waterproof door seal. All electronic enclosures, which are subject to temperature variation and outside weather, particularly rain, require a vapor port. Vapor ports are waterproof but allow air in and out to equalize scale enclosure air pressure and outside air pressure. If the air permeability of the vapor port is compromised and air pressure does not equalize, water can enter the enclosure.

If the vapor port is covered with water, the water becomes a barrier to air, and the vapor port will not allow air in or out to equalize pressure. When temperature drops during a rain episode and the vapor port membrane becomes coated with water, the internal pressure of the enclosure will drop. The differential between lower inside pressure and higher outside pressure, can push water through the door seal and into the enclosure. 

The big message is, mount the enclosure so the vapor port, at the back of the enclosure, cannot sit in water and not face the weather, as rain can coat the vapor port membrane with a layer of water compromising its air permeability and preventing pressure equalization.

The next message is, that each time you close the door, ensure the door seal is clean and does not have any debris, like leaf litter. Compromising the seal risks water entry. 

Beekeepers are ever creative. 4G Hive Scale with SIM card/Dongle

Expandable Multi-Scale units are the best choice for beekeepers envisaging more hive scales in the future. Start off with one sensor for one hive and when requiring more hives, the unit is expandable to support up to 4 individual hives.

Each weight sensor or loadcell has a 3-metre cable so the furthest hives must be within 6 metres of one another. Optional 3-metres leads are now available so hives can be spaced up to 6 metres apart. Multi Hive Scales with four hives on a pallet are the ideal choice for commercial operations.

For Long or Top Bar hives, Multi-Sensor or non-expandable units configured with 3 sensors provide rock-solid stability and a weight resolution of 5 grams.

Various power options are available, see Accessories.

• When using Lithium Battery Packs as the sole power supply, it is recommended a spare pack is purchased to swap out depleted packs for recharging.
• For power independence and when using rapid send rates, consider upgrading to 8 Lithium Battery Packs, or the Boly Solar Power Packs or Boly Solar Panels.

  Three sensors of a Multi-Sensor Single Hive unit provide rock-solid stability on a Long Hive

Fatbees uses m2mone.com.au as our preferred data provider for all our Hive Scales.

M2M has a support service in Australia with Australian support staff that you can ring and talk to. You won't wait for hours on the phone or have to press lots of numbers and listen to inane recorded messages. You just talk to a real person that actually helps and gets you sorted quick smart. Tell them Fat Bees sent you.