Wednesday, January 27, 2010

*NEW PRODUCT* Triple Pro Ohaus Mechanical Balance - Totalcomp Scales & Components

Ohaus Triple Pro Mechanical Balance from Totalcomp!

Accurate, dependable and truly best in class. Triple Pro offers the convenience of a toploading balance while allowing hands on experience through manipulation of the poises. Easy grip carrying handle is perfectly balanced for effortless movement. Convenient storage compartment for included attachment weight set. Two security features included to prevent theft, a security loop and Kensington lock (cables sold separately). Includes includes weight set and rod & clamp assembly for specific gravity determinations. 10 Year limited warranty.

http://shop.totalcomp.com/catalog/mechanical-balance-scales-triple-pro-ohaus-mechanical-c-655_1104.html

Totalcomp the weigh you want today! http://shop.totalcomp.com/catalog/

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

*NEW PRODUCT* T71P & T71XW 7000 Defender Ohaus Indicators - Totalcomp Scales & Components

T71P & T71XW 7000 Series Indicators from Totalcomp!

T71P: ABS plastic housing with internal rib reinforcements, reversible rear cover, backlit LCD weight display, checkweighing indication (green, yellow, red), membrane keypad with raised tactile keys. Built in bi-directional RS232 with manual/continuous/interval printing. External tare input. Hardware configuration lock-out switch. Internal universal power supply with line cord and battery power using (6) "C" cell batteries 100-240. VAC, 50-60 Hz.

T71XW: Stainless steel water resistant NEMA 4X/IP66 housing. Integral faceplates supports for easy servicing. Backlit LCD weight display. Checkweighing indication (green, yellow, red), membrane keypad with raised tactile keys. Built in bi-directional RS232 with manual/continuous/interval printing. External tare input. Hardware configuration lock-out switch. Internal universal power supply with hardwired cord. 100-240 VAC, 50-60 Hz.

http://shop.totalcomp.com/catalog/ohaus-weighing-indicators-t71p-t71xw-7000-defender-ohaus-indicators-c-325_333_1103.html

Totalcomp the weigh you want today! http://shop.totalcomp.com/catalog/

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

ALCP Digital Equipment - Totalcomp Scales & Components

Advance Load Cell Protocol for Digital Weighing Devices

ALCP with powerful list of commands. Poll load cells in the order of their addresses.

PC and PLC ready. Monitor cell performance.

Daisy chain multiple units.

Smart filters with 2-levels for fast response and rock steady readings.

RS485 2-wire for optimum performance.


http://shop.totalcomp.com/catalog/alcp-digital-equipment-c-263.html

Totalcomp the weigh you want today! http://shop.totalcomp.com/catalog/

Friday, January 15, 2010

TRC1 Totalcomp Canister Compression Load Cell - Totalcomp Scales & Components

Interchangeable with Flintec RC1 used in Fairbanks trucks scales. Alloy steel, rocker column, compression cell, sealed to IP67.

2 mv/v. 0.03% nonlinearity, 385/350 ohms, 50 ft 4 cond cable, nickel plated steel, IP67.


http://shop.totalcomp.com/catalog/canisters-trc1-totalcomp-canister-c-30_89.html

Totalcomp the weigh you want today! http://shop.totalcomp.com/catalog/

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Open Letters to NCWM by Rudy Kolaci, President of Totalcomp (Letter 3 of 3)

Letter Three: NTEP is good for the scale industry.

The initial concept of NTEP was well founded and I support it. Prior to NTEP each of the (50) states had their own standards for Type Approval. The scale manufacturer had to get separate approval from each state to be able to sell legal for trade scales in that particular state. NTEP simplified that process and reduced it from (50) to (1).

That was a good cost savings and the consumer benefited because the lower overhead cost for simpler approval was passed on with lower prices for their weighing equipment.

The sealing of a Legal for Trade scale by a local Weights & Measures official was the confidence builder that both the consumer and merchant needed to be assured that the scale was accurate and neither of them would be cheated. To this day it is still the most important task of the government to make sure that scales are accurate. This can only be done with local testing.

So many things can go wrong that would make a scale weigh inaccurately. A few stones crushed in between a truck scale platform and the foundation coping. A build up of fat and grease in a poultry scale.

A scale that was accidentally dropped and became slightly bent. A scale that was overloaded and not recalibrated. The list can go on and on. The merchant that owns the scale wants to make sure that they are not being cheated and the weights & measures inspector will make sure the scale is accurate for both buyer and seller.

VCAP will not help to improve this condition. Nor will NTEP for load cells. They will simply add additional burdens to the scale manufacturer. This additional costs will be added on to the cost of the scale and the purchaser of the scale will pay more and get no benefit from the VCAP program nor from having NTEP for load cells. All the problems previously mentioned can still happen. VCAP and NTEP for load cells will still be a waste of time and money.

The local testing of scales by weights & measures officials should continue and be encouraged to expand to make sure that all Legal for Trade scales are sealed often to assure that both the consumer and merchant benefit from accurate weights.

Featured in the Weighing & Measurement magazine, December ‘09 issue.

Open Letters to NCWM by Rudy Kolaci, President of Totalcomp (Letter 2 of 3)

Letter Two: NTEP on load cells is not good for the scale industry.

NTEP, when applied to load cells, is a detriment to the scale industry. It will stifle innovation, new products and new companies from developing new products.

For years after NTEP was introduced load cells did not have NTEP certificates. At one point some of the larger load cell manufacturers wanted to push to have NTEP certificates for load cells thinking that the burden of getting a certificate would limit the competition. Their idea did not work. It did not stop new manufacturers from competing with them. It simply increased the cost of the load cell.

There appears to be a conflict in the NCWM procedure when load cells need NTEP certificates but scales can have an NTEP certificate and use non-NTEP load cells. I noticed on certificate 08-008 a bench and counter scale uses a non-NTEP load cell. That means that when the load cell is repaired or replaced it would be replaced with a non-NTEP load cell. It seems contradictory that a counter scale can have a non-NTEP load cell but a truck scale must have an NTEP load cell.

Innovation for load cells can be envisioned by this one example.

New load cells can be made without temperature compensation when the microprocessor used by the scale or indicator does a more efficient job.

The temperature can be sensed at the load cell with a thermister and the microprocessor will calibrate the scale including the effects of temperature changes. The result is a better and more accurate scale that costs less. The load cells can be made more efficiently and quickly without the temperature requirement. Having an NTEP certificate requires that the load cell perform to specifications when subjected to a temperature range. The innovation would not be allowed if an NTEP certificate is required for this component of a scale.

Luckily we do not need NTEP certificates for the other components.

The load cell does not need an NTEP certificate. Just as the A/D converter doesn’t have one. Just as the junction box doesn’t have one.

As well as the mounting hardware, eyebolts, potentiometers, resistors, integrated circuits, wire, capacitors, oscillators and other components used in building a scale that effect the accuracy. If any one of these items is faulty, poorly designed, improperly installed the scale will not work properly. Just as these items do not have NTEP certificates, the load cells do not need them either. The NTEP certificate for load cells should be discontinued.

I think that we want the scale industry to flourish. We need to remove the restrictions that are imposed when an NTEP certificate is required for a load cell.

Featured in the Weighing & Measurement magazine, December ‘09 issue.

Open Letters to NCWM by Rudy Kolaci, President of Totalcomp (Letter 1 of 3)

Letter One: VCAP is not good for the scale industry. VCAP will be a detriment to the scale industry. It will raise costs and not provide a benefit for the consumer or the scale manufacturer.

The concept of verification of product quality should not be legislated or dictated by a government or private agency. Quality of a product should be the choice of the consumer and manufacturer. This should be the choice of a free market, the government or other agency should not determine a product’s quality.

Market forces will determine which manufacturer will be successful and have a larger market share. If one manufacturer gets an excess number of red tags when being inspected by a weights and measures official, that brand will suffer in reduced or no sales of their equipment. It does not take long for the market to weed out the low quality scales from the market.

The economic marketplace for weighing equipment will be stifled by VCAP. The increased costs will make manufacturers rethink planned new products and innovations.

Featured in the Weighing & Measurement magazine, December ‘09 issue.