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Installation Tips for MSI Scales and Systems
Get years of successful operation from your MSI overhead weighing systems with these tips and best practices for installation and calibration.
Required Equipment and Documentation
The following items are necessary for successful installation, configuration, simulated calibration, pre-calibration or final calibration of MSI scales and systems:
- Product-specific serial cables
- Tripplite USB-to-serial converter cable
- Manuals (digital or hardcopy)
Load cell simulators and system schematics, available by request at the time of order, are technically optional equipment and documents. However, simulators and system schematics can help troubleshoot problems that may occur during installation.
Additionally, test weights for calibration and weight verification are required for integrated systems, but are recommended for calibrating other MSI products as well.
Best Practices for a Sucessful and Timely Installation
Before beginning installation, power on all of the electronics to ensure basic system functionality. If there is an issue with any of the electronics in the system, contact customer support for help resolving the issue. To become more familiar with the MSI scale or system, review all manuals before beginning setup or calibration procedures.
Also, perform a practice calibration on the system before attempting a full calibration on-site. If your system was factory calibrated, test the current calibration of the system before installation by performing a simulated calibration. A serial cable should be stored at the weighing system site after installation to ease any troubleshooting during future maintenance.
Troubleshooting Tips for Problems During Installation
If there are problems during installation, refer to the optional system schematic for a wiring guide and then check all connection points. After checking all connection points, make sure all components are properly grounded.
If the system has communication errors, review the radio frequency (RF) distances and antenna locations to ensure they are within the recommended distance with no solid objects blocking the transmission. Locate other sources of radio transmissions as well, such as crane remotes, Wi-Fi routers, Bluetooth® devices or competing RF weighing systems to determine whether these sources are causing an interference.
Phone support or an RF site survey may be necessary for persistent issues. To assist with phone support, record all the networks, IDs, serial numbers and print strings associated with the system. If problems continue during installation, request on-site support from an MSI product specialist.
Rice Lake Weighing Systems offers a comprehensive line of overhead weighing systems through our MSI products, including crane scales, tension dynamometers and integrated solutions. Rental supplies for RF site surveys are also available to assist with product installation and troubleshooting. Live customer support can be reached 24/7 by phone and industry experts are always ready to help with any product questions.
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