232key - Digital Scales Blog

How to connect your Ohaus Valor 7000 scale to a PC and transfer the weight into any application

I’ve made a short, but comprehensive walkthrough video on connecting an Ohaus Valor 7000 scale to a PC. It uses the standard RS-232 port, a suitable data cable, an RS-232-to-USB converter and our free 232key virtual keyboard wedge software.

This will enable you to transfer the weight directly into a variety of applications as simulated keystrokes, such as Excel, a LIMS, or any other application of your choice. It even works with browser-based applications!

This guide can also be used for the very similar scales from the popular Ohaus Ranger 3000 series.

Ohaus Valor 7000 with 232key software

Watch this video on YouTube

Video transcript

Introduction

This video will show you how to connect your Ohaus Valor 7000 scale to a PC and configure the 232key Virtual Keyboard Wedge software.

Connect the RS-232 cable to the scale

To prevent accidental overloading of the scale, remove the weighing pan and pan support. Then turn the scale upside down.

Open the compartment on the bottom. Connect the serial cable and secure it with the thumb screws.

Remove the cable breakaway tab

Before closing the compartment, break the middle tab on the cover. Turn the balance back over and put the weighing pan back in its place.

Connect the USB converter to the RS232 cable

Connect the USB converter to the other end of the cable and secure it with the thumb screws.

Connect the USB converter to your PC

Plug the converter into a USB port on your PC. The driver should install automatically. If not, see the video description for download links.

After the device is recognized by Windows, a new COM port will appear. You can find this port in the Windows Device Manager under “Ports (COM & LPT)”. In our case it is called COM9, but the number will probably be different on your system.

Configuring 232key

Download and install 232key, then launch the application.

In the “Input” tab, select the new COM port.

Set the “Device” to Ohaus and press the “Set defaults” button to set the serial interface parameters.

In the “Output” tab, select your keyboard type and, if necessary, a key that should be “pressed” after the weight is entered.

Go to the “Start” tab and press the “Start” button. 232key will now start listening for incoming data on the specified COM port and output it as simulated keystrokes.

Switch to the target application, e.g. Excel or a LIMS. For testing purposes we’ll just use Notepad.

Transfer the weight

Turn the scale on. Place an object on the weighing pan and press the PRINT button.

The weight is entered into the target application.

For more information, please visit our website at 232key.com.

New 2019 Ohaus Navigator scales

The new Ohaus Navigator series consists of a total of 18 scales (incl. 4 LFT models) with a maximum capacity from 220g up to 22kg and a readability starting at 0.01g. As usual in this segment, all scales use load cells with strain gages.

Scale	Capacity [g]	Readability [g]
NV222	220	0.01
NV422	420	0.01
NV622	620	0.01
NV221	220	0.1
NV621	620	0.1
NV1201	1200	0.1
NVT2201	2200	0.1
NVT6201	6200	0.1
NVT2200	2220	1
NVT6200	6200	1
NVT12000	12000	1
NVT22000	22000	1

LFT scale	Capacity [g]	Readability [g]
NVT1601M	1600	1
NVT3200M	3200	2
NVT6400M	6400	5

Note: Available models and characteristics may differ depending on your region. This article refers to scales available in Europe as of May 2019.

Differences to the previous Navigator scales

The NVL series (Navigator XL) with its unusual elongated shape is no longer available:

Phased out Ohaus Navigator scales — From left to right: Old Navigator XT scale (NVT), old Navigator XL scale (NVL), old Navigator scale (NV)

On all new scales, the upper side of the housing is now white, and the red display framing is more discreet. Another difference is the even higher contrast of the display:

Old vs. new Ohaus Navigator scales — Old NVT scale (left) and new NVT scale (right)

The touchless IR sensor has been removed from all scales except the LFT models.

Interface options and accessories continue to be available

Numerous interface options are available, making these scales particularly interesting for data transfer to a computer: RS-232, USB device (virtual COM port) and Ethernet.

Ohaus Navigator scale with optional USB interface installed

You can easily use the scales with the free Serial Port Data Collection (SPDC) software available from Ohaus as well as with our 232key keyboard wedge and Simple Data Logger software:

Ohaus Navigator device profile in Simple Data Logger (SDL)

As standard, all scales are supplied with a plug-in power supply and can alternatively be operated with batteries. An optional lead battery is also available for the larger NVT models.

A carrying case is available to make the scales even more portable:

Ohaus Navigator 30467963 carrying case — Ohaus Navigator carrying case (30467963)

Further information on the new 2019 Ohaus Navigator scales

Ohaus website

Note: The photos for this article were not provided by the manufacturer. If you would like to use them on your website or in other publications, please contact us to acquire a license.

Software Kern BalanceConnection: what’s new in 2019

Two versions of Kern’s BalanceConnection software are now available: the standard version (SCD-4.0) and the Pro version (SCD-4.0-PRO).

The following table shows the features of the standard version on the left and the additional features of the Pro version on the right (according to Kern’s 2019 catalog):

BalanceConnection SCD-4.0	BalanceConnection SCD-4.0-PRO
· For operating systems Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10 · Supports balances measuring devices with RS 232, RS 485, Bluetooth, LAN or WLAN network (TCP/UDP/IP) · Highly flexible formatting of the output (any order, formatting and rounding), particularly recording of date and time for every value transferred, if required · Any number of devices/interfaces can be connected, as well as simultaneous and synchronised recording of several balances · Key-activated or time-controlled interro- gation of measurements or trigger of device functions, also for continuous recording · The interface protocols for KERN balances are already predefined (standard configuration) · Compatible interface cable included when you order a KERN balance at the same time · Many different transfer and recording options: – Microsoft ® Excel/Access/Word in the fore ground or background – Other Windows applications (through key simulation), e.g. shipping software or ERP system (SAP, Sage, etc.) – File recording (e.g. as text or CSV file) – Print out on text or label printer – Screen output such as large display, line chart (drying curve for moisture analyzer), histogram, etc.	· ODBC/SQL databases such as SQL Server or MySQL · Transfer to HTTP Webservices/Web forms · Histogram · Enables the connection of medical balances to practice EDP systems using the device data transfer protocol (GDT) and also the HL7 protocol · Implementation of programs/scrips using freely-definable command lines · Command sequences · Defining the conditions for specific events and the reaction to these events · Filter for stability recognition (configurable value storage) · Central configuration repository, e.g. on the network · On-screen displays with configurable user interface for flexible balance operation

BalanceConnection SCD-4.0

BalanceConnection SCD-4.0-PRO

· For operating systems Windows XP, Vista, 7,
8, 8.1, 10
· Supports balances measuring devices with
RS 232, RS 485, Bluetooth, LAN or WLAN
network (TCP/UDP/IP)
· Highly flexible formatting of the output (any
order, formatting and rounding), particularly
recording of date and time for every value
transferred, if required
· Any number of devices/interfaces can be
connected, as well as simultaneous and
synchronised recording of several balances
· Key-activated or time-controlled interro-
gation of measurements or trigger of device
functions, also for continuous recording
· The interface protocols for KERN balances are
already predefined (standard configuration)
· Compatible interface cable included when
you order a KERN balance at the same time
· Many different transfer and recording
options:
– Microsoft ® Excel/Access/Word in the
fore ground or background
– Other Windows applications (through key
simulation), e.g. shipping software or ERP
system (SAP, Sage, etc.)
– File recording (e.g. as text or CSV file)
– Print out on text or label printer
– Screen output such as large display, line
chart (drying curve for moisture analyzer),
histogram, etc.

· ODBC/SQL databases such as SQL Server
or MySQL
· Transfer to HTTP Webservices/Web forms
· Histogram
· Enables the connection of medical balances
to practice EDP systems using the device
data transfer protocol (GDT) and also the
HL7 protocol
· Implementation of programs/scrips using
freely-definable command lines
· Command sequences
· Defining the conditions for specific events
and the reaction to these events
· Filter for stability recognition (configurable
value storage)
· Central configuration repository, e.g. on the
network
· On-screen displays with configurable user
interface for flexible balance operation

If you do not need the features listed on the right, the standard version is the right choice. However, this version has also become a bit more expensive compared to the single version available so far.

Inexpensive alternatives

If you don’t need the extensive functionality of BalanceConnection and only want to connect a single scale to your PC, we offer two very inexpensive alternatives. Each of these programs has a single purpose and is therefore easy to set up and use:

232key: Transfers the weight to any application (e.g. Excel, shipping software, etc.) using a key simulation (virtual keyboard wedge).
Simple Data Logger: Stores the weight in a CSV file (if desired with date and time), the weight can also be retrieved from the scale using a timer (Plus version only).