Analytical Balances in a lab setup are like the frail human beings in the Twilight world. Imagine a world where even a peck on the cheek or a playful poke from your boyfriend can prove life threatening!

Thus, if you are worrying about installing or maintaining an analytical balance in your lab - be prepared to don the role of Edward Cullen.

Analytical Balances have proved to be critical tools across a range of fields and uses. The following is a general checklist to successfully set up and maintain these instruments in laboratory conditions.

Initial Setup Procedure:

In order to get the perfect readouts from this sensitive instrument, you must set up the Analytical Balance carefully. It is essential to ensure that the weight vector remains perpendicular to the weighing pan for proper measurement. This can be done by properly adjusting the level of the balance. Simply adjust the feet of the balance while keeping an eye on the level of the spirit bubble.

It is useful to buy a dust cover to protect the balance. The initial calibration of the Analytical Balance is very important and must be done according to the regulations of the concerned authorities.

Choosing the Right Location:

Where you setup your analytical balance is as important as choosing the right model to serve your purpose. When you are talking of precision balances that can have readings of 0.01 milligram, linearity up to 0.15 milligram (from the real load), even a whiff of cold air can impact the results.

The Balance must be kept in an area of the laboratory that provides solid support to the model on a level ground and is not exposed to sudden temperature fluctuations. Please note that, by 'sudden temperature fluctuation', we do not mean a drop of a few degrees. It is widely considered a bad practice to keep a balance under the direct rays of sunlight or a sudden draft. In other words, do not keep the balance anywhere near a window or a door unless they are closed or in a neutral environment.

The proximity of the Analytical Balance to other laboratory equipments that exert motion (such as shakers, mixers and stirrers) has to be taken into account. Even when you can't physically feel the impact, most solid surfaces will carry the vibration through. It might be enough to distort the precision of the readout of the Analytical Balance.

It is better not to move the Analytical Balance around the laboratory. In cases where relocation is inevitable, make sure to follow the security instructions provided in the manual to preserve the delicate weighing mechanism.

Regular Use and Maintenance Tips:

It is essential to maintain the precision of your Analytical Balance as the FDA and numerous other regulatory bodies take a serious view about their accuracy. One must follow procedures to maintain precision in the calibration initially and subsequently in the regular recalibration of these instruments. Some top of the line models can automatically recalibrate while others have to use external weights for recalibration,

Always tare the balance (set the display to zero) when using a container to weigh contents. Place the empty container first and record the output before placing the material to be weighed in the container. The difference of the final and initial output will provide the actual weight of the content.

Keep your balance clean paying particular attention to the weighing pans and the surrounding area. Do not throw or drop weights into the weighing pans as this might damage the flexures in the Roberval structure that cancels out the side loads on the pan. Do not use the balance for at least half an hour after the power cord is plugged out. This is to allow the balance to revert back to its internal temperature stability before it is used again.