OHAUS SJX1502N/E Manual, Explained: Setup, Keys, Modes, Menus and Legal-for-Trade Settings

By MNM Scales · Last updated November 2, 2026

The OHAUS SJX1502N/E is the 1,500 g Scout SJX gold and carat balance with NTEP and Measurement Canada approval, Class II, and external calibration. OHAUS writes one instruction manual for the whole Scout SJX family: SJX models with internal calibration, SJX/E models with external calibration, the EU-approved SJX…M models and the NTEP-approved SJX…N/E models. That makes the manual hard to read for one balance, because every page mixes notes for models you do not own. This guide pulls out only what applies to the SJX1502N/E, in the order you will need it, with the menu codes as they appear on the display.

SJX1502N/E specifications from the manual

Item	SJX1502N/E (NTEP and Measurement Canada approved)
Capacity	1,500 g (3.3070 lb, 48.225 ozt, 964.52 dwt, 7,500 ct)
Readability	0.01 g or 0.1 g (see the security switch section)
Verification interval e	0.1 g
Accuracy class	II
Span calibration mass	1.5 kg
Linearity calibration masses	1 kg and 1.5 kg
Weighing units	g, kg, ct, oz, ozt, dwt, lb, grn
Application modes	Weighing, parts counting, percent, check weighing, totalization, density, display hold
Stabilization time	1.5 seconds
Pan	170 x 140 mm (6.7 x 5.5 in) stainless steel
Power	AC adapter (included) or 4 AA batteries (not included); about 80 hours typical battery life
Display	Backlit LCD, 6 digits, 20 mm (0.78 in) characters
Specified temperature (Class II)	10 to 30 °C (50 to 86 °F)
Size and weight	202 x 224 x 54 mm (8 x 8.8 x 2.1 in); 1 kg (2.2 lb)

Setting up the SJX1502N/E

1. Release the transportation lock. Turn the red pointer on the base 90 degrees counter-clockwise to unlock. Lock it again before you ship or carry the balance.
2. Fit the pan. The rectangular pan sits in the sub-platform; turn it counter-clockwise until it locks.
3. Attach the capacity label. The SJX1502N/E ships with a capacity label that goes above the display, aligned with the dotted lines shown in the manual.
4. Choose the spot. A clean, steady bench away from drafts, fast temperature changes, vibration and magnets. The Class II rating is specified from 10 to 30 °C, so a hot showroom window is a poor home.
5. Level it. Turn the corner feet until the bubble in the round window on the front is centered. The level indicator lights up as a reminder; re-level every time you move the balance.
6. Power it. Plug the supplied AC adapter into the jack on the back, or fit 4 AA batteries (not included) in the compartment underneath. On AC power the backlight stays on. A spare OHAUS power adapter is sold separately.
7. Warm it up. OHAUS recommends at least 5 minutes after power-on before you weigh.
8. Calibrate on first install and after every move, as described below.

The four keys and what each press does

Each key does one job on a short press (under 1 second), another on a long press (over 2 seconds), and inside the menu it becomes Yes, No, Back or Exit.

Key	Short press	Long press	Inside the menu
Zero/On-Off	Turns the balance on; sets zero	Turns the balance off	Yes: accept the setting shown
Print/Units	Sends the reading to the COM port (when auto-print is off)	Changes the weighing unit	No: next item or next choice
Function/Mode	Runs the current application (store, view the APW, start hold)	Changes the application mode	Back: previous item
Tare/Menu	Sets or clears a tare	Opens the user menu (hold past 5 seconds to view a preset tare)	Exit: leave the menu or stop a calibration

To turn the balance on, press and hold Zero for about a second; it runs a display test, shows the software version and goes to weighing. To turn it off, hold Zero until OFF appears.

Application modes on the SJX1502N/E

Hold Mode to step through the modes that are switched on in the Mode menu. Turn off any you do not use, so staff at the counter see only what they need.

• Weigh [wEIGH]: the factory default. Tare a container, then add the sample.
• Counting [Count]: answer Yes when it offers to clear the stored average piece weight (APW) to set a new one, pick a sample of 5, 10, 20, 50 or 100 pieces with No or Back, load them and press Yes. Press Function to see the stored piece weight.
• Percent [Percnt]: store a reference weight as 100 percent, then each sample reads as a percentage of it.
• Check weighing [CHECk]: set a low and a high limit; the under, accept and over symbols light as you add or remove material. Positive, negative and zero checking are all supported.
• Totalization [totAL]: press Function to add each stable weight to a running total shown with the sigma symbol. Only positive weights are added.
• Density [SPEC.Gr]: weigh a stone or piece of metal in air and then in water to read its specific gravity. On the SJX/E this uses the Scout density kit (not included) or the weigh-below hook; the beaker is not supplied.
• Hold [HoLd]: Display Hold (the default) freezes the first stable reading and Peak Hold keeps the highest; press Function to arm it and again to clear it.

Menus: Calibration, Setup, Mode and Unit

Hold Tare/Menu until [MEnU] appears, then step with No and accept with Yes. The SJX1502N/E has four sub-menus. The internal calibration items printed in the manual belong to the SJX models with an internal mass, not to the N/E balances. For an OHAUS balance that does carry an internal mass, see our OHAUS PX124 manual guide, which covers InCal calibration on the Pioneer PX.

Setup menu settings worth knowing

Setting (display)	Choices	What it does
Reset [rESEt]	No, Yes	Restores the Setup menu to factory defaults
Auxiliary graduation [Au.Grad]	On, Off	With the security switch locked, shows the extra 0.01 g digit in brackets (On) or hides it (Off)
Filter [FiLtEr]	Low, Med, High	Low settles faster; High is steadier on a busy counter
Auto zero tracking [AZt]	Off, 0.5d, 1d, 3d	Holds zero against slow drift
Stable range [StAbLE]	0.5d, 1d, 2d, 5d	How much the reading can move with the stable symbol still on
Backlight [b.Light]	Off, On, Auto	Auto lights on a key press or weight change
Auto tare [A.tArE]	Off, On, On-Acc	Tares the first stable load, or loads inside the check limits
Auto off [A.OFF]	Off, 1, 5, 10 minutes	Saves batteries when the balance sits idle

The Mode menu switches each application on or off and sets Hold to Display, Peak or Off. The Unit menu switches units on or off; only the units turned on here appear when you hold Units. Each menu has its own Reset item, so you can restore one menu without touching the others.

Calibrating the SJX1502N/E

The SJX1502N/E calibrates with an external weight. Span calibration uses a 1.5 kg mass; linearity calibration uses 1 kg and 1.5 kg. Use weights of the right class for a Class II balance (see calibration weight classes); calibration weights are not included with the balance.

1. Make sure the security switch on the base is in the unlocked position. If it is locked, the calibration menu is hidden.
2. Hold Menu until [MEnU] shows. Release; [C.A.L] appears. Press Yes.
3. [SpAn] appears. Press Yes. The balance shows [–C–] while it stores zero.
4. The display shows the calibration weight value; press No to change it if needed. Place the weight on the pan.
5. [–C–] shows again while the reading is stored, then [donE]. The balance returns to the mode you were in.

Choose [LIn] instead of [SpAn] for a linearity calibration (zero, mid-point and full scale). If the balance shows CAL E, see our scale error codes guide. A balance in trade use is sealed, so calibration means breaking the seal; our TDA-registered technicians calibrate it and place it back in service.

Security switch, sealing and why the display reads 0.1 g

The security switch on the base is what makes the SJX1502N/E a trade balance. With the switch locked, the manual lists these changes:

• External calibration is hidden.
• Readability drops by a factor of ten, to the 0.1 g verification interval, or the last digit shows in brackets, depending on the Auxiliary Graduation setting.
• Units lock to the current unit; the stable range locks to 1d and auto zero tracking to 0.5d.
• The filter level and the Auxiliary Graduation item lock, and Stable Only printing is forced on; continuous and interval printing cannot be selected.

So a sealed SJX1502N/E reads to 0.1 g, or to 0.01 g with the last digit in brackets. The bracketed digit is the auxiliary graduation: useful for your own reference, but the legal value is the 0.1 g reading. OHAUS states that if the balance is used for direct sales to the public, Au.Grad must be set to Off. Our EK-1200i vs EK-610i guide explains the difference between readability and the verification interval e in more detail.

Before an official verifies and seals the balance, the manual asks you to check the menu settings and units against local rules, calibrate, and set the switch to locked. The seal is either a wire seal through the holes in the switch and housing or a paper seal over the switch.

The SJX1502N/E is NTEP approved, Class II. For buying or selling precious metals by weight, choose a Class II model such as the SJX1502N/E or the 64 g SJX323N/E. The SJX622N/E (620 g) and SJX6201N/E (6,200 g) use the same manual and are NTEP Class III. Our legal for trade jewelry scale guide compares Class II gold scales.

Texas note: TDA does not require an NTEP certificate for every device, but the scale must meet NIST Handbook 44 and suit its use; some scales do need one, so we recommend NTEP models and can check yours. See TDA’s scales used in trade guidance (PDF) and our TDA scale certification guide, or call us or TDA to confirm your use.

Not sure your use counts as trade? Our free legal-for-trade scale checker walks through the Texas questions.

Interface kits, weigh-below hook and other accessories

The SJX1502N/E has an interface connection at the back for an interface kit: RS232, USB Host, USB Device, Ethernet or Bluetooth. Kits are not included. We carry the OHAUS Ethernet interface kit; call for the others. The kit’s own manual adds extra sub-menus for print and communication settings. For cables and PC software, see how to connect a scale to a computer.

• Weigh-below hook: on the SJX/E it sits on the reverse side of the battery cover. Remove the pan, lock the transportation lock before you turn the balance over, remove the red cover from the opening, then support the balance level on a stand with the lock released.
• Other accessories listed in the manual (not included): density kit, auxiliary display, in-use cover, carrying case, stacking kits and a security cable for the anti-theft slot.

Care and common problems

Clean the housing with a cloth dampened with mild detergent, with the adapter unplugged; OHAUS warns against solvents, alcohol, ammonia and abrasives. If the balance cannot be calibrated, check that the security switch is unlocked. Drifting or unstable readings usually trace back to a wrong setting, a draft or an unlevel bench; see scale will not zero or keeps drifting. Load cells can fail after heavy use, and a cut adapter or interface cable stops power or data; our repair bench handles both. For Err 8.x codes, see our error codes guide.

Calibration, repair and rentals

• Calibrated before it ships: in-house calibration $95 or NIST calibration certificate $395 for balances up to 2.2 kg, including the SJX1502N/E. See NIST vs in-house certificates.
• Legal-for-trade placement in Texas: our TDA-registered technicians calibrate, set up and place commercial scales in service. See legal-for-trade scale calibration and balance calibration in Houston.
• Mail-in calibration: lock the transportation lock, pack the balance well and ship it to our shop with the mail-in calibration service.
• Cypress pickup by appointment: drop off or pick up at our Cypress, TX shop (21249 FM 529 Rd, Cypress, TX 77433).
• On-site service: on-site calibration is $295 plus $2 per mile per visit, plus the calibration fee for each scale.
• Repair: load cell, cable, adapter and keypad problems go to our scale repair bench.
• Rentals: we rent all types of scales; ask about a scale rental while yours is in for service.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I find the OHAUS SJX1502N/E manual?

OHAUS publishes it as the Scout SJX instruction manual on the Documents tab of its Scout SJX/E page. One manual covers every SJX, SJX/E, SJX…M and SJX…N/E model.

Why does my SJX1502N/E read 0.1 g instead of 0.01 g?

The security switch is locked. With it locked, the balance shows the 0.1 g verification interval, or 0.01 g with the last digit in brackets when Auxiliary Graduation is on. Unlocking the switch on a sealed balance breaks the seal.

What calibration weight does the SJX1502N/E need?

Span calibration uses 1.5 kg. Linearity calibration uses 1 kg and 1.5 kg. Weights are not included.

How do I calibrate the OHAUS SJX1502N/E?

Unlock the security switch, hold Menu until MENU shows, press Yes at C.A.L and again at SPAN, let it store zero, place the 1.5 kg weight and wait for done.

Is the SJX1502N/E legal for trade?

Yes. It is NTEP and Measurement Canada approved, Class II, with a 0.1 g verification interval. For trade use, lock and seal the security switch and set Auxiliary Graduation to Off for direct sales to the public.

Does the SJX1502N/E run on batteries?

Yes. It runs on 4 AA batteries (not included) for about 80 hours, or on the AC adapter that comes with it.

Which weighing units does the SJX1502N/E have?

Grams, kilograms, carats, ounces, troy ounces, pennyweights, pounds and grains. Units turned off in the Unit menu do not appear.