OHAUS Valor vs Ranger vs Scout: Which OHAUS Scale Do You Need?
Short answer: OHAUS builds three different scale families for three different jobs. Valor is the food scale: the Valor 4000 is NSF certified, NTEP approved and IP68 rated for washdown, with a touchless tare sensor. Ranger is the industrial bench scale: the Ranger 3000 R31P15 (30 lb x 0.001 lb, NTEP at 0.01 lb) adds counting, checkweighing and a 210-hour rechargeable battery. Scout is the portable balance: the Scout SPX weighs from 120 g x 0.001 g to 8,200 g x 1 g for labs, schools and hobby work. Pick by environment first: wet kitchen, Valor; shop floor or shipping bench, Ranger; lab bench or classroom, Scout.
“Valor, Ranger or Scout?” is the most common OHAUS question we get, because the names say nothing about what each scale is for. MNM Scales is an authorized OHAUS dealer and one of the largest scale distributors in the country, with over 30 years in business and a large stock of all three families. Here is how they compare and which models to look at.
OHAUS Valor vs Ranger vs Scout at a glance
| Valor 4000 | Ranger 3000 | Scout SPX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Compact food scale | Compact industrial bench scale | Portable balance |
| Capacities | 1.5, 3, 6 and 15 kg | 30 lb and 60 lb (Ranger Count from 6 lb) | 120 g to 8,200 g |
| Readability (best) | 0.2 g on the 1.5 kg model | 0.001 lb on the 30 lb model | 0.001 g on the 120 g model |
| Legal for trade | NTEP and Measurement Canada | NTEP and Measurement Canada | No (see Scout SJX for NTEP) |
| Protection | IP68, NSF/ANSI 169 | Indoor, dry areas | Indoor, dry areas |
| Power | AC adapter or built-in rechargeable battery, about 50 h | AC or built-in rechargeable battery, 210 h | AC adapter or 4 AA batteries (not included), 80 to 120 h |
| Modes | Weighing, percent, checkweighing, accumulation | Weighing, counting, checkweighing, percent, dynamic/hold, accumulation | Weighing, parts counting, percent, totalization |
| Display | Red LED, front and rear | Backlit LCD plus 3 checkweighing LEDs | Backlit LCD |
OHAUS Valor 4000: the washdown food scale
The Valor 4000 is made for kitchens, meat rooms and food plants. OHAUS rates it IP68 and certifies it to NSF/ANSI 169, and every model is NTEP approved for selling by weight. A rear infrared sensor tares the scale with a wave of the hand, it settles in 0.5 seconds or less, and three LEDs make checkweighing portions fast. Two housings are offered: the V41PWE has an ABS housing with a stainless platform, and the V41XWE has a stainless steel top housing and platform. The built-in rechargeable battery runs about 50 hours on a 12-hour charge; a replacement Valor battery is sold separately. See our washdown scale guide for what IP68 means in practice.
- V41XWE1501T: 1.5 kg x 0.2 g (0.5 g certified), stainless, for portioning small items.
- V41PWE6T: 6 kg x 1 g (2 g certified), ABS housing.
- V41PWE15T and V41XWE15T: 15 kg x 2 g (5 g certified), ABS or stainless.
OHAUS Ranger 3000: the industrial all-rounder
The Ranger 3000 is the scale for shipping benches, production lines and stockrooms. OHAUS lists seven application modes, including parts counting, checkweighing with three LEDs, percent weighing, dynamic weighing for moving loads, display hold and accumulation. It has an ABS housing with a stainless steel platform (225 x 300 mm, about 8.9 x 11.8 in) and a 150% safe overload, and the rechargeable battery runs 210 hours between 12-hour charges. RS-232 is standard, with a second RS-232, USB or Ethernet available as accessories.
- R31P15: 30 lb x 0.001 lb (15 kg x 0.5 g); certified 0.01 lb (5 g). The most popular size.
- R31P30: 60 lb x 0.002 lb (30 kg x 1 g); certified 0.02 lb (10 g), for heavier cartons.
- Ranger Count 3000 RC31P15 and RC31P3: counting versions for kitting and inventory (see our counting scale buying guide).
- Need finer readings? The Ranger 7000 line, such as the R71MD6 (6 kg x 0.1 g, 1 g NTEP) and R71MD15 (15 kg x 0.2 g, 2 g NTEP), adds higher resolution on a larger platform.
Note the two readabilities. Out of the box the R31P15 shows 0.001 lb, but in legal-for-trade mode it counts in 0.01 lb steps (1:3,000), which is the value that matters if you sell or ship by weight (see capacity and readability and what NTEP means). In Texas, a commercial scale is placed in service by a registered technician (see RWM-780).
OHAUS Scout: the portable balance
The Scout SPX is a compact portable balance with an ABS housing and stainless steel pan, a backlit LCD and overload protection rated at ten times capacity. It runs on the included AC adapter or 4 AA batteries, not included, for 80 to 120 hours. It calibrates with an external weight, and OHAUS includes the span calibration weight on models up to 620 g. RS-232, USB and Ethernet interfaces are accessories. The Scout STX adds a color touchscreen.
- SPX123: 120 g x 0.001 g with a draft shield, for small lab samples.
- SPX222: 220 g x 0.01 g, the classroom and hobby favorite.
- SPX2202: 2,200 g x 0.01 g; SPX6201: 6,200 g x 0.1 g; SPX8200: 8,200 g x 1 g.
- Selling gold or gems by weight? The Scout Pro SJX1502N/E is the NTEP approved Scout (see our legal-for-trade jewelry scale guide).
Seeing “Err 8.4” or “CAL E” on a Scout? Our scale error codes guide explains each code and the fix.
Which OHAUS should you buy?
- Deli, kitchen, meat or seafood: Valor 4000; stainless V41XWE if it gets hosed down daily.
- Shipping, receiving, production checks: Ranger 3000 R31P15 or R31P30 (also see our shipping scale guide and checkweigher guide).
- Counting parts: Ranger Count 3000.
- Lab, school, hobby, field work: Scout SPX or STX.
- Jewelry or precious metals for trade: Scout Pro SJX NTEP.
Calibration by capacity
Ranger and Valor models calibrate with an external weight, not included, as do Scout models above 620 g (see calibration weight classes). We can calibrate any of them before it ships or after you send it in; pricing follows maximum capacity (see calibration pricing):
Up to 2.2 kg (Scout SPX123 to SPX2202, STX222, SJX1502N/E, Valor 1.5 kg): In-house calibration + certificate ($95) NIST calibration + NIST-traceable certificate ($395)
Over 2.2 to 6.2 kg (Valor 3 and 6 kg, Ranger R71MD6, Scout SPX6201): In-house calibration + certificate ($195) NIST calibration + NIST-traceable certificate ($495)
Over 6.2 to 35 kg (Ranger 3000 R31P15 and R31P30, Ranger Count RC31P15, Valor 15 kg, Ranger 7000 R71MD15, Scout SPX8200): In-house calibration + certificate ($250) NIST calibration + NIST-traceable certificate ($595)
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between OHAUS Valor, Ranger and Scout?
Valor is a washdown food scale (Valor 4000: IP68, NSF, NTEP). Ranger is an industrial bench scale with counting, checkweighing and a 210-hour rechargeable battery. Scout is a portable balance for labs, schools and hobby work.
What is the readability of the OHAUS Ranger 3000 R31P15?
The R31P15 weighs 30 lb x 0.001 lb (15 kg x 0.5 g). In NTEP legal-for-trade mode its certified readability is 0.01 lb (5 g).
Is the OHAUS Valor 4000 waterproof?
OHAUS rates the Valor 4000 IP68 and certifies it to NSF/ANSI 169 for food equipment. The V41XWE has a stainless steel top housing and platform, and the V41PWE an ABS housing with a stainless platform.
Is the OHAUS Scout SPX legal for trade?
The Scout SPX is a general-purpose portable balance. For selling by weight, choose an NTEP model such as the OHAUS Scout Pro SJX1502N/E.
How long does the OHAUS Ranger 3000 battery last?
OHAUS rates the Ranger 3000 internal rechargeable battery at 210 hours of use between charges, with a 12-hour recharge time.
How much does it cost to calibrate an OHAUS Ranger 3000?
At MNM Scales, the 30 lb and 60 lb Ranger 3000 fall in the over 6.2 to 35 kg tier: $250 for in-house calibration with a certificate or $595 for NIST calibration with a NIST-traceable certificate.