A&D EK-1200i Manual, Explained: Setup, Units, Counting, RS-232 and Power

By MNM Scales · Last updated October 31, 2026

A&D publishes one instruction manual for the whole EK-i and EW-i family, so the EK-1200i details are spread across a long document. This guide pulls out what an EK-1200i owner actually uses, in plain language, with the menu names exactly as they appear on the display. You can download the official manual from A&D’s EK-1200i page. MNM Scales has sold, calibrated and repaired scales for over 30 years, and the tips here come from the settings problems we see when balances come in for service.

Unpacking: what should be in the box

• The EK-1200i balance, stainless steel weighing pan and pan support.
• The AC adapter and the instruction manual.
• Not included unless ordered: the EKW-09i battery pack (not included), printer, RS-232C cable, calibration weight and comparator relay option.
• Check the label on the right side for the model and serial number, and inspect the adapter cord for nicks before plugging it in.
• Keep the box and foam for mail-in service.

Installation and warm-up

1. Choose a firm, level bench away from drafts, heaters, air conditioning vents, direct sun, vibration and magnetic fields.
2. Let a balance that rode in a cold or hot truck reach room temperature before powering it on.
3. Fit the pan support and pan, then turn the leveling feet until the bubble in the spirit level is centered.
4. Plug in the AC adapter and press ON/OFF. The display shows all segments, then 0.0 g with the ZERO mark. Power-on zero works within ±10% of capacity; with more than that on the pan, the balance tares it instead.
5. Leave it on for at least 30 minutes before weighing. A&D calls for calibration when the balance is first installed or moved; follow our EK-1200i calibration guide for that step.

The four keys

Key	Press	Hold
ON/OFF	Power on or off	—
MODE	Step through stored units, counting and percent; exit menus	—
SAMPLE	Enter unit-weight storing (counting) or 100% storing (percent)	Open the function menu (func)
PRINT	Send data out the RS-232C port; store a value in menus	—
RE-ZERO	Zero the display, or tare a container	—

Weighing units on the EK-1200i

Press MODE to step through the units stored in the balance. The EK-1200i is NTEP approved in grams, ounces, troy ounces, pounds, pennyweight, carats and grains.

Unit	Display	EK-1200i capacity x readability
Gram	g	1200 x 0.1 g
Ounce (avoir)	oz	42.330 x 0.005 oz
Pound	lb	2.6455 x 0.0005 lb
Troy ounce	ozt	38.580 x 0.005 ozt
Pennyweight	dwt	771.6 x 0.1 dwt
Metric carat	ct	6000.0 x 0.5 ct
Grain	GN	18518 x 2 GN

Store only the units you use. In the function menu, the Unit item lets you keep, for example, just grams and troy ounces, and choose which unit appears at power-on. That keeps staff from scrolling into the wrong unit. Need to convert paperwork? Use our grain to gram converter.

Counting mode

1. Press MODE until pcs shows.
2. Press SAMPLE to enter unit-weight storing. Press SAMPLE again to choose 5, 10, 25, 50 or 100 pieces.
3. Place a container, if used, and press RE-ZERO so the display shows zero beside the sample size.
4. Count out that many pieces onto the pan and press PRINT to store the unit weight, then remove them.
5. Place the parts to be counted; the display shows the piece count.

• On the EK-1200i the smallest unit weight is 0.1 g and the maximum count is 12,000 pieces.
• Bigger samples give better counts. If the parts are light, the balance may ask for more pieces (for example, showing 25 -); add that many and press PRINT.
• aCai (ACAI, automatic counting accuracy improvement) refines the unit weight when you add a few more pieces after storing it and wait for the ACAI mark to turn off; Umin sets the minimum unit weight rule; smpl sets which sample size shows first.
• Counting is for inventory and production. NTEP labels the counting feature as not for trade, so price by weight. See our counting scale buying guide for high-volume counting.

Percent mode and the HI/OK/LO comparator

• Percent: press MODE to %, press SAMPLE, press RE-ZERO to zero, place the reference (at least 10 g on the EK-1200i) and press PRINT to store it as 100%. Later loads read as a percentage, to 0.1%.
• Comparator: set Cp to choose when results are compared (all data, stable data, or only above +4d), enter the upper and lower limits under CpHi and Cplo, and pick the buzzer pattern with bep. HI, OK and LO show on the display.
• The comparator relay option (not included) switches external lamps or alarms from those results. It shares the option slot with the battery pack, so you can fit one or the other.

Function menu settings

Hold SAMPLE until func appears. Press SAMPLE to move to the next item, RE-ZERO to change the value, PRINT to store it and MODE to return to weighing. Write your settings on a card under the balance so anyone can restore them.

Item	What it controls	Typical change
poff	Auto power-off after about 5 minutes at zero	On for battery use
Cond (0 to 4)	Response: 0 fast and sensitive, 4 slow and stable	Raise if drafts or vibration make the reading wander
st-b (0 to 2)	Stability band for the stable mark	Wider band for a busy bench
trc	Zero tracking on or off	Usually on; off for slow evaporation or drip work
pnt	Decimal point or comma	Match your software
Cp, CpHi, Cplo, bep	Comparator mode, limits and buzzer	Check weighing and kit verification
prt, pUse	Output mode and print pause	Printer or PC hookups
info, id	GLP report format and the balance ID	Labs that keep calibration records
bps, btpr	Baud rate and data bits/parity	Match the printer or software
aCai, Umin, smpl	Counting accuracy, minimum unit weight, first sample size	Parts counting
ltUp	Backlight off, timed (5 to 60 s) or always on	Save battery or keep the display lit
Unit	Units stored and the power-on unit	Lock to the units you use

RS-232C: printer and computer connection

• The port is a D-sub 9 pin connector: pin 2 TxD, pin 3 RxD, pin 5 signal ground. Use a straight-through cable to a PC (cable not included).
• Set bps (1200, 2400, 4800 or 9600) and btpr (7 bits even or odd parity, or 8 bits no parity) to match the other device.
• Choose how data leaves with prt: on command, with the PRINT key, automatically when a stable load is placed, or as a continuous stream.
• For an A&D AD-8121 printer (not included), set pUse to 1 for the 1.6-second pause it needs.
• Each stable reading is sent as a header plus value, for example ST,+00012.34 g. QT marks a count, US an unstable reading and OL an overload.
• A&D’s free WinCT software logs readings into a spreadsheet on a Windows PC. For USB-only computers, see connecting a scale to a computer by USB or RS-232.

Power: AC adapter, battery and auto power-off

• The EK-1200i ships with its AC adapter. Use only the adapter supplied for the EK-i; a replacement AC adapter for the EK-600i and EK-1200i is available (not included as a spare).
• For cordless use, add the EKW-09i rechargeable NiMH battery pack (not included). It installs in the option slot on the back.
• Charge the pack with the AC adapter connected and the balance turned off. A full charge takes about 15 hours, and a new or long-stored pack may need two or three charges to reach full capacity.
• Battery life depends on the backlight and how the balance is used, so set ltUp to a short timeout and turn on poff to stretch each charge.
• When the battery indicator shows the pack is low, switch to the AC adapter or recharge.
• Cut or pinched adapter cords are among the most common faults we repair. Route the cord behind the bench, and see replacing a scale cable if yours is damaged.

Settings mistakes we see in service

• Units changed or hidden: someone stored a different unit list, so the balance seems stuck in ounces. Restore it under Unit.
• Slow or jumpy readings: Cond or st-b was changed. Reset them before assuming a fault.
• Constant beeping: the comparator buzzer (bep) is on with limits set.
• Calibration entered by accident: that is a calibration issue, covered step by step in our EK-1200i calibration guide.
• Load cell wear: repeated overloads and dropped parts take a toll. Keep loads under 1200 g and set items down gently.

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), our TDA scale certification guide and what the RWM-780 placed-in-service form means, or call us or TDA to confirm your use.

Using the EK-1200i at a gold or jewelry counter? Read our legal-for-trade jewelry scale guide. Still choosing a model? See the A&D EK-i series or EK-1200i vs EK-610i, or browse all A&D precision balances.

Calibration, repair and rentals

• Calibrated before it ships: in-house calibration $95 or NIST calibration certificate $395 for balances up to 2.2 kg. See NIST vs in-house certificates and how to calibrate the EK-1200i.
• Mail-in calibration: ship your balance 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.
• Legal-for-trade placement in Texas: our TDA-registered technicians calibrate and place commercial scales in service. See legal-for-trade scale calibration and balance calibration in Houston.
• 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 get the A&D EK-1200i manual?

A&D publishes one instruction manual for the EK-i and EW-i series, available from the EK-1200i page on A&D’s website. This guide summarizes the setup, units, counting, RS-232C and power sections for EK-1200i owners.

How do I change units on the EK-1200i?

Press MODE to step through the stored units. To choose which units are stored and which shows at power-on, hold SAMPLE to open the function menu and use the Unit item.

How do I use counting mode on the EK-1200i?

Press MODE until pcs shows, press SAMPLE, press SAMPLE again to choose 5, 10, 25, 50 or 100 pieces, zero with RE-ZERO, place that many pieces and press PRINT. The smallest unit weight is 0.1 g and the maximum count is 12,000 pieces.

How do I open the function menu on the EK-1200i?

Hold SAMPLE until func appears. Press SAMPLE to move between items, RE-ZERO to change a value, PRINT to store it and MODE to return to weighing.

What cable and settings connect the EK-1200i to a computer?

A straight-through D-sub 9 pin RS-232C cable (not included). Match the baud rate (bps) and data/parity (btpr) settings and choose an output mode with prt, then use A&D’s free WinCT software or your own program.

Does the EK-1200i come with a battery?

No. It ships with an AC adapter. The EKW-09i rechargeable NiMH battery pack is an add-on, not included, and takes about 15 hours to charge fully.

Where are the EK-1200i calibration steps?

Calibration and CAL messages are covered in our separate guide, How to Calibrate the A&D EK-1200i. MNM Scales also calibrates EK-1200i balances in-house, by mail-in or on-site.