A&D SK-5000WP 11 lb / 5000 g IP65 Washdown Scale Guide
- pete8781
- Jul 31
- 5 min read
Need more details or help choosing the correct item? Call MNM Scales at (832) 290-3120 or email mnmscales@yahoo.com.
The A&D SK-5000WP washdown scale is a 5000 g × 2 g / 11 lb × 0.005 lb compact food and commercial bench scale with an unusually useful combination of NTEP Class III certification, NSF food-equipment suitability, IP65 construction and long battery life. This is not a case where a buyer has to guess whether the model is trade legal: SK-5000WP is explicitly listed on the current NTEP Certificate of Conformance 98-086A3 as 5000 g × 2 g, 11 lb × 0.005 lb and 176 oz × 0.1 oz. The current A3 certificate supersedes 98-086A2, which is the older certificate number still shown on the MNM product page.
Current NTEP status: Class III, CoC 98-086A3
The current NTEP certificate is 98-086A3. It identifies the SK Series as Class III and specifically lists SK-5000WP at 5000 g × 2 g, 11 lb × 0.005 lb and 176 oz × 0.1 oz, with nmax 2500. Certificate A3 superseded A2 to add the ounce unit to SK-5000WP and clarify the sealing mechanism. MNM's listing still references CoC 98-086A2, which was valid historical documentation but is not the latest revision. For buyers and inspectors, the useful takeaway is simple: the model is NTEP Class III, and the current certificate revision is A3.
What legal-for-trade use still requires
NTEP type evaluation is the foundation for legal-for-trade use, but a commercial installation still has to follow state and local weights-and-measures requirements. The current certificate describes a sealing method that prevents undetected access to calibration. A business selling meat, seafood, produce, candy, ingredients or other goods by weight should use the certified configuration, keep required markings intact and have the device placed in service or inspected as required locally. Routine operator checks should focus on zero and known-weight verification; breaking a seal or changing protected calibration parameters is a service/compliance issue, not normal daily operation.
Capacity, readability and accuracy data
The SK-5000WP provides 5000 g capacity with 2 g readability, 11 lb with 0.005 lb readability and, under the current NTEP certificate, 176 oz × 0.1 oz. MNM lists repeatability at 2 g and linearity at ±4 g. This is a portioning and commercial food scale, not a laboratory precision balance. Its two-gram metric division is ideal when servings and packages are measured in grams to tens or hundreds of grams; it is not intended for formulations requiring 0.1 g, 0.01 g or milligram-level resolution.
NSF, NTEP and IP65 solve three different problems
NTEP addresses metrological suitability for commercial use. NSF relates to hygienic food-equipment design. IP65 is an enclosure protection rating against dust and water jets. SK-5000WP is valuable because it brings all three into one compact platform, but none of them should be substituted for another. NSF does not create trade approval; NTEP does not mean the device can be submerged; IP65 does not define sanitation procedures or local weights-and-measures compliance.
Stainless pan, temperature-compensated design and foodservice fit
The removable SUS304-style stainless weighing pan is approximately 232 × 192 mm (9.1 × 7.5 in), large enough for trays, plates, produce containers and many deli or seafood packages while keeping the scale compact. A&D's SK-WP design uses temperature compensation so it can work in areas near ovens or refrigeration better than a basic household scale. That does not eliminate the need for acclimation after a large temperature change: moving a cold scale into a warm humid room can still create condensation and temporary measurement instability.
IP65—and the power adapter limitation buyers should know
SK-WP is an IP65 washdown family, meaning dust-tight construction and protection from water jets under the applicable test. The power transformer itself is not waterproof, and A&D documentation warns that the protected configuration is compromised when the AC adapter is used. In a wet workstation, battery operation is therefore more than a convenience. Disconnect and protect external power during cleaning, keep the adapter away from spray, and never interpret IP65 as permission to submerge the scale.
Battery life and why it matters in wet areas
The scale uses six D cells. MNM and A&D literature list about 600 hours with manganese batteries and about 1200 hours with alkaline batteries at the stated conditions. That long runtime lets a deli, prep room, seafood station or farmers-market setup stay on battery power for extended periods rather than keeping an AC connection in a washdown area. Battery condition still matters to measurement quality, so replace cells as a complete set and investigate low-battery warnings instead of waiting for unstable operation.
Calibration mass, verification and sealed trade service
MNM lists a 5000 g calibration mass for SK-5000WP. For a non-commercial internal process, external calibration can be performed according to the manufacturer's procedure using an appropriate known mass. For a sealed legal-for-trade device, distinguish routine verification from calibration access: checking zero and a known test weight does not disturb the seal, while accessing protected calibration can. Commercial users should follow the local service and weights-and-measures process rather than treating calibration as an unrestricted operator setting.
A practical start-of-shift check
Place the scale on a stable surface, make sure all feet are supported, check that the pan is clean and free, power on and confirm zero. Apply a known test weight that represents a meaningful portion of the normal working range and confirm the result against the business's tolerance or service procedure. Repeat after the scale is moved, dropped, overloaded or subjected to a major temperature change. A documented verification routine catches many problems before they become customer-facing errors.
Cleaning without damaging the measurement system
Remove the stainless pan for cleaning when appropriate, wipe food residue before it hardens, and keep debris from packing around the pan supports. Disconnect external power and respect the IP65 water-jet limit. Use cleaners compatible with stainless steel and the scale's seals and plastics, rinse only within the manufacturer's environmental guidance, then dry before returning to service. Do not pressure-wash electrical openings, soak the adapter or use the pan as a carrying handle.
Troubleshooting common SK-5000WP problems
If the scale will not hold zero, look for food under or beside the pan, a rocking surface, low batteries, strong temperature change or contact between the load/container and the surrounding counter. If a known test weight is consistently off, confirm the correct unit and verify the scale before changing calibration. If results differ when the same load is moved across the pan, inspect for mechanical interference or damage. If water has entered the battery or adapter area, remove the scale from critical or commercial service until it is dry and passes verification.
Best audiences and use cases
SK-5000WP is a strong match for delis selling by weight, seafood counters, meat and produce departments, bakeries, commercial kitchens, food packaging, farmers markets, wet receiving areas, portion-control programs and ingredient stations where 11 lb capacity is sufficient. It also works well for non-trade food process weighing. Choose a higher-capacity SK-WP when containers regularly exceed 11 lb; choose a finer-resolution balance when the process needs tenths or hundredths of a gram; choose a data-capable production scale when automatic records, printers or network interfaces are central to the workflow.
Frequently asked questions
Is SK-5000WP NTEP? Yes. It is Class III on current CoC 98-086A3. Why does MNM show 98-086A2? A3 superseded A2; the newer revision added the ounce unit to SK-5000WP and clarified sealing. What are the certified capacities/divisions? 5000 g × 2 g, 11 lb × 0.005 lb and 176 oz × 0.1 oz. Is it NSF? Yes, the SK-WP family is NSF listed/compliant for foodservice use. Is it IP65? Yes in the protected configuration; the AC power transformer is not waterproof. What batteries does it use? Six D cells, with about 1200 hours listed for alkaline batteries under stated conditions. What calibration mass does MNM list? 5000 g. Can an owner recalibrate a sealed trade scale whenever desired? No—commercial devices should follow the applicable seal, service and local weights-and-measures requirements.
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