bhScale Hive Scale

Experience shows that the vast majority of hives stay below 80 kg - even in a strong season. The absolute maximum recorded by our customers was 127 kg (7 supers, height over 2 meters). A 150 kg capacity covers even such extreme setups with margin.

The 1 m probe is placed inside the hive near the brood nest. Brood nest temperature is one of the earliest signals of a problem - a healthy colony keeps it around 35 °C. If it drops, something is wrong.

The sensor next to the electronics measures ambient temperature. On the chart you see both values at the same time - you can observe how bees react to weather changes.

The app shows battery status at each reading. Battery life in typical settings is more than 1 year. Batteries (3× AA) are replaced without having to dismantle the hive.

A shorter interval gives a more precise picture of what is happening during the day - for example, you can see the exact hour when bees return with nectar. A longer interval saves battery. For normal operation we recommend 10 minutes.

During installation, you set zero to the current weight. The scale then shows only the change - not the absolute weight of the entire hive with frames, honey, and wood. The result is a clear chart where zero means the state at installation and everything else is gain or loss.

Each time you open the app, you see the difference compared with the last reading - how many grams were gained or lost since your last visit. Fast orientation without having to read the whole chart.

All downloaded data is available in the app as a chart for the entire period - without time limits, without subscription. The longer you use the scale, the more valuable your picture of colony behavior becomes.

IP43 is a standard backed by a specific design. Cable glands are solved with an overhang - water drips off without flowing inside. Even if some water gets in during extreme snow conditions, it has a natural drain and does not threaten the electronics or the power supply. The scale stays in the field year-round - rain, snow, spring thaw - without any need for winter removal or storage.

Unlike aluminum, plywood is a thermal insulator - in direct sun or during sharp night cooling, it does not behave differently from the surroundings. The mounting of the load cells is not stressed by freezing water, which is a practical problem in spring with large temperature swings. The phenolic film is water-resistant and the birch plywood does not rot.

Both the top surface and the feet are anti-slip - the hive does not move, the scale does not move. No additional fixation is needed.

Almost all cabling is routed inside the milled frame. Nothing hangs loose, nothing rubs. There is minimum space for rodents to reach the wires.

Bluetooth Low Energy - low power consumption, so it does not affect battery life. For longer distances or remote apiaries, bhBase is used.

You can view the data on any platform. The app is free, without ads, and without any subscription.

Data is synchronized between devices - you read it on your phone at the hive and check it on your computer at home.

The scales are mutually compatible - you can combine 1.0 and 2.0 scales with BG and BGE gateways.

bhScale is a single unit with a flat base. Place it under the hive and it is done - stability comes from the design, not from assembly skills. No complicated leveling, no fixation, no parts that can shift or fall before you place the hive on them.

The low profile reduces the visibility of the scale and at the same time ensures stability.

Three AA alkaline batteries are available in any shop. Replacement takes one minute without tools and without a charger. Alkaline batteries handle frost better than rechargeable ones, and yearly operation costs only a few euros.

Battery life is more than 1 year with a 10-minute measurement interval.

The batteries are very accessible by sliding out the entire holder - there is no need to dismantle the hive, disconnect the scale, or use tools. Just slide it out, remove the cover, replace the batteries, and slide it back in.

The memory stores 160,000 records - with a 10-minute measurement interval, that is about 3 years without deleting anything. Data remains preserved even after the batteries are drained. Once downloaded into the app, it is available anytime, even after replacing your phone.