Connect a Scanner-Scale with Square for Retail
With Square for Retail, you can connect a scanner-scale to sell by weight and scan your items using each functionality separately or in tandem. A scanner-scale can significantly speed up your checkout process and is particularly valuable in grocery and other high-volume retail businesses. This functionality is available only with Square Register or Square Stand (2nd generation).
Choose your hardware
Square is compatible with the Magellan 9400i Scanner/Scale, the Magellan 9600i and Magellan 9800i. Review the information below to determine the best fit for your business. For a solution adapted to your needs, purchase your scanner-scale package and other necessary hardware through your Square Sales representative, or contact our Sales team directly.
Magellan Scanner/Scale
Square works with any Magellan 9400i, 9600i, or 9800i Scanner/Scale. The device SKU must begin with 94, 96 or 98. Square does not support other Magellan models, including those from the 8000 series.
The options you can choose from include:
Measurement system: Order a unit that matches the weight units you intend to sell in pounds or kilograms. The manufacturer sets the device for a single type of measurement system, and you can’t change this configuration.
Remote display: The scale can include a remote display.
Size: The available options are long (recommended) or medium. While there is no difference in the scanning and scale functionality, the long option has a wider plate area while the medium option is more compact to fit within limited counter space.
Magellan Scanner/Scale RS-232 cable
This cable is required to connect from the Host Port of the scanner-scale to the RS-232 end of the Square USB cable. The cable is part number (PN) 90A052121. Depending on the scanner-scale package you choose and where you ordered it from, you may have to order this cable separately.
Square USB cable for USB scale
This cable connects to the RS-232 end of the Magellan cable to a USB port in the Square hub attached to your point-of-sale device. It differs based on which POS device you use, and you must order the cable that is compatible with your device. This cable is available directly through Square Shop.
Square Register: RS232 to USB-A cable
Square Stand (2nd generation) with 10.2” and 10.5” iPads: RS232 to USB-A cable
Connect Your Scanner-Scale
To set up your scanner-scale:
-
Print out the barcodes on this page. You must print the barcode and you can’t scan it from a screen.
Connect your Scanner-Scale to Square Unplug all cables from the back of the scanner-scale except for the power cable and the remote display, if applicable. If you have a scanner-scale that comes with a remote display, plug it in.
Scan the barcodes in the order shown.
Plug in your Square Register or Square Stand (2nd generation) to a power source, but don’t connect it to the scanner-scale yet.
-
Connect the Magellan Scanner/Scale cable to the Host Port in the back of the scanner-scale.
Connect the RS232 cable to both the Magellan cable and the Square USB cable. The scanner-scale should connect to Square for Retail.
To verify that your scanner-scale is connected to Square for Retail:
Check the status bar on your Square for Retail device. If successfully connected, your device should show Scanner/scale with a check mark.
From the navigation bar, tap ≡ More > Settings > Hardware.
Below the Connect and manage section, tap Scanner-scales.
From the Available scanner-scales screen, tap the Magellan 9400i, which should show a Ready status.
Install your Scanner-Scale
The Magellan scanner-scales are meant to be installed in-counter. Square does not assist with this directly, but there are a number of third parties that offer pre-configured counter setups or that can help with installation. Talk to your Sales or Onboarding representative to learn more.
The following dimensions apply to the Magellan 9400i:
For more information about installation, download a reference guide for your scanner-scale.
Once installed, coordinate with your local jurisdiction to complete any required Weights and Measures inspections.
Troubleshooting
If you’re experiencing problems when connecting your scanner/scale with Square for Retail, learn more about how to troubleshoot your scanner-scale.
This situation often happens if there is a mismatch with the remote display configuration. If the scanner-scale came with a remote display, you must plug the remote display into the scanner-scale remote display port before powering on the scanner-scale. If the scanner-scale did not come with a remote display, you can’t plug in another remote display.
Try powering off the scanner-scale, verifying that the remote display is connected to the remote display port and then powering on the scanner scale again.
If the issue persists, there is likely a problem with the factory configuration of the Magellan, and you need to contact the manufacturer to troubleshoot the issue.
To scan the barcodes, print them out in high resolution on white paper. They won’t scan if they are blurry and they won’t scan if displayed on a screen.
We recommend printing each barcode single-sided on a separate sheet of paper to avoid a barcode not printing in high resolution.
The scanner-scale must be fully stable to function properly as a scale and fit exactly into a rigid counter. Try pressing down on the scale itself in each corner or in the middle of the device. If it moves, the scale needs to be better secured to work.
If you have a remote display, you can double-check any instability by comparing the known weight of an item to the weight reported by the remote display. An unstable scale won’t show an accurate weight.
An installed scanner-scale must also be fully flush with the countertop.
Tap Scanner-scale issue within the status bar to open a hardware dialogue with the scanner-scale status.
The “Under capacity” error means the scale is not properly zeroed out and is under-reporting weights. If you have a remote display, try removing all weights from the scale. The scale is under-reporting weights if the remote display shows -1.
To fix this issue, you can try re-zeroing the scale:
- Remove all weights from the scale.
- Use the scale zero button.
- If the scale zero button does not fix the issue, try rebooting the scale by disconnecting the power cable and reconnecting it.
First, try unplugging and plugging in the USB from the Square Hub to see if that resolves the issue. If it doesn’t, we recommend running through the set of barcodes again and ensuring each of them scans without error. Remember to wait a few seconds between scanning each setup barcode so the device has time to process the configuration instructions.
Only barcodes supported by Square are scannable on the Magellan scanner-scale. Make sure you set up Items to sell by weight.