Smart bins with no batteries to change.
Many wireless smart bins run on batteries and must stay within range of a gateway. Maxi Bin scales take power and data over one USB-C chain, so there is nothing to recharge.
Battery-free smart bins take power from a cable instead of a battery. Maxi Bin scales connect scale to scale with USB-C, which carries both power and data back to a Gateway or Display. One Gateway powers and reads up to 100 scales, so there are no batteries to replace and no radio range to manage between each bin and the gateway.
How do battery-powered and wired smart bins compare?
| Battery-powered wireless devices | Maxi Bin wired scales | |
|---|---|---|
| Power | A battery in every device | USB-C from the Gateway or Display |
| Maintenance | Batteries checked and replaced across every bin | No batteries |
| Connection | Radio link to a gateway within range | Cable from scale to scale |
| Installation | No cables between bins | One short USB-C cable between neighbouring scales |
| Best for | Mobile carts and hard-to-cable spots | Fixed shelving and storerooms |
What does running smart bins on batteries cost?
Batteries multiply
Hundreds of bins means hundreds of batteries, each on its own replacement cycle.
Low batteries mean gaps
A device with a flat battery stops reporting, and the bin goes unwatched until someone notices.
Range is a constraint
Wireless devices need to stay close to a gateway, which limits where bins can go.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a power point at every bin?
No. The scales take power over the USB-C chain from the Gateway or Display, so you only need power where the Gateway sits.
What happens if a scale stops reporting?
StockMonitor raises an offline alert so you can check the cable or the scale.
Can the system connect to the network wirelessly?
Yes. The scales are wired to each other, and the Gateway connects to your network over Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
When is a battery-powered smart bin the better choice?
For mobile carts or places where you cannot run a cable between bins. On fixed shelving, wired scales remove battery maintenance.
Related guides
Set it up once and leave it.
Tell us your shelving layout and we will plan the chains and Gateways.