Non-working scale lacking a battery? (4-5)
I believe the answer is:
free-range
'lacking a battery?' is the definition.
(as opposed to battery farming)
'non-working scale' is the wordplay.
'non-working' becomes 'free' (as in free time).
'scale' becomes 'range' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'free'+'range'='FREE-RANGE'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for free-range that I've seen before include "Not battery farmed" , "Allowed freedom of movement, chickens say" , "Non-battery" .)