I recently purchased an Acculab digital scale for weighing powder charges. One of my reasons for purchasing this product was that it is supposed to be very accurate. When I tried to use the scale I found it would not hold calibration, with the result that out of 20 loaded rounds not more than a couple of powder charges weighed the same when I tested them against my 70's vintage Lyman beam balance. I called the retailer and a technician told me to leave the scale turned on for 24 hours before calibrating and 24 hours before using it after that. This seems to be a lot of dinking around for what is supposed to be a quality product. Any one else run into this with an electronic scale? I have made sure that none of the other factors that affect electronic scales are present such as drafts, heat sources, magnetic fields or strong vibrations. I am beginning to think that this fancy technology may be a much larger pain in the butt than a reliable beam balance.
Acculab Digital Scale
- Thread starter Single-Shot
- Start date
I don't know about the Acculab, but my inexpensive Pact doesn't require 24 to 48 hours. If anything, I have had it on for 30 minutes to ensure consistency once, but realized that this was unnecessary. I usually just turn it on, wait a couple minutes, calibrate it and start dispensing.
I do keep mine away from heat vents (I'm in the basement) and any close proximity to sources of EMF. I also have mine resting on a single 11 inch square of ceramic floor tile, that rests on a half inch sheet of grey packing foam. Zero vibration.
I do keep mine away from heat vents (I'm in the basement) and any close proximity to sources of EMF. I also have mine resting on a single 11 inch square of ceramic floor tile, that rests on a half inch sheet of grey packing foam. Zero vibration.
It would help to tell us how much the charges are off compared to your lyman.
Why would the Lyman be more accurate? If beam scales were more accurate then analytical labs would not be using Acculab scales
I have the Vic123, I turn it on 20 min before use, and then calibrate it, during reloading I rezero whenever the basline drifts by more than 0.05gn.
All of my loads are accurate, I compare them to an RCBS electronic scale from time to time, keeping in mind that the Acculab is more accurate compared to my RCBS.
Another way to check the scale is to use a bullet to check how close the scale weighs compared to baseline values. I do this as well from time to time, so far no problem
Why would the Lyman be more accurate? If beam scales were more accurate then analytical labs would not be using Acculab scales
I have the Vic123, I turn it on 20 min before use, and then calibrate it, during reloading I rezero whenever the basline drifts by more than 0.05gn.
All of my loads are accurate, I compare them to an RCBS electronic scale from time to time, keeping in mind that the Acculab is more accurate compared to my RCBS.
Another way to check the scale is to use a bullet to check how close the scale weighs compared to baseline values. I do this as well from time to time, so far no problem
I have a acculab I bought from Alberta Tactical and it is awesome. I turn it on and most times it is good to go. I turn it on, put my little scope on it, zero,put powder in from my dispenser and trickle in to the last .02gr. I re check my zero every single time as sometimes a kernal of powder or three fall on the scale and throw out the zero. But I have had no issues with mine. Must faster and accurate then any beam scale.
Most GOOD electronic scales will take a bit of time to "warm up" and stabilize. They have internal software which adjusts for changes. Typically half hour to an hour should be enough.
As for differences in weights, the other factors which you dismissed can be very subtle, and you wouldn't even notice them, but your scale will.
Also, your scale should be on a STURDY bench. TINY vibrations can also throw it off if they are of the right frequency.
As for differences in weights, the other factors which you dismissed can be very subtle, and you wouldn't even notice them, but your scale will.
Also, your scale should be on a STURDY bench. TINY vibrations can also throw it off if they are of the right frequency.
Acculab
Thanks to all who replied. I have the VIC 123 as well and it is sitting on a solid wooden bench in a windowless room in the basement. The only thing in the room that could be affecting it is the fluorescent light which is a good 6 feet away on the ceiling and lights are not one of the things listed in the manual as detrimental to the scale. The problem with this unit is maintaining accuracy. I left it on for 24 hours as the technician at Sinclair's suggested and when I started loading this morning it seemed to be working well. The weights on the Acculab were comparable to my Lyman beam balance. But after five rounds or so the charges I was throwing started to get heavier on the Acculab so I reduced them until I got them back to where they were supposed to be. However the same charges were light when weighed on the beam balance by up to half a grain before I finally gave up. I re-zeroed and re-calibrated several times but the same problem kept occurring. The 100 gram test weight that was dead on when the machine was calibrated would gain 10 to 20 grains within 15 minutes of use. In addition part of the LCD display is no longer visible.The Acculab is boxed up and headed back to Sinclair's on Monday. Digital scales may be faster but when you have keep checking your powder charges every few rounds it is just not worth the hassle and uncertainty.
Thanks to all who replied. I have the VIC 123 as well and it is sitting on a solid wooden bench in a windowless room in the basement. The only thing in the room that could be affecting it is the fluorescent light which is a good 6 feet away on the ceiling and lights are not one of the things listed in the manual as detrimental to the scale. The problem with this unit is maintaining accuracy. I left it on for 24 hours as the technician at Sinclair's suggested and when I started loading this morning it seemed to be working well. The weights on the Acculab were comparable to my Lyman beam balance. But after five rounds or so the charges I was throwing started to get heavier on the Acculab so I reduced them until I got them back to where they were supposed to be. However the same charges were light when weighed on the beam balance by up to half a grain before I finally gave up. I re-zeroed and re-calibrated several times but the same problem kept occurring. The 100 gram test weight that was dead on when the machine was calibrated would gain 10 to 20 grains within 15 minutes of use. In addition part of the LCD display is no longer visible.The Acculab is boxed up and headed back to Sinclair's on Monday. Digital scales may be faster but when you have keep checking your powder charges every few rounds it is just not worth the hassle and uncertainty.
blacksmithden
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Sounds like the guy was going on vacation in 47 hours since he told you to do a 48 hour "calibration"
Alrighty. Took some pics of my set up.
This is the one corner of my bench. Has been working pretty good for me, just have to refine my set up for a removeable vise and trimming. The scale sits there and I dont need to move it.
I just turned the scale on and took this pic. It was instantly ready to go and that is what came up on the display.
What I normally do is put on the pan and zero it with the pans weight on the scale.
I will put my trickler as shown. I will throw maybe 1/2 grain low and trickle the rest. I need a better set up to trickle but this method as worked so far.
The next three pics just show the display at different angles.
This is the one corner of my bench. Has been working pretty good for me, just have to refine my set up for a removeable vise and trimming. The scale sits there and I dont need to move it.
I just turned the scale on and took this pic. It was instantly ready to go and that is what came up on the display.
What I normally do is put on the pan and zero it with the pans weight on the scale.
I will put my trickler as shown. I will throw maybe 1/2 grain low and trickle the rest. I need a better set up to trickle but this method as worked so far.
The next three pics just show the display at different angles.
Acculab Setup
Thanks Wild1 for all the effort you put into this. That is basically where my powder measure is in relationship to the Acculab Scale so If that vibration doesn't bother yours it should not bother mine. The display on this scale has partly gone out and all I get is an error message when I try to re-calibrate it now so I suspect that as someone earlier suggested, it is just a lemon or got damaged by the good old post office. It is headed back to Sinclair's today for another one. That is the trouble with ordering anything out of the US. If things go wrong only the shipping companies make money
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Thanks Wild1 for all the effort you put into this. That is basically where my powder measure is in relationship to the Acculab Scale so If that vibration doesn't bother yours it should not bother mine. The display on this scale has partly gone out and all I get is an error message when I try to re-calibrate it now so I suspect that as someone earlier suggested, it is just a lemon or got damaged by the good old post office. It is headed back to Sinclair's today for another one. That is the trouble with ordering anything out of the US. If things go wrong only the shipping companies make money
.Thanks Wild1 for all the effort you put into this. That is basically where my powder measure is in relationship to the Acculab Scale so If that vibration doesn't bother yours it should not bother mine. The display on this scale has partly gone out and all I get is an error message when I try to re-calibrate it now so I suspect that as someone earlier suggested, it is just a lemon or got damaged by the good old post office. It is headed back to Sinclair's today for another one. That is the trouble with ordering anything out of the US. If things go wrong only the shipping companies make money
I have had good luck with Sinclair, try and talk to one of the people who handle international sales
- Location
- calgary alberta
The Acculab folks recommend NOT turning off the scale, just leave it on. The .25 cents a month it may cost is not a big deal.
You will find with any lab quality electronic scale that the read out will vary from changes in barometric pressure, which changes slightly every second.
Cell phones and cordless phones also will cause the scale to wander up and down.
I believe you got a lemon, we have sold many of the VIC123 scales and have had excellent results. I have used 1 personally for the last 3 years and have been able to get my velocity variation from shot to shot down to 4 fps in my 308 comp rifle, so feel the scale is certainly work the little annoyance of having to calibrate occasionally.
I would be very surprised if Sinclairs does not look after you real weel, they are 1st class in customer service.
You will find with any lab quality electronic scale that the read out will vary from changes in barometric pressure, which changes slightly every second.
Cell phones and cordless phones also will cause the scale to wander up and down.
I believe you got a lemon, we have sold many of the VIC123 scales and have had excellent results. I have used 1 personally for the last 3 years and have been able to get my velocity variation from shot to shot down to 4 fps in my 308 comp rifle, so feel the scale is certainly work the little annoyance of having to calibrate occasionally.
I would be very surprised if Sinclairs does not look after you real weel, they are 1st class in customer service.
