Digital Scale Issues

H

HammerliSP20

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Regina SK
My RCBS Range Master 750 scale has been giving me some readings that are varying by plus 0.5 grains. Only plus, not minus.

I have my 650 set up to load 6.2 grains of VV N340 in a .45 ACP cartridge. Usually when the Dillon powder measures are set, they don't move.

I check every 50 rounds or so with the powder measure, and that's when I noticed the differences.

I have double checked the loads with my "balance beam" scale and they are dead on 6.2 grains, which leads me to believe I can't trust the digital scale.

Anyone else have problems with this scale in particular or digital scales in general?
 
I have an old Lyman scale that needs to left on for 10 minutes (seems lik it needs to warm up) before it will work consistently. I turn it on and get the rest of my stuff set up check calibration and it works perfectly. Nearly sent it back to them 15yrs ago, till a fellow told me to try this. I have not calibrated it in years now. Let it warm and use the check weights and it is allways perfect. Try this or send it back.
 
Leave it to be 'warmed up' for 10-15 minutes, tap the platter with your finger a few times, calibrate, then you may find you get more consistant readings. I had the same issue with an RCBS digital (also that it would never work on batteries), and they told me to try that and it seems to solve the issue.
 
My RCBS "Powder Pro" digital manual says it should be allowed to stabilize for 20 to 30 minutes. I calibrate each time, and have no problems at all with it.
 
Note some folks have mentioned that certain fluorescent lighting throws off there digital scales. I guess the balast or something is emitting radiation. I don't know for sure but I had read it, that it throws off readings slightly
 
Avalonthas said:
Note some folks have mentioned that certain fluorescent lighting throws off there digital scales. I guess the balast or something is emitting radiation. I don't know for sure but I had read it, that it throws off readings slightly
Click to expand...

That may(allegedly)have been me ... the Dillon gave major grief(wandering zero, a full grain's worth).
Turn off the nearby flourescent ... and all is well.

Still don't trust them devious electrons though, it's RCBS/OHAUS 10/10 balance beam for my powder charges ....
 
Is it returning to zero?

I put my small check weight on mine every so often and the reading is always the same as long as the scale starts from zero. If I leave a charge on the scale for any duration over 30 seconds it will read off and need to be zeroed. Once I zero the scale the check weight reads perfect again. Therefore, the only time my scale is not reading zero is while weighing the charge other then that the pan is empty. It is very consistent using this method.
 
Hear you 240z. There are ways to make 'em work.
You are posting to OP, so I'm offside here ... not often a charge sits in the pan over thirty seconds, unless it's one of those that got trickled over in haste, and needs powder removed and reweighed. In which case you would be needing to rezero the scale in order to reweigh it?.

If so, you are a far more patient man than I.

With 100 cases in the block, for me, the 10/10 is quicker and much more consistent charge to charge as well.
I can't be bothered dik'n about with hy-tec anymore.
 
vviking, I was annoyed at first since I had a habit of leaving the next charge in the pan until I was ready for it. Now with leaving the pan at zero it works 100% of the time....... unless I fall back on the old habit and then yes I have to dump the charge, zero, and re-weigh. I have full confidence in my scale, as one must to reload, as long as I follow this one procedure.

Hammer, if it is not zeroing you have a problem as this will allow your scale to wander. At least this is what would happen with mine.

Are you working in a room with wind, register, or suction to the furnace or air-conditioner? Even a slight breeze can cause problems with zeroing the scale and this one must return to zero.
 
Air currents, static electricity, and electrical and electronic interference are your enemies when electronic scales are used.
No fluorescent lights or cell phones near the reloading bench for starters.
If your bench is metal grounding to a water pipe is preferable.

A set of check weights such as the RCBS deluxe set is a nice plus.
 
thump_rrr said:
Air currents, static electricity, and electrical and electronic interference are your enemies when electronic scales are used.
No fluorescent lights or cell phones near the reloading bench for starters.
If your bench is metal grounding to a water pipe is preferable.

A set of check weights such as the RCBS deluxe set is a nice plus.
Click to expand...

Air currents are not a problem. but as for electronic interference... I can see three desktop computers (mine, wife's, son's) from where I'm sitting, so I'm going to move the scale to a different location and see if that helps.

If not, I'll return to the balance beam scale to check my loads.

I have a set of the check weights on order.
 
I don't have any problems with my RCBS chargemaster setup: It sits on my wooden reloading bench and even with a fluorescent light attached to the ceiling above. I do calibrate it everytime I use it as per the instruction manual. I don't often reload large quantities in one setting, so have not needed to recalibrate periodically during use also per instruction manual. When I compared some loads to the Ohaus balance, the Chargemaster was consistent.
 
stubblejumper said:
And if using a Chargemaster, watch to see that the scale reads the same every time you remove the pan to pour out the powder charge.
Click to expand...

I second this. Out of 50 charges I had 2 that over charged by 0.1 or 0.2 of a grain.
But I also have a large flourescent directly overhead which may be the culprit, I haven't tried other lighting yet as so far its been consistent otherwise
 
My Lyman dps has been giving me charges from .2 to . 7 over the programmed weight consistently this past week too. Thanks for the suggestions
 
Let it warm up before using, keep at least 3 feet away from a fluorescent light, remove any airflow (fans, hvac ducts), use a UPS (uninterrupted power supply) to reduce electrical interference.
These are the major reason for inaccurate readings.
 
Ive tried all of the above and the RCBS 750 is now history. The new Jennings iBalance 201 digital scale is on its way. $184.20 plus shipping.
 
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