Gem Pro 250 issues

Fore300

Fore300

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Location
Southern Alberta
I ordered a Gem Pro 250 based on all the good reviews for the scale.
I opened it (packed well) set everything up and tried the scale out. It will not hold a zero, once it is zeroed and you place a weight on it (20g weight it came with) it reads incorrect weight and then won't even go back to zero.
If I get it to zero it just starts floating in numbers.
I thought maybe it could be related to the batteries (brand new Duracell) so plugged it in. Still the same results. Seen suggestions of leaving it to get climatized for 24 hours, and then let it warm up by turning on for 30min.
Still have the same results.
Tried calibrating etc.
Anyone have this issue , was there a fix or do I have to send my brand new never used scale for service? Is this typical with Gem pro users?
 
Yes you're not the first one to have these issues. Things to consider, magnetic and line interference is a big issue with this scale, florescent lights, cell phones VHF or UHF radios must be away from the scale, one of the things to consider. Get a couple of ferrite core loops or snaps and wrap powder cord around it. This will dramatically help with the line interference. These bloody scales needs better shielding IMO, otherwise it's just an antenna.
 
308BAR said:
Yes you're not the first one to have these issues. Things to consider, magnetic and line interference is a big issue with this scale, florescent lights, cell phones VHF or UHF radios must be away from the scale, one of the things to consider. Get a couple of ferrite core loops or snaps and wrap powder cord around it. This will dramatically help with the line interference. These bloody scales needs better shielding IMO, otherwise it's just an antenna.
Click to expand...

I will maybe give these a try before sending to them for repair. I have a feeling it may be damaged , but it could be one of the things listed above.
Thanks for your help
 
Some other items to check:

* make sure the scale is level and sitting on a solid and level surface

* make sure the table is not getting bumped or jiggled or picking up subtle vibration (say, from something like a furnace fan or something mechanical in other room)

* make sure you're working at typical room temperature; the digital scales I've tried have had similar issues at cooler temperatures.

From where did you buy the unit? Might be easier to return and exchange it rather than try to get it repaired.

And as someone else mentioned, beam scales rule.

You can get 0.1 gr (tenth of a grain) accuracy from any beam scale.

If you need 0.01 gr (hundredth of a grain) accuracy, you probably need a laboratory quality scale with certification

If you need 0.001 gr (thousandath of a grain) accuracy, you should probably be charging your loads by counting out individual kernels of powder rather than weighing it.

I've been really enjoying my Dillon Eliminator...

https://www.dillonprecision.com/dillon-s-eliminator-scale_8_7_25215.html
 
I tried to mess mine up a few times just to see what would cause the scale to drift.

I tried to get those ferrite chokes for the adaptor but could not find any locally, so I bought a small UPS battery backup/ surge protector from staples. Changed all bulbs in the room to LED, and turned on the scale and wait two days before calibration.

I have had two phones with me in the room (black berry and iPhone), and the furnace in the same room cutting in and out no issues. The ac unit is just outside and cuts in the summer with no drift issues. I even put in a Mac mini computer with an old monitor and still no drifting issues. Only until I turned on the Bluetooth keyboard did the scale start drifting, turned it off an recalibrated, no issues.

One time after two days of leaving the scale on, i calibrated with the 20gram weight then left it again for two more days and then just weighed the 20gram weight again, no drift.

No idea how it will handle the winter as the room gets warmer then due to the furnace, will know soon enough.

This has been my experience with the genpro250 after a few months of use.
 
The only issues I've ever had was when I used it in the basement. Florescent lights/close to the TV/ overhead vent, I don't know but I stopped using it there. Tried it on the main floor, no issues. As long as nobody walks by, the doors/windows are closed to wind currents and I don't have florescent lights it works like a charm. Perhaps I just got lucky, it works well and I've had mine for a few years. I've never tried it with batteries and always level it. Seldom if ever calibrate it, I test with the supplied weight and have a 155g bullet as well.
 
Fore300 said:
If I could measure to 0.1 accuractly with my beam I would absolutely use it.
Click to expand...

I've cross tested the GP250, RCBS 505 and Lee safety scale against each other and they were all dead on. It's definitely possible to weigh to .1 with a beam scale. The webcam trick makes it even easier.
 
Digital scale are kind of a hit or miss.

If you get a good one it's great. Otherwise you get issues.

I got a cheap Franklin Arsenal one and it works fine.

I also got a RCBS 505 and it's fine but I'd prefer the easier read off the digital.
 
flashman2 said:
I've cross tested the GP250, RCBS 505 and Lee safety scale against each other and they were all dead on. It's definitely possible to weigh to .1 with a beam scale. The webcam trick makes it even easier.
Click to expand...

Issue I find when measuring to the .01 accuracy is if my head is in a slight different spot load to load , then the centring pin is out and I can easily load a touch high or low.
I will look up the web cam trick as that would solve that issue
 
Fore300 said:
Issue I find when measuring to the .01 accuracy is if my head is in a slight different spot load to load , then the centring pin is out and I can easily load a touch high or low.
I will look up the web cam trick as that would solve that issue
Click to expand...

It helps to have the scale at eye level, looking dead on at it. There's a very noticeable difference when you're .1 out on my 505, really even down to .02. With Varget and 4895, etc, I can see the difference even a single grain makes. For throwing charges I actually prefer a beam scale, it's a bit faster than waiting for the GP to settle. For weighing things like bullets in succession I prefer the GP. In other words for working up to a target weight I like the beam, for weighing things of unknown weight I prefer the GP if that makes sense. I don't even bother to use a webcam anymore, but it sure is a neat trick.

https://youtu.be/bVtYglAd9Dc

The only things I did differently was to use a piece of painter's tape on the screen to serve as a reference rather than a needle... doesn't affect the scale and is instantly re zeroable, and just taped the camera down in front of the scale... No fancy bracket required.

But even just eyeballing I can easily throw within .1 on the beam as verified on the GP.
 
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