Electronic scales... GOOD or BAD!

R

Ricky Bobby

New member
I've only been doing the reloading thing since the first of this year, so I'd like to hear from some of you more experienced reloaders on this topic! I originally started with a RCBS Supreme Master kit that came with the 5-0-5 beam scale, and I really liked its reliability, but I started to wonder if I could speed up the process some by switching to an electronic scale. I was able to obtain a RCBS 750 Rangemaster scale and currently have some questions about its performance. I have had some issues with the scale readings going up & down & being erratic while I'm using it. I have done lots of reading on this subject and just want to see what everyone else is doing to avoid these problems. I have read that you should plug them in way in advance to a reloading session, to allow them to warm up. My problem is, I usually reload at the spur of the moment, when time will allow me to. I have read that the incoming electrical current can fluctuate some while the scale is plugged in, causing a false reading. My thought was, instead of plugging this thing in, maybe I should try running it on a 9v battery which it's capable of doing. Would this possibly solve the problem? My other consideration was to maybe just leave it plugged in all the time, but I hate to do that if it's not necessary! I really would like to come up with a solution to make this thing as accurate as I can, but I will keep my 5-0-5 close by so that I always have something I can fall back to. I hope everyone can give me some suggestions! I'd also like to mention that I do calibrate the scale before every session, I don't have any drafts or ducts over the top of my reloading bench, and my flourescent lights are far enough away from my bench. Thanks, Rick.
 

Probably not what you want to hear but I solved this problem
by purchasing a Denver Instruments MXX-123. Expensive but
it measures accurately to +/- .02 grains. I have clean power,
but it also needs to warm up to be stable. I leave it plugged
in, which keeps the power supply warm, but keep the scale
turned off until I need it. I turn it on 10-20 minutes before
use, and it is stable and weighs accurately.

This same scale is sold under different brand names, such as
Denver Instruments, Acculab, and maybe a couple of others.
It model number always ends in 123.

Squeeze
 
If you have fluctuating elec i would use a battery the 9 volt should last a long time my scale runs on AAA batterys and they last forever. I dont have any experiance with the Rangemaster but since its RCBS im sure its top notch and the digital scale should be alot faster im going to get one pretty soon as my scale is just a cheapy i think i will get the Hornady Losk-N-Load bench scale.I would use my 5-0-5 to check every so often and make sure they are rite there.
 
Yeah, I'm thinking that running my scale on the 9volt battery will solve my problems! I will give it a try and give you all some feedback afterwards. Should find out within the next day or two if that solves the problems! Otherwise I might be willing to just leave it plugged in 24/7, but will shut it off when not in use. I just don't care to have it on top of the bench all the time.
 
I bought the Hornady lock & Load powder measure it's very accurate with + or - .1 Grain powder. I have used it for Pistol Powder only with No problems & have checked every 10 rounds for accuracy, Works for me.
 
Originally Posted By: Ricky BobbyI was able to obtain a RCBS 750 Rangemaster scale and currently have some questions about its performance.

Mine would fluctuate a few tenths every time I used it.
I weigh powder charges on the 505, and I use the 750 for weighing brass and bullets.
 
Like the Bman I bought the Hornady Lock & load powder measure I am pleased would never go back to just a scale. Just keep the 5-0-5 scale and powder trickler when mine throws a low charge 0.1gr I throw it on scale & bring to full load takes just seconds on over charge I just dump into powder can. Just FYI the Hornady Lock & Load works perfect about 1 in 40 loads are off 0.1gr
 
I've been using a PACT electronic scale for about 16 years (I think) now, and I have found it to be very reliable. I rarely use a balance beam anymore.

One thing about these digital scales that takes some getting used to is the fact that there's software involved. I had to develop an understanding relationship with my digital scale before I began to have any real confidence in it, but we've gotten along splendidly for a long time now.

I have seen other digital scales, though, that I don't believe were working right at all. They should be reliable. They have voltage regulators internally that should make them operate reliably even if the line voltage fluctuates, but engineers sometimes just don't get it right. I think the strain gauges are sometimes noisy or defective in some other way, and the way they sometimes behave when near a fluorescent light reveals a design shortcoming in my opinion.

I guess you just have to shop around and try a few sometimes to get a good electronic scale. I lucked out and my first one has always been great!
 
Originally Posted By: Ricky Bobbyfw707, did you ever try running yours on the battery?

Nope, I never did.
I always suspected the fluorescent lights over my bench like RiverRider just mentioned.

I've gotten so used to a Redding BR dump measure, 505 scales, and a trickler that I haven't had the electronic out of the box in months.
 
I have a 750 and have learned to turn it on a half hour before using. I use it for shotgun reloading.

for rifle I use a 505 or 1010 and have been using them more and more for shotgun too.
 
Rick,
I have two 750 RCBS Rangemasters and have used them interchanagably for almost three years. Warm up time on mine are usually 3 - 5 minutes max. You addressed some of the issue that you have to watch out for, but heres what I do and it works just fine for me with virtually no flunctaution.

I have my scales plugged into a Surge Protector. There are no other electrically items plugged into that protector. My over head flourescent lamps are 40" above my work bench and hence no electronic interference. There are no radios, TV's, cell phones, CD' players, cordless house phones or any other item (including a fan - floor model or ceiling model) within 5 ft of my scales. Any items that receives or emits and electronic signal, radio wave or another other transmitable signal is a NO NO! You touched on the air/draft issue which is also a NO NO.

Go buy a nice surge protector such as you'd use on a computer and no $10 protectors. I think mine cost $25 that I bought over three years ago. But all that works just fine and I get good solid readings to the .1 gr with no flunctuation. All I can say is eliminate any possiblity of any interfering electronic signal, including anything or any electrical applicance that cycles such as even a refrigerator or an overhead lamp with ballasts. My refrig is 10 ft away and I have no problems, but enjoy nice cold drinks. I can only tell you other guys I shoot with had similar problems when they first started, but by employing these safeguards and a Surge Protector, problems got solved.

Good luck and hope it works out for you.
 
I just wanted to let you all know that I did some reloading this afternoon and decided to try running my 750 on a 9volt battery. After several hours of weighing and loading rounds, I've decided that it WORKS LIKE A CHAMP! It never bounced back and forth with it's readings a single time! I will never run this scale again on 110v, unless I'm in a pinch. It works flawlessly on the battery. I guess my incoming power that it was plugged into, must fluctuate enough to mess with it's performance. Another bonus that I realized after running it on the battery today was that I can now move it and place it anywhere on my bench! Before, I kept it on the end where I had my electrical outlet. Not no more!
 
I use the "cheap" $30 hornady scale for pretty much everything now...faster and I can't tell any difference in accuracy or consistency.
 
Originally Posted By: Ricky BobbyI just wanted to let you all know that I did some reloading this afternoon and decided to try running my 750 on a 9volt battery. After several hours of weighing and loading rounds, I've decided that it WORKS LIKE A CHAMP! It never bounced back and forth with it's readings a single time! I will never run this scale again on 110v, unless I'm in a pinch. It works flawlessly on the battery. I guess my incoming power that it was plugged into, must fluctuate enough to mess with it's performance. Another bonus that I realized after running it on the battery today was that I can now move it and place it anywhere on my bench! Before, I kept it on the end where I had my electrical outlet. Not no more!

That definitely means something.

Speaking as someone who's been an electronics technician since 1977 (I deal with these things on a daily basis), I am pretty darned sure there should be voltage regulator circuitry in these scales. The AC adapter usually puts out DC current that has to be filtered and voltage-regulated in order to power any microprocessor circuitry correctly. I think it's possible that the AC/DC adapter may be faulty or the regulator circuitry internal to the scale may not be working properly. I guess the other possibilities is just poor design or maybe the AC house current is just too noisy.

Good to know you can run it off the battery, though. At least you can use the darned thing!
 
RiverRider, I used it again this morning for a couple hours and it never fluctuated a single time. I'm very pleased with it's performance now! I really don't mind running it on the 9volt battery, because like I stated before, I can now move it anywhere on my bench. I'm sure the 9volt should last a pretty good while, also!
 
Originally Posted By: Ricky BobbyRiverRider, I used it again this morning for a couple hours and it never fluctuated a single time. I'm very pleased with it's performance now! I really don't mind running it on the 9volt battery, because like I stated before, I can now move it anywhere on my bench. I'm sure the 9volt should last a pretty good while, also!

I run my ChargeMaster on 120V AC and I have a digital VOM plugged into the same circuit...if voltage changes it will display it.
 
I am using a frakford scale that only runs on batteries. It seems quite accurate. I just make sure I cal it before use and double check it after the first few rounds. After that, it seems good to go. I do have to turn off the stereo when using, because it likes to mess with the scale a bit, but that's not a huge deal.
 
I have a couple of preferences when it comes to reloading scales, which I shall share.

#1 - For trickling charges I like a beam balance scale. I have a problem with the refresh rate on most electronic scales when it comes to trickling out charges. They just don't stay up well with what is coming into the pan.

#2 - For verifying thrown charges from a powder thrower, the electronic scales are very quick and easy and do a great job. The slow refresh rate is not a factor at this point.
 


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