Would this improve my electronic scale?

kam582

kam582

New member
Maybe I dreamed this because I couldn't find a thread here on PM but I thought I read one time that you could improve an electronic scale by taking out the "noise" on the power line with some type of filter. I called 3 different Radio Shacks and all 3 acted like I was crazy. Is there any thing to this or did I just make this up in my head? If by chance there is something to it, what device would work? Thanks.
 
Try plugging it in somewhere else. I had mine plugged in the same power bar that my stereo was in and that caused alot of trouble for me.

Key
 
It's my Hornady auto charger scale. Being somewhat anal I measure quite a few of the loads on my beam scale. Every once and a while the loads are short. It not as consistent as I would like. It's probably fine, I'm just looking for it to be consistent as possible.
 
I had a lot of the same problems with my RCBS. It did it on battery power or plugged in. It would not hold zero so I threw it in the trash and went back to my beam scales. I personally dont trust the electronic scales.
 
Originally Posted By: kam582It's my Hornady auto charger scale. Being somewhat anal I measure quite a few of the loads on my beam scale. Every once and a while the loads are short. It not as consistent as I would like. It's probably fine, I'm just looking for it to be consistent as possible.

i know 3 people who owned the hornady escales all had problems and they returned them. it is possible that florescent lights could be messing it up,also try plugging it into a decent power surge protector the kind you would use for a home theater system, they clean up the noise. i have a rcbs chargemaster and never had any problems with it.
 
I've read the same thing about florescent lighting having a negative effect on electronic scales, even the battery operated kind...

Since I utilize a large number of the lights in my 'gun' room, I've not moved up to the electronic measuring devices for powder dispensing...Once I get my manual dispenser adjusted, I seldom have a deviation in what charges it throws..and I do a verification check on random cases as I'm loading them..
 
Originally Posted By: reb8600I had a lot of the same problems with my RCBS. It did it on battery power or plugged in. It would not hold zero so I threw it in the trash and went back to my beam scales. I personally dont trust the electronic scales.
Ditto. I have an electronic and once noticed that the weight it reads depended on how quickly I put the powder in the pan. The same exact 75 gr powder charge would differ by up to 3 (!) grains depending on how fast I poured it in.
Needless to say I am back to the beam scale. Faster and more reliable. I use the electronic one to check bullets and it seems to do ok, presumably because the bullet weight comes in all at once.
There is a reason electronic lab scales that are accurate cost $5,000 and have sliding glass doors to prevent air motion. Can't expect the same from a $50 retail store scales.
 
There is such a thing as a power conditioner. The ones I have installed are way out of any normal mans pocket book reach.Like $2K

Have no Idea if they make one for the average Joe.

I my self would not trust them for weighing powder as far as I could throw the moon. Bullet and brass weighing yes but not powder.

DAB
 
Thought I would follow up with what I ended up doing with the Auto Charger. I called Hornady this morning and they were as nice as could be. They understood why I was not happy, and wanted to know what I wanted to do. I told them I wanted to go back to my manual powder drop and beam scale and forget the electronic version. They gave me in store credit for what I paid for the unit. I need a case prep machine, and I think that will probably work with no issues about accuracy. If not that, I will always be in need of their V-Max bullets...

Since I retired I seem to have more time than money, and the manual drop will give me peace of mind that my powder charges are accurate.
 
+1 DAB.

They don't have sufficient power filtering, EMI protection and temperature stabilization control. Just can't be manufactured for the prices they're sold. I'd never trust one for powder weighing.
 
Originally Posted By: biggen0_8Seems like a lot of people are having better luck with the RCBS units.

I can second this, I have a rangemaster 750 set up under a double fluorescent tube set up, plugged into a standard gfci outlet and have had no problems whatsoever out of it.
 
Several things to be aware of when using a digital scale. Any air movement in the room could affect the reading. Even if a fan is in another room air movement could affect to pan and give a bogus reading. You might not notice the air movement but the pan will. Air coming from HVAC vents and open windows also affect scales. I've heard of flourescent lights affecting digital scales but mine has never been affected by it.

You might want to locate your scale and dispenser on a surface other than your reloading bench. This way the movement from operating the press doesn't affect the scale.
 
Originally Posted By: marchboomSeveral things to be aware of when using a digital scale. Any air movement in the room could affect the reading. Even if a fan is in another room air movement could affect to pan and give a bogus reading. You might not notice the air movement but the pan will. Air coming from HVAC vents and open windows also affect scales. I've heard of flourescent lights affecting digital scales but mine has never been affected by it.

You might want to locate your scale and dispenser on a surface other than your reloading bench. This way the movement from operating the press doesn't affect the scale.

kam582,
marchboom has supplied some information on some of the causes that make electronic scales go nuts. I own and use two RCBS Rangemaster 750 scales and run them WITHOUT any interference you might be encountering. First and foremost, as marchboom says, they are very sensitive to wind flow, even breathing directly onto a scale. Thats means NO overhead fans, desk sitting fans, cigarette smoke eliminating fans, or air conditioners OR anything else that causes direct air to blow across the scale. Next is electronic interference, including other appliances being plugged into the same circuit. What I've done is to go down and buy a nice (not cheap) Surge protector that I have my scales plugged into. Nothing else is plugged into that protector. Next, my overhead flourescent lamps are 40" above my reloading table which takes away the probability of light (and the balasts) emitting electronic interference. You also cannot have any electrical appliance that turns on automatically or "cycles" within say 20' because those devices emit an electronic signal when they cycle. Also, no cell phones, computers, TV's, radios or any other electronic device that emits or receives a radio wave signal because your scale will sense that signal as well. In short, when using the scale, limit the conditions that could and will create INTERFERENCE because thos cales are sensitive. Since employing these methods more than two years ago, I rarely have any drift. If I do, one of the formerly mentioned conditions is affecting the scale and isn't all that hard to identify and eliminate.
 
Thanks for the information. My reloading bench is in the basement, and I although I have hvac vents down there, they are shut off. I also used the plastic cover over the pan when dropping a load, which I think would also help prevent any air across the pan. There is also electronic equipment in the room, (it's my man cave) but I never turned the stereo, TV, or anything else on in the room. There are no fluorescent lights in the room. There were other things on the same circuit, but they were not turned on while I was reloading, and they were quite a distance away from the bench. After reading your information I did note that my bench is close to where my pressure tank for the well is located, which has an electrical switch on it that will cycle, however it does not cycle very much, and my scale was not operating right far more than that switch would operate. Still, I suppose that could have caused some of my problems, but not all of them. I never used the press while charging the cases, as I knew it would interfere with the accuracy of the scale. I was afraid to even touch the bench, even though it very sturdy.

Quote:Ditto. I have an electronic and once noticed that the weight it reads depended on how quickly I put the powder in the pan. The same exact 75 gr powder charge would differ by up to 3 (!) grains depending on how fast I poured it in.

This is the same thing my Auto Charger was doing. It would weigh the calibrations weights accurately, but a charge that was dropped in slowly would not weight consistently. I did call Hornady back and explained that to the customer rep I have been working with. He was interested in that information. I have already shipped the unit back to Hornady, who by the way have treated me very well, and have gone back to my manual powder drop and beam scale. I have to say it's kind of nice not to have to worry about having the radio on, or my cell on the bench, or if this particular charge is the right weight. Maybe someday I'll try an RCBS unit, but for now I am happier with the old fashioned way.
 
Originally Posted By: ShynlocoThats means NO overhead fans...
Next is electronic interference...
Next, my overhead flourescent lamps are 40" above my reloading table ...
You also cannot have any electrical appliance that turns on automatically or "cycles" within say 20' ...
Also, no cell phones, computers, TV's, radios ...
In short, when using the scale, limit the conditions that could and will create INTERFERENCE because thos cales are sensitive.
Good God. I go to my garage to reload ammo, not build a NASA satellite or perform brain surgery. And all of that effort and limitations just for the privilege of using an electronic scale instead of a beam one that costs 5 times less?..
I work in the garage, with a beam scale on the window sill, with fluorescent lights right overhead, and the door opens whenever is needed, and I don't care what appliances are anywhere near me. And the ammo comes out just fine.
 
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