My RCBS Chargemaster quit

[Ironworker]

I've had my Charge Master for, I think, 15 years. It just quit. I plugged it into another outlet, and Nothing happened. 15 years is pretty good.
What are you all using? How are the RCBS Chargemasters currently on the store shelves?

 

[Bill Norris]

Following

 

[Bc'z]

I've had my Charge Master for, I think, 15 years. It just quit. I plugged it into another outlet, and Nothing happened. 15 years is pretty good.
What are you all using? How are the RCBS Chargemasters currently on the store shelves?

Does it have an on board fuse

 

[Trigger-Jerker]

Might want to check to see if it’s just the power supply.

 

[Fire Dog]

Does it have an on board fuse

That would be my first check then check the lead as it could have a break or fault but anything internal on the motherboard will mean DOA…
Perhaps it is life’s way saying it is time to move on up to an Autotrickler…

 

[Stumpy1]

In case you (or anyone else out there) want to try to get it repaired, Lone Mountain does repair of these units.
Don't know about pricing, but can't hurt to ask.

RCBS Repair

Lone Mountain Communications is a fully functional Two-Way radio communications maintenance facility offering extremely high quality workmanship, done right the first time. Lone Mountain Communications also provides new and reconditioned Two-Way radios, as well as parts, accessories and the...

www.lonemountaincommunications.com

Hope this is useful to someone.

Frank

 

[C.E.Smith043]

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[J.d. Popkes]

Ingenuity fx120i

 

[Clancy]

I have ordered two autotricklers with FX-120i and sent both of them back. One would have required several hundred dollars in equipment to bring online, and the other didn’t work at all. They’re out for me. The FX is a good scale, but I wouldn’t own an autotrickler if it was given to me.

If you can afford the Super Trickler or Ingenuity, then by all means go for it.

I am using the RCBS Matchmaster now ($900) and after carefully adjusting the transport screw and wiping the unit down with a used dryer sheet, I get single kernel of Varget accuracy, or about 2 kernels of N135. It does take a few more seconds than the Super Trickler, but I don’t care at all. It’s excellent.

I thought it was a bit slow to unload the first time, but after using it a few times, it’s plenty easy.

 

[25ring]

In case you (or anyone else out there) want to try to get it repaired, Lone Mountain does repair of these units.
Don't know about pricing, but can't hurt to ask.

RCBS Repair

Lone Mountain Communications is a fully functional Two-Way radio communications maintenance facility offering extremely high quality workmanship, done right the first time. Lone Mountain Communications also provides new and reconditioned Two-Way radios, as well as parts, accessories and the...

www.lonemountaincommunications.com

Hope this is useful to someone.

Frank

Lone Mountain repaired mine with new circuit board which is supposed to be better than original. Works great now . Ran about $200.

 

[jackieschmidt]

I use a ChargeMaster Lite. I have an old 1500 laying around somewhere, I haven’t used it in years.

The main reason I like the Lite is it has a really great wind guard, since I just about do all of my loading at the range.

After watching the video in post #7, it’s amazing I can make two bullets touch

 

[DLA]

I've had my Charge Master for, I think, 15 years. It just quit. I plugged it into another outlet, and Nothing happened. 15 years is pretty good.
What are you all using? How are the RCBS Chargemasters currently on the store shelves?

Good evening,
I had similar results with my charge master, I searched a few sites looking for input on repair etc. A gentleman had a short video on a fix that involved cold solder joints where the ribbon wires connected to the circuit board, I used a pencil style soldering iron to heat each other connections , reassembled unit and it has worked flawlessly since. Hope this may help.
Take care,
Denny

 

[wkdickinson]

I used a CM1500 for 8-10 years. It was a whole lot better than "throwing charges" with a powder measure. But times change as does technology. 3 years ago I bought an Autotrickler V4 - light years different! Expensive but worth every dime!

 

[Webster]

I've had my Charge Master for, I think, 15 years. It just quit. I plugged it into another outlet, and Nothing happened. 15 years is pretty good.
What are you all using? How are the RCBS Chargemasters currently on the store shelves?

If you’re willing to open it up. Be careful of static when handling a circuit board. A common problem is the circuit board getting small cracks that break the gold foil strips. The circuit board may be sprayed with something like a lacquer. If you find a broken foil gently scrape it clean and put a tiny amount of solder on it to bridge the gap. I fixed several small devices like that. Most modern power supplies don't have electrolytic capacitors. This type of capacitor is very prone to failure.

 

[Ironworker]

BackFire likes the Hornady. My Local Scheels has them. It's going to have to wait because the Bills vs Ravens game is on LOL

 

[SeabeeKen]

I have a cm lite that has performed flawlessly for about 8 yrs. This one is before the link version if that makes a difference. Ive checked it and it performs in the .1 gr tolerance. I had a lyman gen 6 before the rcbs. the biggest problem i had was keeping tube seals in it. Got rid of it.
i loaded all my match ammo on my redding beam scale last season because i want better precision and the redding is accurate and so was my ammo

 

[3Ackleys]

Occam's razor.
Check the power supply first. (check the the simplest explanation first )

 

[jpjulian]

My Chargemaster 1500 is gathering dust on the shelf. I bought the CM1500 to replace a Pact unit that died a couple years ago after many years of use. The CM is slow and charges weighed on a beam scale for comparison varied by .3 grains plus or minus from the desired charge. Replaced with an Autotrickler V4 and couldn't be happier. It is a WORLD BETTER than the RCBS unit. It is plenty fast and when properly calibrated for the powder used I get 96+% accuracy. It's well worth the money.

 

[TIMO]

I've had my Charge Master for, I think, 15 years. It just quit. I plugged it into another outlet, and Nothing happened. 15 years is pretty good.
What are you all using? How are the RCBS Chargemasters currently on the store shelves?

Following as well.
I had issues with mine quite a while back as it would not calibrate. A fair amount of compressed air and a little shaking to get some loose powder out and it continues to work to this day.
Tim

 

[BlackGreyhounds]

BackFire likes the Hornady. My Local Scheels has them. It's going to have to wait because the Bills vs Ravens game is on LOL

Hornady works fine for me. Certainly as good or better than your old unit and won't break the bank.