$200 digital scales.... are they worth the time and money?

[NZ_Fclass]

Prior to buying an A&D, I did use a digital scale - it was in the $300 range, and worked quite well. I still have it for general weighing duties around the loading room projectiles, brass, sort of stuff. It works well, is somewhat accurate - and has 4 pressure sensors and suitable circuitry. For weighing powder - a disaster. The ergonomics of working were horrid. Yes it weighs. But even trickling it was difficult - overshoots are a pain to remove etc etc. It really persuaded me to get the Autotrickler. So - beam scale or Autotraickler. No middle ground in my book.

 

[mtncwru]

US SOLID has a few 100-500 gram load cell balances in the $200 range. You can select default unit display.
https://ussolid.com/products/u-s-solid-200-x-0-001g-analytical-balance-1-mg-digital-precision-lab-scale-with-2-lcd-screens-rs232-and-usb-interface-html

Worst case full scale error is +/- .002g or .03 grains -- which means it's usually much less.
The USB and rs232 outputs send printable ASCII on demand. They probably use a subset of the A&D serial command set (or I hope they do).

I had a US SOLID for a minute: wound up donating it to a high school chemistry lab. They have a number of models that won't display grains (including mine), and conversion was a pain in the ass. It was VERY finicky about keeping consistent measurements, and while the RS-232 output port was the same physical port as the A&D FX series, the data structure on the output wasn't remotely close. Their documentation was also complete crap -- woefully incomplete and unclear on how to change settings.

I'd recommend avoiding them if you can.

 

[Hizself]

I had a US SOLID for a minute: wound up donating it to a high school chemistry lab. They have a number of models that won't display grains (including mine), and conversion was a pain in the ass. It was VERY finicky about keeping consistent measurements, and while the RS-232 output port was the same physical port as the A&D FX series, the data structure on the output wasn't remotely close. Their documentation was also complete crap -- woefully incomplete and unclear on how to change settings.

I'd recommend avoiding them if you can.

I'm sympathetic to your gripes about the docs: they are technical, terse, and don't deliver a finished solution. I tend to be technical, verbose, and sometimes must code my own solution. ps: I pfukn hate Garmin Xero shot files.

Sorry you got a lab scale instead of a production one. It's an easy mistake to make. The latter have limited unit conversions. 0.06486 grams/grain is spreadsheet stuff.

US Solid's current rs232c implementation uses a simplified null modem cable (Rx-Tx crossed) if you didn't get their RS232c-USB adapter. A&D cables need dumb shit like RTS-CTS loopback and DT high for their in-house printer peripherals, clearly last millennium. In either case, a generic terminal app should handle it. A printable ASCII output stream is the industry standard in this millennium and any app or spreadsheet should be able to parse it whether it's 11, 14, or 17 bytes.

Display stability hasn't been a problem since I put all measurement and test equipment on power line filters.

No info on the serial command structure yet.

 

[Lead Slanger]

Well, here's the conclusion I came up with.....I need an A&D. Haha. I never could make my mind up on a cheaper digital and ended up running across a new in the box RCBS 505 on fleabay that I picked up for $31. I bought it and serval other things I've been needing, including a Lyman check weight set. Well, the 505 and my Hornady Beam scale both measure the check weights very close to the same. The only thing is, I don't think the check weights are actually what they say they are. Guess what I need to check them with.....an A&D would be nice. Haha

 

[mtncwru]

I'm sympathetic to your gripes about the docs: they are technical, terse, and don't deliver a finished solution. I tend to be technical, verbose, and sometimes must code my own solution. ps: I pfukn hate Garmin Xero shot files.

Sorry you got a lab scale instead of a production one. It's an easy mistake to make. The latter have limited unit conversions. 0.06486 grams/grain is spreadsheet stuff.

US Solid's current rs232c implementation uses a simplified null modem cable (Rx-Tx crossed) if you didn't get their RS232c-USB adapter. A&D cables need dumb shit like RTS-CTS loopback and DT high for their in-house printer peripherals, clearly last millennium. In either case, a generic terminal app should handle it. A printable ASCII output stream is the industry standard in this millennium and any app or spreadsheet should be able to parse it whether it's 11, 14, or 17 bytes.

Display stability hasn't been a problem since I put all measurement and test equipment on power line filters.

No info on the serial command structure yet.

For the record this was a problem of my own making: I knew what I was getting (got a spectacular deal), and figured it would be no big deal. Sadly I was wrong -- it just wasn't worth the hassle. I agree that I likely could have coded my way out of the issue (or asked my wife for help -- she's has an MS in CompSci and has experience with making lab equipment talk to Things, including Excel), but at the end of the day the best way to solve the issue was with money. The Autotrickler has been completely worth it.

 

[Kevin1990]

I started on a rcbs beam scale and then went to a charge master lite and love it. Saves me so much time and makes my reloading experience more enjoyable. Chargemaster lite seems very accurate when used side by side with the beam scale. That being said, I'm saving my pennies for a FX120, which I'm sure probably won't shrink my groups, but it's expensive, so it must be good. Haha.

 

[SD guy]

Well, here's the conclusion I came up with.....I need an A&D. Haha. I never could make my mind up on a cheaper digital and ended up running across a new in the box RCBS 505 on fleabay that I picked up for $31. I bought it and serval other things I've been needing, including a Lyman check weight set. Well, the 505 and my Hornady Beam scale both measure the check weights very close to the same. The only thing is, I don't think the check weights are actually what they say they are. Guess what I need to check them with.....an A&D would be nice. Haha

I don't know that you need the A&D though I am quite sure you will not regret the purchase. Took me way too long to recognize the amount of time I wasted with a wandering digital Hornady scale. Since picking up The A&D I now am clear that my RCBS link scale is considerably more consistent than I thought. Not perfect mind you. Though considerably more consistent than one may have been lead to believe.

 

[Mark W]

If a scale doesn't repeat - sell it.

I hope you’re honest when you sell your junk.

 

[ELR LVR]

I have no need for a digital persoanlly, a balance scale to me is quicker
as well as having a bigger better visual indicator of exactly whats going on
If your beamscale doesn't balance and repeat
PM me and I'll tune it up
It should be senstivie to 1/10th grain and repeat to Zero every time, smoothly

 

[SKWERLZ]

I started on a rcbs beam scale and then went to a charge master lite and love it. Saves me so much time and makes my reloading experience more enjoyable. Chargemaster lite seems very accurate when used side by side with the beam scale. That being said, I'm saving my pennies for a FX120, which I'm sure probably won't shrink my groups, but it's expensive, so it must be good. Haha.

My FX with a v3 is amazing.
Just the scale is awesome as it settles so fast.
Still giggle sometimes when I use it as it so much faster than the RCBS or Hornandy units.
Loaded 338 today and 92 grains of N570 was less than 10 seconds per charge.

 

[cavedweller60]

Keep your eyes open on facebook marketplace and other selling sites. I just bought a very expensive A & D lab balance that was a spare in a chemical analysis lab and, to the owners knowledge, had never been used. It had a current certification, reads to .0001 grns and I paid $135 for it. It is a little slower than a fx-120i or 300i....3 second stabilization time. It literally looks brand new. Sadly, it wouldn't work with an autotrickler so I ended up buying an fx-300i for that but, I will use the more accurate scale to check calibration weights and, for anything I need extreme accuracy on. Deals are out there and, if all you want to do is get an accurate scale for weighing powder, I would hold out for one of those deals.

 

[precision1]

I have no need for a digital persoanlly, a balance scale to me is quicker
as well as having a bigger better visual indicator of exactly whats going on
If your beamscale doesn't balance and repeat
PM me and I'll tune it up
It should be senstivie to 1/10th grain and repeat to Zero every time, smoothly

Amen.i use a cheap digital scale for rough stuff like weighing compound bow arrows.i guess they might be ok for weighing brass if that's your thing.

I don't trust electronics to much myself.i like old school scales that have me in control.not depending on something well I'll be nice and leave out the rest
I like precision and me knowing exactly what I'm doing