Chargemaster 1500 - no more scale drift!

[338 dude]

@338 dude
Why would 2.4GHz or 5GHz RF signals cause any problems? Do you turn off the wi-fi at home when you use the CM1500?

Not in the same room so no I don’t turn it off but I do not bring my phone in my loading room

 

[Ron Blain]

I tend to agree with you, the power supply that came with my charge master also states that it has an output voltage of 9 volts but is actually producing 12 volts according to my multi-tester and I have checked my multi-tester and know its accurate.
Have you checked your power supply, I wonder if it is producing out 12 volts like mine is.

Unloaded 13.37 VDC but again that is unloaded. Tomorrow I can see what the output is loaded running the scale. Consider it is labeled 9.0 VDC. That number really doesn't surprise me and judging by weight the wall wart is an older transformer type. Most newer wall wart supplies I have seen are all SMPS (Switch Mode Power Supply) types and actually have pretty good regulation, noisy but well regulated. I measured it using a Fluke 87 DMM which I know to be accurate enough, no sense in dragging out a bench meter.

I figure the scales will likely run on anywhere between 7 and 12 VDC because there is likely a regulator in there and additional filtering. Anyway tomorrow I'll monitor it connected to the scale with the scale turned on and see what we get.

Ron

 

[Ron Blain]

So here's a potentially dumb question.

If I take the 12 volt deep cycle camper battery that stays on trickle charge in my garage and hook my power inverter to it and then plug in my Chargemaster to run off of the inverter, will I have accomplished anything versus just running the CM off the wall outlet?

No, nothing I can think of. That said my wall wart for my Chargemaster is a transformer type wall wart. It was designed for 120 VAC 60 Hertz input. Home mains voltage is a relatively nice clean sine wave. The more expensive better inverters output the same, a sine wave, TSW (True Sine Wave). However, this is not always true of an inverter, many output what is called a MSW (Modified Sine Wave) which the wall wart may not care for.

Also, as to line quality or the quality of residential power in the US and I only say US because that is where I am. Overall the power where I am in the SE Cleveland, Ohio burbs is pretty good. I have also run plenty of electronic scales off my backup generator power and never a problem. As to anything in the 2.4 GHz region or band? If you took a good spectrum analyzer and did a sweep of that band you would find endless signals, I mean they are endless so believe me if things like your home WiFi or cellular phones were affected by these signals you would know about it. I do not recommend running an electronic scale inside an energized microwave oven but beyond that all the ones I have seen seem to work fine. At least mine do including my maybe 30 year old RCBS Powder Pro which has been the victim of many of my interference science experiments.

Ron

 

[Ron Blain]

OK, set things up and got the following results. Wall wart output unloaded was about 13.99 to 14.10 volts pretty stable. Turned on the scale and voltage dropped to 13.32 with minor variations during key strokes and beeps. With the dispense motor running voltage drops to 12.3 volts. Pretty much what was expected. All of this just reinforces my thoughts that there is internal voltage regulation and filtering. Maybe eventually I'll take it apart. Also, before I forget earlier in the world of wall warts I mentioned older ones usually use a mains transformer to step down the voltage and then rectify it while some use a AMPS type design. Weight aside most using a SMPS design will normally have a wide input voltage range like 85 ~ 250 VAC 50/60 Hz. The SMPS versions have a regulated output.

Ron

 

[sunnyfisher]

OK, set things up and got the following results. Wall wart output unloaded was about 13.99 to 14.10 volts pretty stable. Turned on the scale and voltage dropped to 13.32 with minor variations during key strokes and beeps. With the dispense motor running voltage drops to 12.3 volts. Pretty much what was expected. All of this just reinforces my thoughts that there is internal voltage regulation and filtering. Maybe eventually I'll take it apart. Also, before I forget earlier in the world of wall warts I mentioned older ones usually use a mains transformer to step down the voltage and then rectify it while some use a AMPS type design. Weight aside most using a SMPS design will normally have a wide input voltage range like 85 ~ 250 VAC 50/60 Hz. The SMPS versions have a regulated output.

Ron

You are obviously more technically proficient in electronics than I and it appears that I have basically the same power supply as you do.
As you say there must be some sort of internal voltage regulation as it been running just fine on 12 volts and should continue to do so with any 12 volt portable power supply as well as the 9 volt that I tried, thanks for the info.
Actually this unit is far more stable than any of the other scales that I have tried, basically I'm very happy with its performance.

 

[MN50Shooter]

I’ve never had a scale drift problem but the other day I turned it on and the display lit up but no characters on it. It beeped as usual after the count down but nothing on the display. Tried turning on and off several times to no avail. Called RCBS, they never heard of that. I guess it’s toast....

Here's a link to an outfit that repairs Chargemasters. I've never personally needed their help (fingers crossed), but have a buddy that used them, and he is quite happy.

https://www.lonemountaincommunications.com/rcbs.html

 

[Ron Blain]

Here's a link to an outfit that repairs Chargemasters. I've never personally needed their help (fingers crossed), but have a buddy that used them, and he is quite happy.

https://www.lonemountaincommunications.com/rcbs.html

Thanks for sharing that. Yeah, while we all hope we never need it, it is nice to know.

Ron

 

[Snuggie]

Here's a link to an outfit that repairs Chargemasters. I've never personally needed their help (fingers crossed), but have a buddy that used them, and he is quite happy.

https://www.lonemountaincommunications.com/rcbs.html

Thanks for that but the RCBS guy said they charge $150-$200 to repair. I ordered a V3 back then. It’ll be here tomorrow! Took two months but I’ll be back in business with a much better unit.

 

[Dub]

Thanks for that but the RCBS guy said they charge $150-$200 to repair. I ordered a V3 back then. It’ll be here tomorrow! Took two months but I’ll be back in business with a much better unit.

specifically how better?

 

[Snuggie]

specifically how better?

Better scale sensitivity...

 

[Dub]

not doubting you. my unit is 6 years old but I have no issues with it. How do you quantify better sensitivity?

 

[Ron Blain]

not doubting you. my unit is 6 years old but I have no issues with it. How do you quantify better sensitivity?

Accuracy, Precision, Resolution, and Sensitivity pretty much defines each. I guess I don't see where sensitivity is much a factor. I can see where we want Accuracy, Precision and Resolution but unless I am doing awful light loads Sensitivity is something I really don't care about.

Ron

 

[wkdickinson]

I have a Chargemaster 1500 that is about 3 years old. After reading this thread I checked to see what mu power supply's stated output is and it's 12V . I then checked it with my multi-meter and the no load output is 12.16 volts.

 

[Ron Blain]

I have a Chargemaster 1500 that is about 3 years old. After reading this thread I checked to see what mu power supply's stated output is and it's 12V View attachment 1178846 . I then checked it with my multi-meter and the no load output is 12.16 volts.

Yes, because your wall wart is a SMPS (Switched Mode Power Supply) so has a regulated DC output voltage. Note the power adapter label where it says "Switching Power Adapter". Also note the input voltage range which tells us it's a switcher type.

Ron

 

[Shooter13]

Well, I was "influenced" by the power adapter and cord someone recommend and @Dusty Stevens recommended and I purchased one, used it tonight for the first time (cause it just came in today) and the scale was the most consistent I've ever seen! I double check each and every load on the bean scale and they were darn near perfect! So thanks guys.

 

[J.d. Popkes]

Well, I was "influenced" by the power adapter and cord someone recommend and @Dusty Stevens recommended and I purchased one, used it tonight for the first time (cause it just came in today) and the scale was the most consistent I've ever seen! I double check each and every load on the bean scale and they were darn near perfect! So thanks guys.

What exactly did you purchase? Thanks

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Well, I was "influenced" by the power adapter and cord someone recommend and @Dusty Stevens recommended and I purchased one, used it tonight for the first time (cause it just came in today) and the scale was the most consistent I've ever seen! I double check each and every load on the bean scale and they were darn near perfect! So thanks guys.

It usually falls on deaf ears. Glad you found the recommendation good. Its been good for everybody thats tried it so far

 

[Shooter13]

What exactly did you purchase? Thanks

Here is a link to the battery I got; https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ME3ZH7C/?tag=accuratescom-20

Here is a link to the cable I got; https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DX6ZUBM/?tag=accuratescom-20
Here you go!

 

[J.d. Popkes]

Here is a link to the battery I got; https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ME3ZH7C/?tag=accuratescom-20

Here is a link to the cable I got; https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DX6ZUBM/?tag=accuratescom-20
Here you go!

I see, too bad that battery can’t support multiple cables. Very cool, and not expensive. Thanks!!

 

[Ron Blain]

I see, too bad that battery can’t support multiple cables. Very cool, and not expensive. Thanks!!

They make adapters for that or you can roll your own.

Ron