ChargeMaster Lite Messed Up……any ideas?

[jackieschmidt]

A while back I bought a almost brand new ChargeMaster Lite. It was a pretty good deal, and I needed a spare.

when I unboxed it, it looked brand new. No damage what so ever.

When I went to try it. the very first thing right off the bat was the scale would drift up and down, sometimes just start drifting up and not stop.

when you zeroed it, it would hold for a few seconds, then start drifting.

it did the same thing in calibration mode. After the final step, when the 100.00 comes up, it would start drifting up and down.

I emailed RCBS, asking if they had any ideas. I downloaded their trouble shooting guide, went through all of the suggestions, nothing changed. They did remind me that it was out of warranty, which I knew.

I finally took it apart to see if anything was amiss inside. Nothing. Everything looked normal.

I have tried it using both the 110 power adapter, and my 12 volt range setup. Same thing.

Needless to say, it’s useless. But before I introduce it to my Mossberg 500, I figured I would ask on here If anybody had any ideas.

The ChargeMaster Lite I havebeen using for a couple of years now has been flawless.

I guess this is a warning about buying anything electronic off the internet.

 

[gravelyctry]

your old CM may be slightly different than your new and that’s why you’re having issues. Something like maybe they cost reduced the new version by removing a ferrite, for example. I went round and round with some scales I had before finally resolving the issue by replacing a lot of fluorescent lights with led bulbs and adding ferrites to the power cord and a few other things.

I guess what I’m saying is that there might not be anything ’wrong‘ with it, and it might work fine in another location. If you sell, it just be open about your experience with it.

best of luck, Neil

 

[Lefty Trigger]

I had an original Chargemaster that sorta did the same thing, however I know what was wrong with it... I dropped a pound of powder from a top shelf on it and it hit exactly on the weigh pan. Toast...

 

[jackieschmidt]

your old CM may be slightly different than your new and that’s why you’re having issues. Something like maybe they cost reduced the new version by removing a ferrite, for example. I went round and round with some scales I had before finally resolving the issue by replacing a lot of fluorescent lights with led bulbs and adding ferrites to the power cord and a few other things.

I guess what I’m saying is that there might not be anything ’wrong‘ with it, and it might work fine in another location. If you sell, it just be open about your experience with it.

best of luck, Neil

It does it outdoors away from any other electronics devices.

 

[Chiquita]

Have you called RCBS?

 

[GLShooter]

You've wiped it down with a used dryer sheet. Right?

Greg

 

[piie]

A while back I bought a almost brand new ChargeMaster Lite. It was a pretty good deal, and I needed a spare.

when I unboxed it, it looked brand new. No damage what so ever.

When I went to try it. the very first thing right off the bat was the scale would drift up and down, sometimes just start drifting up and not stop.

when you zeroed it, it would hold for a few seconds, then start drifting.

it did the same thing in calibration mode. After the final step, when the 100.00 comes up, it would start drifting up and down.

I emailed RCBS, asking if they had any ideas. I downloaded their trouble shooting guide, went through all of the suggestions, nothing changed. They did remind me that it was out of warranty, which I knew.

I finally took it apart to see if anything was amiss inside. Nothing. Everything looked normal.

I have tried it using both the 110 power adapter, and my 12 volt range setup. Same thing.

Needless to say, it’s useless. But before I introduce it to my Mossberg 500, I figured I would ask on here If anybody had any ideas.

The ChargeMaster Lite I havebeen using for a couple of years now has been flawless.

I guess this is a warning about buying anything electronic off the internet.

If the problem is electronics (which I suspect) - do you have the tools/means to test the components on the circuit board? This smells like a blown capacitor to me...

 

[PhilKeil]

Jackie,
There was a shop mentioned on the board who worked on them. I will see if i can find the post. But I am not the greatest in searching.
Good luck
phil

 

[PhilKeil]

Jackie
Lone Mountain Communications is what i found.
Wish i would have known about them when mine went bad.
Might also make sure the hole where the platen stem goes into is clean etc.
good luck\
Phil

 

[CharlieNC]

But does it have one kernel accuracy?

 

[NorCalMikie]

I happened to pick one up off the Internet a few years back. It also looked like new. Plugged it in and watched it hunt for a place to stop for about 15 minutes.
Packed it back up and sold it the same day to someone that wanted it more than I did. RCBS 505, solved that hunting problem.

 

[darkangel_r2]

I load often on a CM lite.

What I do is I place my check weights with the approximate charge area im going to be loading in the pan and let the unit warm up. 2 20gn check weight for 6.5cm or 1 20gn for 223 ect.

It will always in my case appear that the measurements will get heavier. But after about 15-25 minutes the numbers will stop counting up or the time between .1gn shifts gets to be a long time.

I then calibrate and verify it ready my check weight correctly.

Then I load. I verify its reading my check weight right every 10-20 rounds depending on how many i intend to load.

This seems to work pretty well.

 

[GLShooter]

My CM is plugged in 24/7. I don't want to sit there and wait while it gets right with room conditions and operating temperature. I'm not seeing drifting issues and it only takes a few minutes to calibrate at each session.

Greg

 

[BoydAllen]

Lone Mountain Communications - RCBS Charge Master Combo 1500 Repair & Reconditioning, Two way radios, repair and sales

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

 

[jackieschmidt]

Lone Mountain Communications - RCBS Charge Master Combo 1500 Repair & Reconditioning, Two way radios, repair and sales

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

Thanks. I will give them a all.

 

[JEC396]

your old CM may be slightly different than your new and that’s why you’re having issues. Something like maybe they cost reduced the new version by removing a ferrite, for example. I went round and round with some scales I had before finally resolving the issue by replacing a lot of fluorescent lights with led bulbs and adding ferrites to the power cord and a few other things.

I guess what I’m saying is that there might not be anything ’wrong‘ with it, and it might work fine in another location. If you sell, it just be open about your experience with it.

best of luck, Neil

I agree with gravelyctry. Electronic scales use strain gages to convert the powder charge weight to a voltage that can be measured and displayed. Strain gages typically output 0 - .03 volts. Nearby electrical equipment (sonic cleaner, fluorescent lights, electric motors, etc.) can easily interfere with this small voltage. Try using the scale in a different location away from other electrical equipment.

 

[jackieschmidt]

I agree with gravelyctry. Electronic scales use strain gages to convert the powder charge weight to a voltage that can be measured and displayed. Strain gages typically output 0 - .03 volts. Nearby electrical equipment (sonic cleaner, fluorescent lights, electric motors, etc.) can easily interfere with this small voltage. Try using the scale in a different location away from other electrical equipment.

I tried everything. I’m sending it in with my old one that just puked out.

My ChargeMaster Lite Took A Cr-p

I have been using it since they first came out and it has been great. but this morning, it gave up the ghost. The motor won’t run. The scale still woks, I always carry my vintage Bruno Powder Thrower, so I set it up, got in to throwing the correct wight, and then shot my best group of the day...

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