digital scales help!!!

[spudgun]

OK, I was having some issues with my Hornady digital scale. I would no zero with the powder pan in place. Sometimes it would be .2 gr to .3 gr off 0.0.
I have had this scale no for about 8 years. Figured I just wore it out.

Purchase a reloading scale off Ebay it was a Neoweight. Designed for reloading. It came and I started using it. it seems that about 3 loads and it would be 2-5 grs off.

I loaded 33.4grs of powder dumped it into the case the poured the powder back on the scale, sometimes it would be .2-.3 gr off.

Today I got a Lyman digital scale and figured I would check it against the other 2.

Using the 50 g test weight that came with one of the scales I got 3 different weights when I used all 3 scales. 50 Grams = 771.618 Grains

Lyman = 772.4 gr
Hornady = 771.7 gr
Neoweight = 771.9 gr

Now I tried turning on the scale it would read 0.00 gr and place the weight on each scale I got the above results.
I then added the powder tray and tared out the scale to 0.00. each scale gave me different measurements again.

So I switched all 3 scales to read in grams. Use a 10 gram weight and all 3 scales measure 10.0 grams on the dot.

What was troubling was the powder I measured and poured into the case and then back on the scale was not the same.

What am I doing wrong?

Today I was also looking at the RCBS motorized power measure device. I thought about these before but was wondering how long it takes in seconds to measure say 40.0 grs of powder.

Anyone got some suggestions or answers to the different weights on 3 scales and also someone who is using a auto measure device give me some info on length of time on ave it takes to measure a charge.

Thank you in advance for info.

 

[C.E.Smith043]

If youre having that much trouble with all 3 scales, it makes me wonder if you're having interference with static, florescent bulbs, or maybe something in the electric cord???

 

[TheCZKid]

I'm sure others will have better input, but various scales will be impacted by different outside factors. Like power input fluctuations, temperature change, air motion, fluorescent lights, etc. Plus, you can calibrate some scales, which helps to make them read more accurately over larger ranges of weight.

One think I know can happen with pouring powder into a case, then back into a pan, is some kernels might stick in the case and not come back out, thus giving you a different reading. On my scale, if I have the tray off to one side, or the powder in the tray more off to one side, it shows slightly different weights.

 

[RegionRat]

What am I doing wrong?

Inexpensive strain gage scales can be like this.

Have you considered the A&D FX123?

 

[sgav8r]

Inexpensive strain gage scales can be like this.

Have you considered the A&D FX123?

^^ this ^^

Buy once...cry once.

 

[ShtrRdy]

I haven't had as much trouble as you're having but I have had enough trouble that I went back to using a beam scale.

I eventually bought an Fx-120i electronic scale and that works wonderfully. Unfortunately they are around $600.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

One, I would expect the scales to weigh calibration weights at high accuracy/repeatability. Issue is the linearity (accuracy throughout the working range) of budget scales, whether digital or mechanical. First problem- Unfortunately those cal weights are often no where close to the charge weights we use. 2nd weighing devices have +,- error limitations, does your device (s) meet the manufacturer stated accuracy? 3rd issue is environmental, low priced scales are more susceptible to interference(temp,humidity, electromagnetic).

 

[NZ_Fclass]

Been there....but I did buy a scale, supposedly Ok from a local supplier and when it was innacurate, returned it. It came back working well, and although I don't use it often for powder, having an Autotrickler,/FX120, it does come in handy for case sorting etc. Apparently it has multiple strain gauges and one had a dry joint in the wiring. I guess that It's Chinese and is likely to have 42 brand names - but the fact that it has multiple sensors etc...and was only US $150.

 

[TheOtherZilla]

Welp, here's my take on electronic scales. First house current is very dirty with harmonics from inductive loads in the system. How do you fix it? You don't really fix it, but you can isolate the scale from the house current by using a battery pack. I got the battery pack off Amazon as well as the cord.

Now if your Hornaday scale is already battery powered then maybe it's time for something new.

 

[tazzman]

Ditto for fluorescent tubes causing error readings. Went to LEDs and the problem dissappeared.

 

[Oldbloke]

IMO you can't go wrong with a respectable set of beam scales.