FX-120i tidbit

[itchyTF]

This may be of no importance to the majority but I thought I'd pass it on FWIW.

I noticed when I removed my pan from the scale I would sometimes get a -143.54 grains and other times I'd get -E. It seemed to be random. Found out it wasn't random but the way I was doing things. Turn the scale on with nothing on the platen and get 0.00. Put pan on (143.54) then tare (0.00). Remove pan and get the negative of the pan weight. The reason I was getting the -E -> I was turning the scale on with the pan which read 0.00 then when I removed the pan got the -E.

 

[Geronimo Jim]

GREAT INFO.............THANKS

 

[HTSmith]

Thanks for sharing. I just leave mine on.

 

[6Creed73]

I have also experienced this when I leave the pan on the platen. Then I have to re-calibrate the scale to get back to normal operation.

 

[itchyTF]

I have also experienced this when I leave the pan on the platen. Then I have to re-calibrate the scale to get back to normal operation.

Re-calibrating is not a bad idea but to fix the -E issue just remove the pan before you turn it on.

 

[6Creed73]

Re-calibrating is not a bad idea but to fix the -E issue just remove the pan before you turn it on.

Yeah, I know...but there are times I forget to remove the pan. When that happens I re-calibrate.

 

[JMayo]

Never leave any weight on the scale when it's not in use. Imo

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Whenever I see a post about the FX120i it makes me want to tell everyone that this scale is the best money I have ever spent on reloading equipment. Hands down a 100% better than a strain gauge scale, get some loading done and not fuss with your scale.

 

[Geronimo Jim]

This tip alone is worth the price of my gold membership.

 

[Timon]

I spoke with Adam about this a while back and I’ll try to get this explanation right. If you turn on the scale with the cup on it calibrates itself to that weight as zero. Then if you remove the cup, the value on the scale becomes less than zero, or a negative value, hence the -E. It is an error code on the scale for a negative value, which the scale cannot compensate for. Hope I got this right and it makes some sense to you all.

 

[itchyTF]

I spoke with Adam about this a while back and I’ll try to get this explanation right. If you turn on the scale with the cup on it calibrates itself to that weight as zero. Then if you remove the cup, the value on the scale becomes less than zero, or a negative value, hence the -E. It is an error code on the scale for a negative value, which the scale cannot compensate for. Hope I got this right and it makes some sense to you all.

If that’s the case then, I suppose, you could think of the 0.00 upon turn-on as the scale’s absolute zero which it doesn’t like going below. Taring creates a relative 0 below which it can go.

 

[Timon]

If that’s the case then, I suppose, you could think of the 0.00 upon turn-on as the scale’s absolute zero which it doesn’t like going below. Taring creates a relative 0 below which it can go.

Sounds about right, but I try not to think about things like this too deep. I’m pulling this from deep memory cells. I just know it cleared up my -E error on mine.

 

[JFrank]

Turn on the balance without a weight, zero out then add a pan or cup, when removing the same I notice the negative value may vary or drift over night. I will zero the balance again and place a small check weight before beginning a session to confirm accuracy. Leaving a check weight on the balance over time the value may drift slightly however/again I always zero before a session.
Imo this just seems normal.

 

[Rocketvapor]

Is this with or without an interface device connected?
Seems the FX120 series can be used for weight loss measurements an the -E might be some software limit of an attached device.

 

[6Creed73]

Is this with or without an interface device connected?
Seems the FX120 series can be used for weight loss measurements an the -E might be some software limit of an attached device.

I never saw the -E message until I got the V4, so I don't think it's the scale.

It was mentioned above that the scale couldn't compensate for a negative value, but I don't think that's right. If I zero the cup, then remove it, the scale shows a negative value, even with the V4 connected. The - E message is something else imo and only happens if the scale is powered on with the cup on the platen. I've thought about sending Adam an email to ask, but it doesn't bother me that much.

 

[itchyTF]

I never saw the -E message until I got the V4, so I don't think it's the scale.

It was mentioned above that the scale couldn't compensate for a negative value, but I don't think that's right. If I zero the cup, then remove it, the scale shows a negative value, even with the V4 connected. The - E message is something else imo and only happens if the scale is powered on with the cup on the platen. I've thought about sending Adam an email to ask, but it doesn't bother me that much.

It can compensate for a negative value from a tared weight, but I suspect there is a limit. If I turn on with a weight of a 33 grains on the platen then remove it I get -33 grains. If I do that with 46 grains I get -E. If I turn on with nothing on the platen then add a 770 grain weight, tare it then remove I get -770 grains.

 

[Jefferson]

Whenever I see a post about the FX120i it makes me want to tell everyone that this scale is the best money I have ever spent on reloading equipment. Hands down a 100% better than a strain gauge scale, get some loading done and not fuss with your scale.

magnetic force restoration scale fx120i

 

[Dave M.]

This may be of no importance to the majority but I thought I'd pass it on FWIW.

I noticed when I removed my pan from the scale I would sometimes get a -143.54 grains and other times I'd get -E. It seemed to be random. Found out it wasn't random but the way I was doing things. Turn the scale on with nothing on the platen and get 0.00. Put pan on (143.54) then tare (0.00). Remove pan and get the negative of the pan weight. The reason I was getting the -E -> I was turning the scale on with the pan which read 0.00 then when I removed the pan got the -E.

I use this feature to see how much my scale is floating. I know the exact mass of my cup (746.62grains) and I look for -746.62gr on the scale every time I return the powder cup.

 

[6ShotsOr5?]

Yeah I have wondered about the -E message. I leave my FX-120i unplugged when not in use, due to thunderstorms being common in our area.

 

[jxb]

This is simply caused by powering it on with something on the pan or the pan removed. It's addressed in the scale manual.

Think of it as you assembled the scale and configured it with the scale pan on and empty (nothing on the scale) and calibrated it which it stores as an expected value. However when you power it on with something on the scale (or missing like the pan) it's simply saying, hey this isn't what I'm expecting to see for weight. ST users that read the manual would have seen this addressed right off because the scale pan is being replaced and if you don't follow the instructions exactly you get the -E or some other E error and get to start over.

FX-i/FZ-i manual pg66: -E
Weighing pan Error
The weight value is too light.
Confirm that the weighing pan is properly installed and
calibrate the balance.

As for powering it off, I don't except during thunder storms when I unplug anything I care about. Otherwise I just put it in standby unless I'm going to be gone for more than a week or two. These are made for 24x7 use in commercial, industrial, and scientific environments. This way you don't need to wait 30min for it to warm and settle, just wake it up and use it then put into sleep again when done.