Have you had a ChargeMaster 1500 failure?

[Jeff A]

I have had mine fail twice. Yesterday was the second time. I had loaded 145 rounds out of a planned 160 rounds and it just quit dispensing. It was powered but would not move. The solution that worked for me a year or so ago, worked again yesterday. Here it is:

1. Unplug the power cable from the side of the unit.
2. Empty the powder hopper.
3. Remove the Thumb Screws from the bottom of the ChargeMaster that hold the two modules together.
4. Separate the modules by pulling the scale portion straight away from the hopper.
5. At this point you have exposed the multi pin connector that ties them together.
6. Re-assemble the unit in the reverse order. I did not attempt to clean the pins on the connector because I did not have anything suitable to do it with. It would be very easy to bend the small pins at which point, you are really screwed. I do not believe there is a repair program on the ChargeMaster 1500.

This tool remains the most valuable tool on my bench.

 

[Endyo]

Excellent share.

 

[Erud]

Good tip. I had one fail after owning it for about 4 years. I called RCBS and they told me that it was no longer under warranty, but I could pack it up and send it back with a check for $45 and they would replace it. I did, and they sent me another one within about 2 weeks or so. The replacement has been running perfectly since then, about 5-6 years. No idea if RCBS is still doing that.

 

[Endyo]

I'd bet a pretty penny they would. I've used the C.S. from Green, Red, and Blue. I'd have to say hands down RCBS treatment was by far the best, Hornady second, and Dillon a distant third.

I BROKE my first chargemaster it was less than a year old. I had a kernel fall on the load cell so I turned the unit upside down and blew on it to get it out. The unit started drifting sporadically. So silly me I decided to open the unit voiding the warranty thinking I could fix things.

Long story short, despite my self sabotage I sent my old unit in and RCBS sent me a new unit at no cost.

 

[Sniper338]

I havent had one go out yet... yet at least

 

[STOMP442]

I just had mine fail about a month ago after using it hard almost daily for about 4 years. Turned it on one day and the display was just a bunch of gibberish that would fade away into nothing until eventually it wouldn't display anything at all. It would still beep and still throw powder but there was no telling if it threw the correct weight or not. I called RCBS and was hoping to get a little bit of help with it, but I was told it was out of warranty and I would have to purchase a new one. I really wish I would have got the offer to send in $45 to replace it. I ended up getting a good deal on one from Cabelas with my points and a $20 off coupon but still a pretty penny more than $45. The new one works just as good as the old one did. The charge master is one piece of equipment I can not live without. Five minutes after I was told I would have to replace it I had another on the way. Still got the old one, and keeping my eyes open for one of the scales to come up for sale for a good deal as I think it would still work just fine with a new scale unit.

 

[Endyo]

There's one for sale right now in the classifieds for $200.

I'm sorry your experience was different. You may get a different answer on another phone call?

 

[STOMP442]

There's one for sale right now in the classifieds for $200.

I'm sorry your experience was different. You may get a different answer on another phone call?

I seen that, and I was just a minute or two too late. I guess another phone call wouldn't hurt anything. I will give it a shot.

 

[Homerange]

I seen that, and I was just a minute or two too late. I guess another phone call wouldn't hurt anything. I will give it a shot.

Did you consider swapping walwarts ?
Or mix and matching to see what part is affecting which ?

 

[Hondo64d]

I have had mine fail twice. Yesterday was the second time. I had loaded 145 rounds out of a planned 160 rounds and it just quit dispensing. It was powered but would not move. The solution that worked for me a year or so ago, worked again yesterday. Here it is:

1. Unplug the power cable from the side of the unit.
2. Empty the powder hopper.
3. Remove the Thumb Screws from the bottom of the ChargeMaster that hold the two modules together.
4. Separate the modules by pulling the scale portion straight away from the hopper.
5. At this point you have exposed the multi pin connector that ties them together.
6. Re-assemble the unit in the reverse order. I did not attempt to clean the pins on the connector because I did not have anything suitable to do it with. It would be very easy to bend the small pins at which point, you are really screwed. I do not believe there is a repair program on the ChargeMaster 1500.

This tool remains the most valuable tool on my bench.

I had the keypad fail on the dispensing unit. RCBS told me $150 to fix it or replace it with a new one. It went in the trash and I haven't bought another.

John

 

[Jeff A]

Good tip. I had one fail after owning it for about 4 years. I called RCBS and they told me that it was no longer under warranty, but I could pack it up and send it back with a check for $45 and they would replace it. I did, and they sent me another one within about 2 weeks or so. The replacement has been running perfectly since then, about 5-6 years. No idea if RCBS is still doing that.

When I had my first failure, they said I would have to buy a new one.

 

[dickn52]

My only failure over a 5 year span was the walmart fell apart...literally. They sent a new one for free.

 

[Milo 2.0]

Buying one from Brownells is the only way you're guaranteed a replacement today. I had 3 replaced by RCBS, not sure if they have my phone # on alert or what, but the last time I called, no dice, unit over 1 yr old, and to be honest, they were going off serial # and mfg date, because I had not owned it 1 yr.

 

[Rustystud]

My first Charge master worked flawlessly for the first three years. I reprogramed mine the first day to speed it up during the first stage and slow it down the final stage. After three years my Charge Master just started displaying flashing numbers. RCBS replaced the unit under warranty. I bought a second unit while the first was on its way back to RCBS. The replacement unit I was sold was defective and they replaced it asap. The two units I have worked flawlessly now for two years. I replaced my florescent lights with LED lights. I have found that they work better at 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Would not get caught with out one.