Help me decide which electronic scales.

[muffo]

Im tossing up whether to buy an A&D fx120i or a used A&D fz200i. the fx will cost me about 600 new by the time I get it here. the USED fz will cost me 506 dollars.
the fz model is worth 900 more new. Is there an issue with buying a second hand scale?

These are the 2 scales new
http://cambridgeenviro.com/productDetail.php?122g-x-0.001g-A-D-5-Year-Warranty-Top-Loading-Balance-5110

http://cambridgeenviro.com/productDetail.php?220g-x-0.001g-A-D-5-Year-Warranty-Top-Loading-Balance-2894

 

[coford]

I will say that I am very happy with my FX 120i and can find no faults with it. I did add the tall breeze shield to mine and I am very happy with that as I can see the pan easier.

I think the determining factor would be the warranty. If the used 200 has the same warranty as the new 120 I might go for it but if not buy new with a full warranty. Just my two cents worth.

 

[snakepit]

I think the determining factor would be the warranty. If the used 200 has the same warranty as the new 120 I might go for it but if not buy new with a full warranty. Just my two cents worth.

I was looking at a used FX-120i and called Cambridge about the warranty and they said that the 5 year warranty is transferable but the 5 years starts from the date the original purchase was made so you will need to know that and hopefully the original purchaser registered it. The warranty work is tracked by scale serial number.

 

[muffo]

I wont get warranty on either because I would be getting it sent to Australia

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Looks like the fz just has higher capacity but wont read any more accurately. I don't like buying used electronics. Id get the fx, I love mine.

 

[muffo]

It also has internal and external zeroing. No idea what advantage this is but it must do something for it to cost 3 times as much new
Plus its waterproof which could be a huge plus when measuring internal case capacity with water

 

[stool]

not unless you submerge your scale to to that.....just buy the new one....
did you check to see if there is a local source so you would have a warrantee ??

It also has internal and external zeroing. No idea what advantage this is but it must do something for it to cost 3 times as much new
Plus its waterproof which could be a huge plus when measuring internal case capacity with water

 

[muffo]

Yeah there is a local source. They are double the price

 

[stool]

hmm so why no warrantee if there is a local source ??

Yeah there is a local source. They are double the price

 

[Alex Wheeler]

The internal calibration means theres an internal calibration weight. With the fx you must place a calibration weight on the pan. Not a big deal.

 

[normmatzen]

If I were you, I would go on ebay and look for an Ohaus TS series balance either TS120 or TS200. The older ones read only grams and the newer ones can be switched to gn. I have purchased 3 of them and in fact one found its way to my friend in Australia.

I use mine on the gram range as the accuracy is ~0.015gn and on the gn range it is 0.02 gn.

These are pretty old balances and date back to the '90s, but they are pretty bullet proof. The two I still have will maintain tare for days and the readability is to 0.001g or 0.020 gn. The going price is $50 to $200 or so depending on model and condition. Do not buy one that is not guaranteed to work! If it does work and displays the approximate correct weight, they are usually O.K. If they don't work, there are broken pieces inside that are un-obtainium! Full instructions as well as maintenance manuals are available on line.

 

[muffo]

hmm so why no warrantee if there is a local source ??

Yeah there is a local source. They are double the price

States on their eebsite they only warranty units sold in australia

 

[ridgeway]

hmm so why no warrantee if there is a local source ??

Yeah there is a local source. They are double the price

States on their eebsite they only warranty units sold in australia

Are you talking about Cambridge? I don't see that on their website. Just order the FX-120i and be done with it. Many satisfied users and I have yet to hear of any problems with them. Mine has been rock solid, fast, accurate, precise and very user friendly. Its capable of internal calibration and external. When you order it, order a 50 or 100 gram check weight. Each time I turn my scale on and sit the weight on, weighs exact each time. If I leave the scale on 24-7 and sit the weight on at any time, same exact reading.

 

[muffo]

No I mean the australian a&d website states they only warranty units sold in australia. A&d website says the fx120i only has external calibration

 

[ridgeway]

No need for the internal calibration. Just order a weight from A&D and you will be good to go. Sounds like you have your mind set on the used scale. Go for it if that is what you want. I know I wouldn't fork out that kinda cash to take a risk on a electronic scale. Who knows how much it has been used or abused...

 

[rox]

It also has internal and external zeroing. No idea what advantage this is but it must do something for it to cost 3 times as much

If there were nothing else to differentiate them I wouldn't buy an internally calibrated balance over an externally calibrated one for reloading (perhaps unless it was going to be used in commercial production 8 hours a day).

Internal calibration adds considerable cost and complexity. The balance is no more accurate as a result, it just takes one or two less button-presses to calibrate (and Fx120 calibration is pretty simple anyway); if you want to have the calibration weights certified you will have to send off the whole balance, and you are not able to share the calibration weights with other balances. I would avoid them simply on the basis of the extra complexity of the motorized calibration weight mechanism, i.e. there is more to go wrong.

Internal calibration is best suited to environments where operators need to calibrate regularly during a work session, e.g. every four hours to ensure ISOxxxx compliance, and to ensure they can do so without having to go and find a calibration weight, and to make the process as simple as possible to minimize disruption to work. Reloaders generally aren't sharing the workplace (and calibration weights) with co-workers, probably rarely weigh powder for many hours at a time, and are unlikely to seek ISO compliance. None of this is to say that good calibration practices don't matter to reloaders though. I bought a good calibration weight plus a check weight for linearity with my first Fx120i and the weights now serve 2 Fx120i balances and a 0.1mg balance.

 

[Martin52]

Muffo - can you advise who the local supplier is for the FX120i and cost ? I have called a few here and have been told the FX120i has been discontinued in Australia - the closest alternative is the FX300i (along with the FZ300i) for around $1200 (with warranty).

Martin

 

[muffo]

Muffo - can you advise who the local supplier is for the FX120i and cost ? I have called a few here and have been told the FX120i has been discontinued in Australia - the closest alternative is the FX300i (along with the FZ300i) for around $1200 (with warranty).

Martin

It seems you are right. I hadnt looked at the local one for 12 months and the price was about 990 back then its no longer on their website