How Does The Chargemaster Do That?
- Thread starter CharlieNC
- Start date
First off, i'd like to thank all those who've taken the time to help me out. While I may currently be a bit frustrated, it is with things on my end, not the efforts of anyone posting their assistance.
I had another go at playing with the 1st 3 parameters....the 2nd, and 3rd actually.
they control the point at which the dispenser drops speed from medium to slow(#2), and the point at which it switches from slow to trickle(3#)...which is where my problems seem to lie.
Using the McD straw, and
Parameter #1 at 10.0 gns;
#2 at 2.0 gns;
and
#3 at 0.7 gns I get the following:
(the first # is time in seconds spent in the trickling mode, the second # is wt in grains on the AnD Fx:
Programmed wt on the CM is 42.7gn
32.6 42.72
41.4 42.62
18.2 42.8
28.5 42.64
18.5 42.72
changed parameter 3 to 0.6 gn, hoping to speed things up:
16.2 42.72
26.4 42.76
0 42.74
18.5 42.65
15.2 43.86
changed #3 to 0.5gn:
32.1 42.66
8.5 42.76
19.7 42.76
28.9 42.66
7.9 42.80
changed #3 to 0.4gn:
18.8 42.7
0 42.74
0 42.82
0 42.74
13.8 42.8
I then bumped #2 up to 3.0 gns, but all I got was long (20 sec +/-) trickling times with the same finished throw wt.
Curiously enough, the brass insert, with a much smaller opening, overthrows quite a bit with these same settings. There does seem to be magic in the straw...but also a gremlin in the CM...
Again I appreciate all the efforts made.
Regards
ED3
I had another go at playing with the 1st 3 parameters....the 2nd, and 3rd actually.
they control the point at which the dispenser drops speed from medium to slow(#2), and the point at which it switches from slow to trickle(3#)...which is where my problems seem to lie.
Using the McD straw, and
Parameter #1 at 10.0 gns;
#2 at 2.0 gns;
and
#3 at 0.7 gns I get the following:
(the first # is time in seconds spent in the trickling mode, the second # is wt in grains on the AnD Fx:
Programmed wt on the CM is 42.7gn
32.6 42.72
41.4 42.62
18.2 42.8
28.5 42.64
18.5 42.72
changed parameter 3 to 0.6 gn, hoping to speed things up:
16.2 42.72
26.4 42.76
0 42.74
18.5 42.65
15.2 43.86
changed #3 to 0.5gn:
32.1 42.66
8.5 42.76
19.7 42.76
28.9 42.66
7.9 42.80
changed #3 to 0.4gn:
18.8 42.7
0 42.74
0 42.82
0 42.74
13.8 42.8
I then bumped #2 up to 3.0 gns, but all I got was long (20 sec +/-) trickling times with the same finished throw wt.
Curiously enough, the brass insert, with a much smaller opening, overthrows quite a bit with these same settings. There does seem to be magic in the straw...but also a gremlin in the CM...
Again I appreciate all the efforts made.
Regards
ED3
Ledd Slinger
Silver $$ Contributor
Yeah my CM is much more accurate. It never overthrows. When i check weights with small ball powder, they are usually within +/- .04gr of the target. Larger extruded powder may vary up to +/- .06gr or less. But it never overthrows to a full .1gr over the target like the results you had.
I think you may have a problem with your scale, not the trickler. The scale is what really controls everything because the trickler can't do anything without the data transmitted from the scale. I think it would be worth a call to RCBS. Wouldn't be surprised if they are willing to swap out the unit for you. Their customer service is excellent.
Last edited:
I've not changed any parameters from factory settings and as mentioned only use my custom alloy insert.
When I spun it up I was concerned that a square edge on the tube end would hold back the powder too much and therefore formed a slender bevel where the powder enters it.
If the slope on the dispense tube is too steep or flat or you'll lose control of the powder and it will fall in clumps in twitch mode.
You mention long throw times and I wonder if you have the straw too far in or the tube is too close to level.
Check that static is not an issue too, it is for some depending on their climate.
Try parameter 1 @ 7.50, with 7.5gr left to go, slows to parameter 2, set P2 @ 1.90, P3 @ 1.10
My 2 settings:
#1
P1 @ 8.20
P2 @ 2.20
P3 @ 1.20
#2
P1 @ 7.00
P2 @ 1.90
P3 @ 1.08
Mine do ok, I think you're slowing it down too fast before P3, get some powder flowing.
IMO, you have a slower older unit.
I gave your first set of numbers: 7.50/ 1.90/ 1.10 a try.
Measuring only the time spent in the final/ trickle stage, the average trickling time was 31.3 seconds.
The average throw was 42.82, an overthrow of 0.12 gns.
I purchased this ChargeMaster in March of this year.
I appreciate the offer, but I'm going to let RCBS handle this.
If it's a hardware/ software issue, they'll be needed to fix it.
On the other hand, if it's simply an issue of the end user having more information, perhaps they'll recognize that, and the update the owners manual a bit.
While mine appears to be at the extreme end of the spectrum, it's by no means the first similar issue.
regards,
ED3
ETA:
The closest I've come to making this thing work for me, is to essentially eliminate the #3 value / trickle stage, and set the target at 0.40-0.50 gns below the desired weight, and trickle the remaining ~0.10gn needed for my desired charge.
Is anyone sure that RCBS is still offering support/replacement of a unit?
From my owner's manual:
"...
We think that we make the very best reloading equipment in the world.
If you agree, please tell your friends. If you disagree, tell us – we want to do something
about it!
Customer Service
1-800-533-5000
"
and
"
LIMITED WARRANTY
Congratulations on the purchase of your new RCBS Electronic Powder
Handling Equipment. Your new Electronic Equipment is warranted to be free
from defects in material or workmanship for a period of two (2) years from the
date of purchase. This warranty is extended only to the original consumer
purchaser. Should you believe that your Electronic Equipment is defective in
material or workmanship, you must return it to Ammunition Accessories Inc.
through its RCBS Operation, postage paid for evaluation. If defective, the
product will be repaired or replaced at RCBS Operation option, at no charge.
Send a check in the amount of ten dollars, U.S. payable to RCBS Operation for
return shipping and handling, along with the Unit to....
"
Just an FYI, that warranty as I know it is 1 year today, and my last conversation with a RCBS tech which I was trying to get a replacement unit, she was going off mfg date, not date of purchase. Though that part of warranty could be subject of rules interpretation of individual techs, not sure.
IIRC, parameter S_S, factory set to 128, can be changed to 255 to give the scale 255ms to settle down instead of 128ms before the dispenser calls a weight "official". That may help.
For me that reduced the number of times a clump falling with velocity near the end of the trickle made the dispenser feel like the target had been hit, when if it waited a bit longer the scale would then report it was still a bit low.
For me that reduced the number of times a clump falling with velocity near the end of the trickle made the dispenser feel like the target had been hit, when if it waited a bit longer the scale would then report it was still a bit low.
I just checked the printed manual that came with the CM. The previous quote was from a downloaded manual.
My copy says 1 year from purchase.
My printed manual says 1 year. My unit was purchased a year and a half ago. A very nice person at RCBS politely and with proper words told me I was shit out of luck.
the chargemaster i had worked perfectly well. nothing wrong with the machine. for most it is certainly all they need.
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