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(Problem Solved) Brand New FX120i Won't Stabilize!

Killick

Transcendental Capitalist
Brand new FX120i won't hold zero. I have had it on for over a day so it's warmed up. Worked for about 15 rounds and then started to drift randomly. It would hold zero and I tried to weigh some rounds and after 1 or 2 rounds it goes bananas. AC is off, temp.@65 deg., I'm in my attic and there are literally no breezes, no magnetic interference. It's sitting on a 28"x20"x3/4" slab of marble. Would a UPS help?
OP Edit:
Detective Turbulent Turtle, on the case, solved the riddle.
 
Last edited:
Killick said:
Brand new FX120i won't hold zero. I have had it on for over a day so it's warmed up. Worked for about 15 rounds and then started to drift randomly. It would hold zero and I tried to weigh some rounds and after 1 or 2 rounds it goes bananas. AC is off, temp.@65 deg., I'm in my attic and there are literally no breezes, no magnetic interference. It's sitting on a 28"x20"x3/4" slab of marble. Would a UPS help?
Click to expand...

Mine drifts, but I wouldn't go so far as to say it 'freaks out'. Can you describe the amount of variation you're seeing?

That said, it can be difficult to pinpoint an exact cause. I've got mine plugged into a power conditioner (Tripp Lite 1200) with Ferrite magnets wrapped in the power cords, and that did seem to settle it down some; the tripp lite has also randomly 'clicked' and shown voltage sag when no other symptoms were present in the house/power.
 
I’ve had mine for quite a while and it occasionally has drift but it’s very rare, but my first question would be whether you are using any kind of aftermarket pan or tray accessory on the bottom? In my experience they can occasionally cause a problem depending on the situation.

All I can tell you is that every time I use it it has been physically unplugged from the wall, I plug it in and leave it running for about 15 minutes, I run a calibration on it with a 100 g weight and then I’m good to go. I am using the factory bottom pan. I’m not sure where you bought it but if you got it from Cambridge they are very good with their customer service and may be able to walk you through a couple diagnostic things. They did that for me in the beginning and it helped a lot with a different issue that I was having.

You also have to realize how sensitive it is compared to any other scale you’ve probably used. I can literally turn around or go to grab something on the other side of my bench and affect the weight of the scale and I have three of the four sides blocked. I had a friend that was using one and just his breathing was causing the drift because he was very close to it.

And yes mine is on a universal power supply and line conditioner.
 
MikeMcCasland said:
Mine drifts, but I wouldn't go so far as to say it 'freaks out'. Can you describe the amount of variation you're seeing?

That said, it can be difficult to pinpoint an exact cause. I've got mine plugged into a power conditioner (Tripp Lite 1200) with Ferrite magnets wrapped in the power cords, and that did seem to settle it down some; the tripp lite has also randomly 'clicked' and shown voltage sag when no other symptoms were present in the house/power.
Click to expand...
The variation is random, up and down hundredths and tenths/gr.
 
The FX-120i is a magnetic force restoration type of scale. It does not drift like a strain scale and that its advantage and why it costs more than many other electronic scales. On the other hand any variation in the environment will be detected by the scale and that's what makes it seem to "drift." Lots of people report issues with A/C going off, people walking around, breathing and so on. What some people forget is that these scales can get interference from cellphones and fluorescent lighting, and other such electromagnetic sources.

When I use my FX-120, I leave my smartphone in another room and the light overhead is from an incandescent bulb. Also, UPS means Uninterruptible Power Supply, not universal power supply. Or it could also mean United Parcel Service, which delivers FX-120 scales, it does not power them.
 
Killick said:
The variation is random, up and down hundredths and tenths/gr.
Click to expand...

Yeah...mine isn't jumping tenths of a grain; that's odd. Do you have it running close to any power strips, or other wall powered electronic devices?

I agree with John, to remove any aftermarket base plates if equipped; my Area 419 base doesn't fit the FX120i as well as the factory 'platter', and causes some weirdness.

Edit: You do have it leveled yes?
 
Killick said:
Brand new FX120i won't hold zero. I have had it on for over a day so it's warmed up. Worked for about 15 rounds and then started to drift randomly. It would hold zero and I tried to weigh some rounds and after 1 or 2 rounds it goes bananas. AC is off, temp.@65 deg., I'm in my attic and there are literally no breezes, no magnetic interference. It's sitting on a 28"x20"x3/4" slab of marble. Would a UPS help?
Click to expand...
What lighting source? If it those florescentes then change to LED's now. ****sorry, didn't see the post above me.
 
Mines always been super stable with no drifting at all. I recently got the Area419 clear top cover; this made the scale go into fits. Remove the clear top and place the stock thin cream top on it and all is well again. I suspect the issue is caused by static electricity somehow, although I’m not sure how to resolve it. Placing a thick plate of alu on the clear cover helps, but kinda defeats the point of having a clear cover.
 
Killick said:
Brand new FX120i won't hold zero. I have had it on for over a day so it's warmed up. Worked for about 15 rounds and then started to drift randomly. It would hold zero and I tried to weigh some rounds and after 1 or 2 rounds it goes bananas. AC is off, temp.@65 deg., I'm in my attic and there are literally no breezes, no magnetic interference. It's sitting on a 28"x20"x3/4" slab of marble. Would a UPS help?
Click to expand...

If you have time to read this lengthy post, this is the one I made when I got my scale and put a few dozen new 4-letter words in the dictionary and aged a few years. A FX300i is identical to the FX120I except for capacity. The reason I got it was no one had the FX120 and the seller matched the 120's price. It took me a while to sort mine out. I did everything I could think of. Anti-static spray, increasing the humidity to 50%, anti vibration pad, an Earth grounded anti-static pad with a wrist strap. Some cheap ferrite filters on the power cord, no CFC bulbs, no cell phone, tried different outlets and circuits, and on and on. I was about ready to give up after spending well over $600 on this project.

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/fx-120i-fx-200i-fx-300i-problems.3926126/

The fix was 2 quality ferrite filters installed with the cord double wrapped through. I then had to get a Tripplite LC1200 line filter for another $100. Prior to this I had purchased a Tripplite filtered outlet which may have helped but didn't cure the drifting and unsteady readings. Since I had both and against the recommendations of Tripplite, I hooked both together which seemed to be slightly better than the large line filter alone. Since getting the bugs worked out which was mostly due to electrical problems in the house, the scale is rock steady.

I got the ferrite filters here: https://www.oldwillknottscales.com/fair-rite-rct-2-ferrite-bead.html

Instructions: https://www.oldwillknottscales.com/how-to-install-a-ferrite-bead.html

The scale needs to be 100% level and on a sturdy surface that doesn't shake or vibrate.
 
Killick said:
BOOM! T2 for the Win! I replaced all the fluorescent lights with LEDs and/or shut off the others and it seems to have cured this malady.
Click to expand...
I'm glad it worked out for you.

The FX-120i is an awesome scale but it's important to understand a little bit how it works and what can interfere with it. It's extremely sensitive (like some people I know), but it does not drift, unlike a strain scale. The issue here is that because it does not drift and that this type of scale is designed to be used in laboratories where you are adding something to reach a certain weight (no unlike us handloaders adding powder,) it needs to be extremely responsive. In contrast, a strain scale is designed to measure a static weight (something that does not change,) so its programming allows for small changes without registering them.

A magnetic force restoration scale is very good at showing the exact weight very quickly. So when things get a little dicey because of breeze or some other disturbance, simply push down on the platen a little bit and let go. The scale will display the exact weight right there and then and then it might continue to dance because of the outside disturbance. In Texas, the biggest issue I have is the A/C. I actually deflect vents so it doesn't blow directly at my station when handloading.
 
T-shooter said:
If you have time to read this lengthy post, this is the one I made when I got my scale and put a few dozen new 4-letter words in the dictionary and aged a few years. A FX300i is identical to the FX120I except for capacity. The reason I got it was no one had the FX120 and the seller matched the 120's price. It took me a while to sort mine out. I did everything I could think of. Anti-static spray, increasing the humidity to 50%, anti vibration pad, an Earth grounded anti-static pad with a wrist strap. Some cheap ferrite filters on the power cord, no CFC bulbs, no cell phone, tried different outlets and circuits, and on and on. I was about ready to give up after spending well over $600 on this project.

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/fx-120i-fx-200i-fx-300i-problems.3926126/

The fix was 2 quality ferrite filters installed with the cord double wrapped through. I then had to get a Tripplite LC1200 line filter for another $100. Prior to this I had purchased a Tripplite filtered outlet which may have helped but didn't cure the drifting and unsteady readings. Since I had both and against the recommendations of Tripplite, I hooked both together which seemed to be slightly better than the large line filter alone. Since getting the bugs worked out which was mostly due to electrical problems in the house, the scale is rock steady.

I got the ferrite filters here: https://www.oldwillknottscales.com/fair-rite-rct-2-ferrite-bead.html

Instructions: https://www.oldwillknottscales.com/how-to-install-a-ferrite-bead.html

The scale needs to be 100% level and on a sturdy surface that doesn't shake or vibrate.
Click to expand...
Best information posted .
Thank You...

I have done the drill .
 
I moved from Nevada to Florida this year. My previous experience with the FX120 has been about the same as most described. But. . . . now the unit is in a three car garage on a Gladiator table on a concrete floor. I still have old still lighting, not changed to LED’s as yet.

I turned on the scale about 3 weeks ago. No powder weighting yet but every day I used the scale as a test with different weights to check the return to take. No problems No drifting. Using a ferrite bead on the lead in wire.

Just wanted to say the I don’t believe it’s a scale problem since my scale has been in use for about 7 years. Previously my floor was wood, a window air conditioner not the best work benches and boy, did I have problems. So I would guess that if you can meet all the variables it can be a success. I feel fortunate and good luck.
 
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