Problems With Scales

[Liven The Dream]

Well I to have been up and down this road.
My loading room is 18'x16' inside my barn heated 2x8 walls floor Concrete with carpet .
I had a Gem Pro 250 that worked for years... I have a LED light over the scale, Fluorescents above. Wall out let with surge protector.
The power supply line to scale has 2 one on each end voltage protector. Radio on bench.
This scale was great.
It went out, sent it back so many times my Wife thought I was on Drugs. They sent me a Gem Pro 300 , it had the floating problem.
Removed almost everything from my room , radio ,cell Phone doors and window shut . Still had the Problem.
I called the Company one more time (wife not around) I upgrade to a A&D EJ-123 scale the Rep told me people have had great luck with them.
I did the set it up and WhooooRayyy. I do set it for a Target Weight it locks in at 46.40 grs. of Varget. ( warm up is important )
I did not change anything about my room, radio is back and all.
I did notice this my bench in steel with hard wood top. my scale is on a 14x14 x2 Laminated block all level.
If I use my hand on the bench to get up the scale will drift a little but come back .

I think it was all in the scales ?

 

[waterdog]

Well I to have been up and down this road.
My loading room is 18'x16' inside my barn heated 2x8 walls floor Concrete with carpet .
I had a Gem Pro 250 that worked for years... I have a LED light over the scale, Fluorescents above. Wall out let with surge protector.
The power supply line to scale has 2 one on each end voltage protector. Radio on bench.
This scale was great.
It went out, sent it back so many times my Wife thought I was on Drugs. They sent me a Gem Pro 300 , it had the floating problem.
Removed almost everything from my room , radio ,cell Phone doors and window shut . Still had the Problem.
I called the Company one more time (wife not around) I upgrade to a A&D EJ-123 scale the Rep told me people have had great luck with them.
I did the set it up and WhooooRayyy. I do set it for a Target Weight it locks in at 46.40 grs. of Varget. ( warm up is important )
I did not change anything about my room, radio is back and all.
I did notice this my bench in steel with hard wood top. my scale is on a 14x14 x2 Laminated block all level.
If I use my hand on the bench to get up the scale will drift a little but come back .

I think it was all in the scales ?

Do you have a cell phone close by or in your pocket? I have a Denver Instruments scale and if my cell is within 15 feet of the scale and some data comes through, the scale goes nuts. Give it a try. Mess with your cell phone close to your electronic scale and see what happens.
Just my two cents.
Larry

 

[dcali]

If static is your issue (I have no idea if it is) just get a humidifier. Static is extremely sensitive to humidity and spikes up when it gets dry out, like in the winter.

 

[nmkid]

My suggestion is to put a line conditioner that affords surge protection also as you want to secure your investment. I have this one...cost about $95: https://www.tripplite.com/1200w-120...ion-avr-ac-surge-protection-4-outlets~LC1200/

I got the 2 outlet unit from Amazon for around $45. I don't have the scales you do. I use it on my Chargemaster. Off the same wall outlet I run the scale, radio and a small heater. Have never had any drift problems.

 

[Shynloco]

i believe it might be static.. even in the summer, i get shocked by the metal of a car door when getting out of it and closing it.. i don't have an old fluorescence light of any kind.. the house is old though.. Oh and i can stand away from the scale.. 4 feet.. and watch it never move.. but as soon as i step up near it.. it starts to move.. that is even with the wind shield completely covering the scale.. so i will need a way to isolate the power or reduce that field of static or ambient electricity..

Doc,
FWiT, I use a good (not cheap) Surge Protector that is on a dedicated line (nothing else plug into it). Also, ANY mechanical device that emits an electronic signal needs to be at least 48" away from the scale. And I mean anything such as a refrigerator, radio, TV= ANYTHING as that scale is an extremely fine and sensitive piece. Even air flow from fans, overhead ducts and any other air moving devices will cause sensitive scale to go wild. Sounds waves will also cause you problems so the 48" rule applies.

Alex

 

[Shynloco]

This is a pretty strong indication that static electricity is a major problem.

For a quick fix and test, take the power transformer from your old scale, plug it in, and then hold the metal plug intended for the scale in your hand. If your outlet is grounded, and assuming the outer wall of the transformer's plug is the ground, you are now grounded. Start at 4' away with a stable scale, move in, see what happens.

If you find that wind protection is needed, test by putting the scale in a cardboard box. If that helps, consider buying a cheap storage cube like so . . .

[/QUOTE)]

Excellent Idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[USMCDOC]

If static is your issue (I have no idea if it is) just get a humidifier. Static is extremely sensitive to humidity and spikes up when it gets dry out, like in the winter.

That is someting to try.. i may have one here..

Doc,
FWiT, I use a good (not cheap) Surge Protector that is on a dedicated line (nothing else plug into it). Also, ANY mechanical device that emits an electronic signal needs to be at least 48" away from the scale. And I mean anything such as a refrigerator, radio, TV= ANYTHING as that scale is an extremely fine and sensitive piece. Even air flow from fans, overhead ducts and any other air moving devices will cause sensitive scale to go wild. Sounds waves will also cause you problems so the 48" rule applies.

Alex

Alex,

i don't keep other "electronics" near the work table when i am using the scale.. in fact.. the phone is way in another room.

 

[Joe Salt]

I put Ferrite chocks on my power cord, but make sure your power cord is under the loading bench. This also causes problem if its laying behind the scale. And I stand on a rubber mat.

Joe Salt

 

[Shynloco]

That is someting to try.. i may have one here..




Alex,

i don't keep other "electronics" near the work table when i am using the scale.. in fact.. the phone is way in another room.

DOC,
I see one of the other members built a BOX into which he put his scale and powder loading tools. Might I suggest you try a good surge protector and then stick your scale into a similar BOX and turn it on and walk away from it for about 20 minutes. Let the scale acclimate itself to that box, conditions and see if the drifting and other annoyances go away. Worth a try if nothing else seems to calm the scale down.

Alex

 

[Liven The Dream]

Do you have a cell phone close by or in your pocket? I have a Denver Instruments scale and if my cell is within 15 feet of the scale and some data comes through, the scale goes nuts. Give it a try. Mess with your cell phone close to your electronic scale and see what happens.
Just my two cents.
Larry

No I keep my cell on a table away from the scale. Thanks

 

[IdahoSharpshooter]

Replace your fluourescent overhead lights with the nifty new 36" or 48" LED units. Stopped all the dancing numbers.

 

[USMCDOC]

Gentlemen.. i am building a wall downstairs that is used for storage, after the wall is built, i will remove the stored items and put all of the reloading room stuff in there.. the electrician will be here monday or tues.. i will be out of any drafts with this room, will put one of the outlets in the room dedicated and not tied into any other electrical lines. I am tracking down a slab of granite from somewhere around here.. And then after all of that.. i will think what other improvements might be needed.. baby steps is what i say..

 

[jlow]

I’ve read through all the post especially your recent one on Sept 2nd. It is pretty obvious to me that your problem is static electricity. The scale cannot be solid when you are far away and only go crazy when you are close if it is anything else.

There are a number of things to look out for. One is clothing. If you wear a lot of synthetic stuff, when they rub against each other, a pretty strong static charge will build up. The fact that you get shocks should confirm this. You can wash your cloths and dry them with dryer sheets which should help. Rubbing your clothes, chair, table top with dryer sheets will also help. As suggested, you need to ground yourself before working with the balance. I have one of those wrist grounding straps that is connected to my wrist on one end and the electrical receptacle ground when things gets bad. Lastly, I also have a grounding mat that the scale sits on that is also connected to the same grounding line.

I cannot image you cannot solve your problem with the above. But unless you solve your static problem, nothing else you have talked about doing is going to help.

 

[Erud]

Sounds to me like a classic case of animal magnetism. In addition to your problems with electronic scales, do the ladies also find you irresistible?

 

[CharlieNC]

As long as I don't breath too heavily on my beam, its stable. Sometimes I do get excited with a hot load.

 

[hoz53]

Gentlemen.. i am building a wall downstairs that is used for storage, after the wall is built, i will remove the stored items and put all of the reloading room stuff in there.. the electrician will be here monday or tues.. i will be out of any drafts with this room, will put one of the outlets in the room dedicated and not tied into any other electrical lines. I am tracking down a slab of granite from somewhere around here.. And then after all of that.. i will think what other improvements might be needed.. baby steps is what i say..

I almost purchased an fx120 but kept thinking of all the things posted here(problems). Really it's going through a lot for what? One kernal accuracy better than a beam? It sure will be interesting to find out your problem though.

 

[basshusker]

Ok.. i received a new FX-120i today.. i am getting the same problematic results with it as i did with my Denver Inst TP-153 (Strain Gauge).. they are flicking back and fourth, as much as 15 digits in either direction (+ or -).. it is driving me absolutely nuts.. i can't tell you how much i am disheartened right now, thinking that my Denver was going bad, only to see the A&D doing the exact same thing..

Have you put a ferrite line filter on? I put one at the plug and one at the scale end.
http://www.parts-express.com/ferrit...source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=pla

Also more info can be found about line problems here. The second thing I would do is run scale 24/7 if it doesn't have an auto off feature. If auto off check with manufacturer to see if they have a way to turn it off through firmware etc. This allows for it to be the same temp etc internally and not swing up when fully warmed. Another is no florescent bulbs in room. If building a new house an isolated circuit with an unshaved ground can help. Power strips can cause problems too.

This site has some stuff too look for. Look at pdf in right dark box a page or two down.

https://www.google.com/search?clien...s-serp..1.8.1392...35i39k1j0i20k1.TTHEfnen6gU
Second link and third link

 

[Mark C]

Like i said, there is a electrician coming over first of the week, (i have been trying to get him for while for another project) that will give me an opportunity to discuss some of these options and look at the situation.

Good luck !

 

[hoz53]

Gentlemen.. i am building a wall downstairs that is used for storage, after the wall is built, i will remove the stored items and put all of the reloading room stuff in there.. the electrician will be here monday or tues.. i will be out of any drafts with this room, will put one of the outlets in the room dedicated and not tied into any other electrical lines. I am tracking down a slab of granite from somewhere around here.. And then after all of that.. i will think what other improvements might be needed.. baby steps is what i say..

I think if I buy one of these sensitive expensive scales I'll also buy a portajohn and put it in there and that's where I'll do my powder measuring. I'll be sure to seal all the vents-use a candle for light and get my (CLEAN)power for the scale from a little generator that uses methane from the tank I'll have to eat beans before I go in there to do weighin but nothin will interfere with the scale--gotta make sure to seal my self to the seat though so no gas (air currents) mess up my reading either

 

[dkhunt14]

I almost purchased an fx120 but kept thinking of all the things posted here(problems). Really it's going through a lot for what? One kernal accuracy better than a beam? It sure will be interesting to find out your problem though.

It depends upon your rifle and how much accuracy you are looking for. Most people don't have all the trouble listed on this thread. Beam scales can be affected by air currents also. It also depends if you are weighing cases, bullets and primers. They are really hard to do on a beam. Matt