RCBS Chargemaster 1500 Scale

[Lesloan]

I recently bought a Chargemaster 1500 and am not a happy camper. Yesterday I laaded a small quantity of .223 Rem. with 25.5 gr H4895. I use a powder trickler to top off every charge, and after loading about 35 rounds, set the empty pan on the scale & noticed it was reading 0.5 gr instead of the "0" it should've shown. I double-checked the last charge on a cheapie battery-powered scale I have & found the charge to be 25.0 gr.

I then recalibrated & re-zeroed the Chargemaster & started back-weighing by dumping the charged cases back into the pan, starting with the most recently charged one. All but the first 4 or 5 were light.

Has anybody else had this problem? There was no static electricity, no air currents and the scale was level. The only thing I can think of is maybe "dirty" voltage; I'm not using a voltage regulator. It was my understanding that it wasn't necessary with this unit, and I was plugged directly into household power. No appliances were in use that might've made heavy power drain; no microwave, toaster, etc. Do I need a voltage regulator? The manual doesn't say so.

What's your experience, folks? When I bought this thing I thought I was moving up to better accuracy, but I'm starting to wish I'd stuck with the old balance beam. Any ideas (other than packing the thing up & returning it to RCBS or MidWayUSA, that is?)

 

[LHSmith]

I bought a Pact , and now a CM, so I would not have to trickle powder. The Pact unit specifically says not to trickle up to weight. I am happy with both units....the CM being more user friendly.
I let the unit warm up for several hours before using.
Unless you have calibrated check weights, I certainly would not rely on another electronic scale

 

[gilream]

Two or three years ago I had to send my Chargemaster Combo back to RCBS for a "drifting" issue. It was out of warranty. I had to pay the $45 dollar fee but it has worked like a charm ever since. I check behind it with an Acculab 123 and I find the CC to be always within a kernal of powder or two. I have been very happy with it. I always let the scales warm up for an hour or two before i calibrate and begin weighing powder. Whether calibrating or weighing charges, I always give an extra 5 seconds or so after the "stable" light comes on. It usually takes a bit longer for the scale to settle on the correct weight display. When all else fails, call customer service.

 

[Sako 222]

I've had my Chargemaster 1500 for about 6 years now and have never had a problem with it.
I do make sure it's level and away from any electrical outlets and out of any air currents.
Also warm it up for about an hour.
I can't imagine reloading without it.

 

[Lesloan]

Thanks,guys. Although the manual doesn't say anything about an hour's warmup, (or did I miss it?), it's worth a try. I've contacted RCBS to see what they have to say, but don't expect to hear from them for a few days (per their cust. service website.) The weights came with the unit, so I'm sure they're OK.

I'd hate to think the scale isn't suitable for use with a powder trickler. If that's the case, the thing is useless to me. I did it for years with my old beam scale, and still have that. Since it (the 1500) is designed to be used as a component of an automatic charging system, which trickles the last few powder granules, I don't see how this could be the case.

I really don't want to go thru the hassle of returning it, and I like it just fine if I can depend on it. But right now I just don't trust the damb thing.

 

[appst2]

if you carry a cell phone, make sure its not anywhere near the chargemaster. it took me a little bit to figure out what was causing mine to drift, but ever since i've made it a point to keep my cell on the other side of the room, it's worked fine.

 

[LHSmith]

So if I understand your last post , you only have a RCBS digital scale.......not the complete dispenser system ....I misunderstood......the scale should permit trickling.....it still should be warmed up however

 

[ronsroom1]

Having been in Amateur Radio for more years than I care to say, I am a Big Proponent of line filters. If you have a Volt Meter, plug it into an outlet and watch it for a while, especially when the Frig, or Furnace Fan, or Central Air turns on. You would be amazed at the amount of line noise present in household 115v., along with the power serge/dip. Read the following. I'm not saying that this is a cure all, but something that should be addressed. I plug my scale into an electronic line filter, not a surge suppressor. Just my 2 cents worth.

http://www.accurateshooter.com/technical-articles/reloading/line-noise-filter-helps-reduce-scale-drift/

 

[amlevin]

Ditch the AC adapter that came with the Chargemaster and replace it with a similar REGULATED 9v Adapter. They're available online in the $20/$30 range.

Also, wipe down all plastic with a Dryer Sheet.

Leave the unit turned on all the time. I bought mine about three years ago and the only times it's been turned off is when I moved my reloading operation and the three power outages since I bought it. The power to run it all this time has maybe cost me as much as a can of pop from a vending machine.

Drift is not an issue. I calibrate before starting a session.

 

[Leaddog]

This is typical of strain gauge technology. I went with a GD503 for this very reason. I also wanted more precise measurements than a tenth of a grain. Now I have it. For a Trickler, I use the Omega. None better.

 

[walker2713]

I've had mine for about 3 years, and it's one of my favorite pieces of equipment in my reloading room.....

Having said that, I've had a periodic problem as you described it. In my case, I found that just a few kernels of powder falling down into the hole under the black plastic "plate" that the pan sits on...was enough to cause the scale to show incorrect readings and often to have the numbers kind of "bounce around."

Every so often I unplug it, remove the loose parts, turn it upside down and blow some "canned air" up into the open area. That takes care of it.....until the next time, usually months or at the worst, weeks.

Good luck and let us know how your situation works out...

George

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

I'm not sure I understand your problem. You say you have the scale and not the whole unit. Then you explain that you calibrated the device and subsequently proceeded to charge 35 cases using an external powder trickler. Your target weight was 25.5 but you discovered at the end of 35 charges that the empty pan showed 0.5 instead of the 0.0 you were expecting.

Does this mean that for the prior 34 cases the empty pan was showing 0.0? It only jumped to 0.5 prior to the last charge?

I have been using my CM 1500 w/ dispenser for over 5 years and I have yet to see a jump of 0.5 such as you described. I usually let my machine warm up for a few minutes prior to use, and it is a on a very clean, isolated circuit with nothing else on it. It's also set on a bench by itself and no cell phones in the room or air ducts blowing at it.

 

[Lesloan]

Ditch the AC adapter that came with the Chargemaster and replace it with a similar REGULATED 9v Adapter. They're available online in the $20/$30 range.

Also, wipe down all plastic with a Dryer Sheet.

Leave the unit turned on all the time. I bought mine about three years ago and the only times it's been turned off is when I moved my reloading operation and the three power outages since I bought it. The power to run it all this time has maybe cost me as much as a can of pop from a vending machine.

Drift is not an issue. I calibrate before starting a session.

The only plastic in the area is the 1500 itself. I'll consider a new AC adapter if all else fails, but it seems to me that if it was necessary, RCBS would've included it for product liability reasons if nothing else. Thanks for your help!

 

[Lesloan]

I'm not sure I understand your problem. You say you have the scale and not the whole unit. Then you explain that you calibrated the device and subsequently proceeded to charge 35 cases using an external powder trickler. Your target weight was 25.5 but you discovered at the end of 35 charges that the empty pan showed 0.5 instead of the 0.0 you were expecting.

Does this mean that for the prior 34 cases the empty pan was showing 0.0? It only jumped to 0.5 prior to the last charge?

I have been using my CM 1500 w/ dispenser for over 5 years and I have yet to see a jump of 0.5 such as you described. I usually let my machine warm up for a few minutes prior to use, and it is a on a very clean, isolated circuit with nothing else on it. It's also set on a bench by itself and no cell phones in the room or air ducts blowing at it.

Yes, the unit was calibrated and "zeroed" before the initial use. It was showing 0.0 before I started weighing charges. I didn't place the empty pan back on the scale after the first charge and until after the last, but for sure will do so now. I also didn't allow a warmup period prior to use, but will do so in the future. Thanks for your advice. It's appreciated.

 

[Lesloan]

I've had mine for about 3 years, and it's one of my favorite pieces of equipment in my reloading room.....

Having said that, I've had a periodic problem as you described it. In my case, I found that just a few kernels of powder falling down into the hole under the black plastic "plate" that the pan sits on...was enough to cause the scale to show incorrect readings and often to have the numbers kind of "bounce around."

Every so often I unplug it, remove the loose parts, turn it upside down and blow some "canned air" up into the open area. That takes care of it.....until the next time, usually months or at the worst, weeks.

Good luck and let us know how your situation works out...

George

Thanks, George. I'll take the tray out & give it a blast of canned air before reuse.

Lloyd

 

[Lesloan]

if you carry a cell phone, make sure its not anywhere near the chargemaster. it took me a little bit to figure out what was causing mine to drift, but ever since i've made it a point to keep my cell on the other side of the room, it's worked fine.

No cell phone or computer equipment in the area. But I'll sure keep this in mind for the future! Thanks...

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

I'm not sure I understand your problem. You say you have the scale and not the whole unit. Then you explain that you calibrated the device and subsequently proceeded to charge 35 cases using an external powder trickler. Your target weight was 25.5 but you discovered at the end of 35 charges that the empty pan showed 0.5 instead of the 0.0 you were expecting.

Does this mean that for the prior 34 cases the empty pan was showing 0.0? It only jumped to 0.5 prior to the last charge?

I have been using my CM 1500 w/ dispenser for over 5 years and I have yet to see a jump of 0.5 such as you described. I usually let my machine warm up for a few minutes prior to use, and it is a on a very clean, isolated circuit with nothing else on it. It's also set on a bench by itself and no cell phones in the room or air ducts blowing at it.

Yes, the unit was calibrated and "zeroed" before the initial use. It was showing 0.0 before I started weighing charges. I didn't place the empty pan back on the scale after the first charge and until after the last, but for sure will do so now. I also didn't allow a warmup period prior to use, but will do so in the future. Thanks for your advice. It's appreciated.

When you zero the scale after you calibrate it, what you are doing in essence is adding the weight of the removable pan to the zero value. So, when you lift the pan from the scale, the latter will display a negative value. That value should be the same every time you remove the pan (empty or full) from the scale. I pay close attention to that value as I go through my loads in automatic mode using the attached dispenser. When I replace the pan, the dispenser will start on the next load only when the scale reaches a stable weight of 0.0 after I replace the pan.

If your process consists of you dropping a charge from a powder measure after you have loaded the prior cartridge, and then setting the almost full pan on the scale and trickling from there, you do not have to change that sequence, just monitor the unloaded weight displayed on the scale prior to setting the almost full pan; that value should be consistent. If it is not, you have to stop and resolve the issue.

 

[Lesloan]

[/quote]
If your process consists of you dropping a charge from a powder measure after you have loaded the prior cartridge, and then setting the almost full pan on the scale and trickling from there, you do not have to change that sequence, just monitor the unloaded weight displayed on the scale prior to setting the almost full pan; that value should be consistent. If it is not, you have to stop and resolve the issue.
[/quote]

That's exactly what I do. I haven't been monitoring the weight displayed between charges, but you can be sure I will now! I will also, for the time being, at least, periodically weigh a bullet by itself as a sort of check wt. I use Sierra Match Kings, and their wt. is very consistent. Thanks for the suggestion.

Lloyd

 

[MVW]

I have an Satorious AZ153, but purchased a 1500 and auto dispenser for bulk loading. The 1500 worked great with a Redding trickler and it compared very well to the more accurate 153. However, when I plugged in the dispenser to the 1500 while it appeared to work just fine, when I reweighed the load it always registered an overload by .2-.3 GN. RCBS asked me to return the entire unit. Great little scale, but nothing is perfect.

I do wipe it down with dryer sheets per the suggestion by RCBS. I also compared their check weights to a better standard weight and they were right on the money.

Mike

 

[Lesloan]

Just got this response from the RCBS I haven't tried it yet, but I will.

"Lloyd, sounds like the feet on the bottom of the unit are too tight. When the feet are over tightened, pressure is put on the load cell from underneath and can cause ranging values and give false charges. Loosen the feet on the bottom of the unit (especially on the right side where you see the lowered depression on the silver colored beam). This will relieve the pressure from the load cell. Once you do this, recalibrate and you should be good to go. Once you have everything back in proper order and get a round loaded, you can check the weight of the loaded round and compare that to the previously loaded rounds. As long as it is the same brass and the other components are the same, the rounds should be real close in weight. Let us know if this doesn't solve the problem, have a great day and enjoy your reloading."