RCBS chargemaster question/problem?

[climb-101]

I was doing some loading the other day and i noticed that as i went to set my pan down, the reading would change before i set the pan down. I did some playing with it and crome what i found the scale reads -162.8gn. once i move the pan in between the drop tube and where the pan sits, not touching either of them ( just floating between) the display changes to -163.2gn. The scale reads 0 once the pan is back on, i'm just wondering if any one else can see if there's does this also or if mine has a prob. I also tryed it with a piece of paper i between and it does the same thing, i just can't figure out why the weight changes by .5 gn without without something actually touching it.

the scale is on its own electrical circuit, tryed it with the lights on and off since i have herd some lights new with them, it also does it no mater how long it's been on, 1 min or 8 hours

thanks for the help

 

[Twoboxer]

Could be static electricity as your hand is a common factor to both "tests" you ran, but normally that would cause more fluttering than a straight weight change so I doubt it.

Changes in the air column above the scale can also affect it.

I once used an incandescent pole lamp behind and over my shoulder as a task light. Every time I moved my hand over my scales (whether Chargemaster, GemPro, or A&D FX120i) the display would change. This problem disappeared when I removed the incandescent lamp and went to LEDs.

My reasoning was the incandescent lamp warmed the air over the scale, causing it to rise. My hand interrupted that, and caused the scale to read differently. In your case, whether it's a pan or a piece of paper, you've broken the air column and that may give the result you're seeing.

 

[ED3]

Could be static electricity as your hand is a common factor to both "tests" you ran, but normally that would cause more fluttering than a straight weight change so I doubt it.

Changes in the air column above the scale can also affect it.

I once used an incandescent pole lamp behind and over my shoulder as a task light. Every time I moved my hand over my scales (whether Chargemaster, GemPro, or A&D FX120i) the display would change. This problem disappeared when I removed the incandescent lamp and went to LEDs.

My reasoning was the incandescent lamp warmed the air over the scale, causing it to rise. My hand interrupted that, and caused the scale to read differently. In your case, whether it's a pan or a piece of paper, you've broken the air column and that may give the result you're seeing.

My guess would be it was not a mimi-thermal; more likely your body attenuating electric radiation (from the lamp) as your hand /arm moved around the scale. Equivalent LED lighting has less current flow/ less radiation.

 

[rocketron]

It's static, been there . Wipe everything down with a dryer sheet even the metal pan.

 

[Rogmay]

It's static, been there . Wipe everything down with a dryer sheet even the metal pan.

+1 for the static, I found just by swinging my clear plastic cover open and shut would change the weight up to a full grain off! Wiped and cleaned cover problems went away!

 

[Milo 2.0]

+1 for the static, I found just by swinging my clear plastic cover open and shut would change the weight up to a full grain off! Wiped and cleaned cover problems went away!

Static can really skew a chargemaster, it's a good plan to completely wipe them down with a dryer sheet or a rag sprayed with static guard(which I feel lasts longer) once a month. In and outside the hopper, drain tube, plastic loading trays next to one can impart static too. When you remove the pan and it fluctuates from the 162.8 reading, it is drifting.

 

[cwall64]

I called RCBS when I got mine and they suggested just leaving a dryer sheet in the scale part when not in use (remove pan and black part, put dryer sheet in and close the air shield).

 

[Sniper338]

All of the above sounds correct....^^^^^^^

 

[climb-101]

Static can really skew a chargemaster, it's a good plan to completely wipe them down with a dryer sheet or a rag sprayed with static guard(which I feel lasts longer) once a month. In and outside the hopper, drain tube, plastic loading trays next to one can impart static too. When you remove the pan and it fluctuates from the 162.8 reading, it is drifting.

i'm assuming it's a static problem. i will wipe it all down later and see if it goes away, i'm assuming it will.

it's not a drifting things once it's a very repeatable thing, put the pan close, it changes, take the pan away and it goes right back.

I did see if would drift any last night, i didn't give it a chance to warm up any, just turned it on and calibrated it. I put a 225 grain bullet in the pan last night and this morning it was 225.1 so it gain .1 in about 12 hours and part of that could be if warming up all the way.

thanks for the help guys.

 

[savagedasher]

My bench is wood along with wood flooring I don't have any 60 cycle power source close .
Larry

 

[ngb1787]

Also wipe urself with a dryer sheer, front of body along with hands and arms.

 

[climb-101]

a dryer sheet took care of it all. nothing changes anymore as i get the pan close. it was just some static. thanks again guys

 

[Steve Ladino]

I was doing some loading the other day and i noticed that as i went to set my pan down, the reading would change before i set the pan down. I did some playing with it and crome what i found the scale reads -162.8gn. once i move the pan in between the drop tube and where the pan sits, not touching either of them ( just floating between) the display changes to -163.2gn. The scale reads 0 once the pan is back on, i'm just wondering if any one else can see if there's does this also or if mine has a prob. I also tryed it with a piece of paper i between and it does the same thing, i just can't figure out why the weight changes by .5 gn without without something actually touching it.

the scale is on its own electrical circuit, tryed it with the lights on and off since i have herd some lights new with them, it also does it no mater how long it's been on, 1 min or 8 hours

thanks for the help

Mine does shift too but I haven't done the paper check, glad to hear the remedy is so simple, thanks all.