Don't use a line conditioner on mine it doesn't drift unless the ceiling fan is on. Went from a chargemaster to a V2 saw a huge improvement in ES/SD and an improvement in groups at longer ranges got the V4 last year and love it.
V4 FX 120i Thinking of Pulling The trigger
- Thread starter dusterdave173
- Start date
STS
Silver $$ Contributor
The need for a lime condition is a case by case situation. It all depends on the environment the scale is in. My scale is in a circuit by itself that doesn’t have a conditioner, and it will maintain a zero for days on end once it gets warmed up. I look at the scale every time I walk by and it’s on zero and ready to go.
I run the full 419 whatever set up and wish I'd never got it. The thrower chokes on extruded powder like IMR... which is the whole reason I thought this thing would be great. So I tried running varget, and it too chokes the thrower when a kernal need gets cut in the throw.
The powder hopper is a total pain in the ass to empty... let alone to clean out to change powders. And the thing is so big I have to set it up each time.. which is anxiety city because it's expensive and relatively fragile.
Last two times I ran the friggin thing, I quit early and jumped back on the chargemaster.
If the Chargemaster Scale was as good as this thing, I'd be happy with truing up the constant over-charges that the Chargemaster gives.
The powder hopper is a total pain in the ass to empty... let alone to clean out to change powders. And the thing is so big I have to set it up each time.. which is anxiety city because it's expensive and relatively fragile.
Last two times I ran the friggin thing, I quit early and jumped back on the chargemaster.
If the Chargemaster Scale was as good as this thing, I'd be happy with truing up the constant over-charges that the Chargemaster gives.
If you look at the V4 you'll see it no longer uses a thrower, making your issues a thing of the past.
Thanks! Not that I'm thrilled with fixing an expensive flop with more money, but the possibility of making this thing useful is promising.
So you converted the auto throw to the new thing? And no other mods needed? Plug and go??
I set up my V4 and loaded my first hundred rounds with it over the past 2 days. Using H4350 and RL17 I had precisely 3 overthrows of .04 over my desired charge weight. The only setting changes made were going from 5 to 6 on the speed. My charge was usually waiting for me after seating a bullet and picking up a new case. I have complete confidence my loads are far more precise than those from my Chargemaster 1500. I hear and read that others have had issues with their V4. From what I have experienced with mine I don't see what all the fuss is about. Yes, 100 rounds is very little experience but so far I am tickled.
The V4 completely replaces the old unit. I went from a V2 to V3 to V4, and the V4 was a significant improvement for me. The V4 is faster and more accurate for me. I also take it to the hotel during match weekends.
SteveOak
Gold $$ Contributor
I am writing an article for the forum on EMC/EMI for strain gauge scales. I should finish it by the weekend if you can wait a couple of days.
A line conditioner is neither the best nor the least expensive way to mitigate EMI problems.
BuffaloBill
Silver $$ Contributor
Steve,
I’m happy to read someone like yourself is working on such an article. I’m a retired electrical engineer who designed industrial temperature controls. We would routinely design for emc compatibility per one of a few different standards. Have not checked the wall-wart and scale for agency marks but would think they’d have to meet CE at a minimum? But that seems to be more concerned with emission rather that immunity.
I assume when people witness a reduction in “drift“ when using a line conditioner, that this would be attributable to a reduction in conducted RF or transients reaching the scale from the power line, passing through the circuitry in the wall-wart. I can certainly see a line conditioner offering protection against transients & surges.
I recall the wall-wart being fairly light weight. Is it an off-line switch mode converter, rather than a simple 60Hz transformer? If so, it might explain why some have found ferrite clamps to be helpful.
Static control would seem important in a precision analog circuit like the scale.
Looking forward to your findings and recommendations. I’ve not used my scale & V4 enough yet, to have any meaningful drift or repeatability data.
Bill
RCE1
Gold $$ Contributor
It's nice because the footprint is a bit smaller as the outboard trickler is eliminated in the V4 design.
I just got a v4 kit with scale last month have only used it twice with work schedule and still cold out so not shooting as much. But I will say I am in love with it. Most off I see is .04 over as some has said but only happened twice so far. The speed is a huge time saver compared to the old rcbs chargmaster and way less over throws then the rcbs, even though the rcbs served me well for years with no breakdowns . To me with the speed and no overthrows I wish I would of had one years ago. I remember loading 100 rounds for a weekend shoot with the rcbs and it would drive me nuts with the overthrows and how long that would take to get the charges perfect, I can't wait for warm weather to really run it.
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