When to recalibrate FX120i

[Gil P.]

After calibrating and zeroing the scale, the powder pan will weigh anywhere from 889.50gn-889.60gn. It will usually keep the same weight during a loading session. The weight im referring to is the stated negative weight displayed on the scale when the pan is removed.

Once I turn the scale off and return to it for another loading session, I'll recalibrate the scale and find that the pan weight has changed. I don't move my scale around at all and it is level.

Is this normal? Am I using the scale incorrectly?

 

[Lefty Trigger]

I have noticed that mine changes with the weather and barometric pressure. My pan weighs 129.30 but can change to 129.32 or as low as 129.28 so long as it remains the same during your session you should be good.
BTW, mine was really inconsistent with a really heavy pan like the "shot glass" cup from auto trickler.

 

[F Class John]

I calibrate every time I use it. Turn it on, wAit 10-15 minutes and then calibrate. In talking to Cambridge they said because of how the scale retains ‘zero’ weights every time you push the button and eventually it builds up memory. Ensuring you unplug the unit and calibrate each time removes that variable.

 

[LCazador]

Having it on a clean power source will help with variable calibration displays and waiting a few minutes after powering up seems to help as well.

 

[Gil P.]

Having it on a clean power source will help with variable calibration displays and waiting a few minutes after powering up seems to help as well.

I often let it warm up for about an hour before I calibrate it. I don't have a line conditioner. Would using one help clean up the power source?

 

[Gil P.]

I calibrate every time I use it. Turn it on, wAit 10-15 minutes and then calibrate. In talking to Cambridge they said because of how the scale retains ‘zero’ weights every time you push the button and eventually it builds up memory. Ensuring you unplug the unit and calibrate each time removes that variable.

I've heard that before too and I completely shut mine off when I'm not using it.

 

[Poor Shot 65]

this happens to me as well and i use a line conditioner. i do not turn the unit off and calibrate it every time before use. my unit will fluctuate around 3/10 grain during use. after a while it seems that the scale settles down.

 

[Mikemci]

I do like John. Turn off the surge protector, when done and calibrate before each loading session.

 

[DngBat7]

I have tried line conditioner as well, unplug after use. Still get a little drift after a while. Maybe this is a dumb idea and will not work, but they use them at my wife’s work for similar type stuff, I bought a anti static wrist strap to ground me to the scale. I’m gonna see if that helps.

 

[Big Mc]

After calibrating and zeroing the scale, the powder pan will weigh anywhere from 889.50gn-889.60gn. It will usually keep the same weight during a loading session. The weight im referring to is the stated negative weight displayed on the scale when the pan is removed.

Once I turn the scale off and return to it for another loading session, I'll recalibrate the scale and find that the pan weight has changed. I don't move my scale around at all and it is level.

Is this normal? Am I using the scale incorrectly?

Clean power source is the answer. Just my two cents. Tommy Mc

 

[jeffreybehr]

I leave my Hornady scale/dispenser on ALL the time just to reduce drift during a reloading session.. I know nothing about the FX120i (even the brand), but I'll guess that it can't consume more than a dollar's worth of electricity a month..

And just now I found that very precise instrument at CE and still don't know how much power it draws or even what Voltage it uses.

Another quick comment--my Hornady scales use(d) 10gm (154.32gns) and 50gm (771.62grns) weights for calibration.. I felt that using a calibration target much closer in weight to my powder charges would be helpful, so I bought a 1gm weight (15.43grns).. I weigh that every half-dozen-or-so charges during a session.. If that weight weighs 15.4grns I know the scale is still in calibration.

 

[Willie]

I leave my 120i on all the time, as I'm loading 3-4 times per week. I'm using 2 line conditioners, only the scale on one and 2 ChargeMasters on the other. I rarely have any fluctuation of pan weight (2 have been altered to same weight).

The only time I recalibrate is if I have electricity failure. Maybe I'm just lucky, but I'm leaving things as is.

 

[Gil P.]

I have tried line conditioner as well, unplug after use. Still get a little drift after a while. Maybe this is a dumb idea and will not work, but they use them at my wife’s work for similar type stuff, I bought a anti static wrist strap to ground me to the scale. I’m gonna see if that helps.

Let us know how it works. I plan on getting a line conditioner soon.

 

[Gil P.]

I leave my 120i on all the time, as I'm loading 3-4 times per week. I'm using 2 line conditioners, only the scale on one and 2 ChargeMasters on the other. I rarely have any fluctuation of pan weight (2 have been altered to same weight).

The only time I recalibrate is if I have electricity failure. Maybe I'm just lucky, but I'm leaving things as is.

Is your scale indoors?
Mine is in the garage. It gets over 100 degrees in there in the summer. Could that cause an issue? The pan reading different weights happens during the same season / weather.

 

[F Class John]

I have tried line conditioner as well, unplug after use. Still get a little drift after a while. Maybe this is a dumb idea and will not work, but they use them at my wife’s work for similar type stuff, I bought a anti static wrist strap to ground me to the scale. I’m gonna see if that helps.

I have mine on a grounded pad on top of my granite and it seems to help too.

 

[Gil P.]

I have tried line conditioner as well, unplug after use. Still get a little drift after a while. Maybe this is a dumb idea and will not work, but they use them at my wife’s work for similar type stuff, I bought a anti static wrist strap to ground me to the scale. I’m gonna see if that helps.

Ive heard of people's pan being in between 1 division of weight. It's like the scale is trying to decide between xxx.02 or xxx.04.

Do you think that could be happening with your scale?

 

[Willie]

My shop is one bay of garage that is insulated. Lot's of 100* days here in summer. In my shop, it's around 85* max. I have ac/ heater for extreme temperature changes, but never run the unit when loading. No fluctuation at 65* to 85*.

 

[dgeesaman]

After calibrating and zeroing the scale, the powder pan will weigh anywhere from 889.50gn-889.60gn. It will usually keep the same weight during a loading session. The weight im referring to is the stated negative weight displayed on the scale when the pan is removed.

Once I turn the scale off and return to it for another loading session, I'll recalibrate the scale and find that the pan weight has changed. I don't move my scale around at all and it is level.

Is this normal? Am I using the scale incorrectly?

That sounds like an Autotrickler powder cup. On my Sartorius, I can’t start up with the cup on the pan because it weighs too much. So when I do add the cup I wait for 5-10 min before zeroing and beginning to measure. That seems to have eliminated drift during my loading session.

Granted we’re talking a drift of .02 or .03 gn which is very small but I will use my equipment to it’s maximum potential.

David

 

[BP1]

I have tried line conditioner as well, unplug after use. Still get a little drift after a while. Maybe this is a dumb idea and will not work, but they use them at my wife’s work for similar type stuff, I bought a anti static wrist strap to ground me to the scale. I’m gonna see if that helps.

Don’t forget to wrap your head with aluminum foil..

 

[LCazador]

I often let it warm up for about an hour before I calibrate it. I don't have a line conditioner. Would using one help clean up the power source?

I have a surge suppressor plugged into my power outlet. I have my line conditioner plugged into that surge suppressor and I have the transformer for my scale plugged into the line conditioner. I always unplug the scale when not in use. Since I started doing this I don't have any of the fluctuations that I used to experience before doing it this way(7-8 years). I have an Ohaus tuned beam scale if I need to test further.