Ways to make a digital scale more reliable?

[larryh1108]

That sounds like a good idea. I'll try it when I get a scale back.

 

[lauderdale]

Gem pro 250 ,Dillion beam scale, Hornady Digi. The Gem pro is very nice @ room temp.

 

[BluewaterLa]

Tendriver you are recommending to put a bullet on it and then tare it,
And leave said bullet in scale to help stabilize it CORRECT ?

 

[TenDriver]

Blue, that's correct.

The extra weight on mine makes it good and stable for light charges. It also doubles as a check weight if the bullet weight is known down to the 1/10th of a grain.

 

[LiveLife]

Tendriver you are recommending to put a bullet on it and then tare it, And leave said bullet in scale to help stabilize it CORRECT?

Hmmmm ... you learn something new everyday.

I gotta try that on my FA DS 750 but I did 380Auto load development with W231/HP-38 and 2.6/2.8/3.0 gr charges on FA DS 750 were verified by Ohaus 10-10 and most were right on and few charges were .1 gr off.

Are you talking about lighter than these powder weights?

 

[rogn]

Ive had the Dillon scale for a number of years and have little to complain about. Most of the warnings posted are good advice Id add one, when weighing a charge always approach from below, in other words don't remove small amounts,keep adding until desired weight is met and don't let any partial charge sit there, weigh to completion and remove. Delays in weighing allow the scale to check and recheck the weight. Any air currents or static can give you a "creeping" reading. I also spot check on occasion with my Ohaus balance. Keeps both scales and me honest.

 

[345 DeSoto]

I have an RCBS 1500 Charge Master, and it has performed flawlessly for me for around 12 years. I bought (stole) it from a guy who told me that it just didn't work right for him. Long story short, I read/followed the instructions, and it hasn't missed a beat yet...

 

[oldeadeye]

All digital measuring devices should use a dedicated electrical circuit for the most accurate readings, meaning a receptacle that is directly wired to the power box with no other amperage draws. If one of these is not available, which is usually the case in home wiring, either have one put installed or use a good battery if applicable. Electrical amperage fluctuation is usually the culprit of unsatisfactory readings, along with drafts, fans, fluorescent lights, uneven surfaces and vibrations.

 

[GaryL]

If anyone is having issues with static or fluorescent lights, you could try putting the scale on top of an 8"-12" metal plate (just need to be a couple inches larger that the footprint of the scale on each side). That will reduce EMI getting to the scale (assuming the scale's electronics are within an inch or two from the plate). Tying a ground strap to it would improve it. The plate will act like a ground plane. In a nasty EMI environment, putting sides on the plate will improve it, or just get a metal box. I thought I saw someone said they put there's in a aluminum pan, same thing actually.

Tendriver you are recommending to put a bullet on it and then tare it,
And leave said bullet in scale to help stabilize it CORRECT ?

Some digital scales will be more accurate in the middle of the range. Also, adding mass can help reduce the influence of moving air.

 

[rtz]

Get a scale with a cover so the air currents don't affect the reading:

http://www.accurateshooter.com/gear-reviews/gempro-250-digital-scale-review/

 

[MDI_Weapon]

Did you check the power outlet you have it plugged into to see if it is supplying inconsistent power levels? That can cause all sorts of problems with electronics. Did you check the AC adapter to see if it is working correctly? If the outlet is giving it spikes or power drops, you might try adding a small battery backup/surge protector (like an uninterruptible power supply used on computers to give you enough time to save and power down during unexpected power loss) and then plug the AC adaptor into one of the battery backup ports on the UPS. If the AC adaptor is giving inconsistent power when plugged into a UPS, scrap it and get a new one.