Never buy a PACT product! Especially a BBK2

[glockster157]

Time for a rant. I have a Pact BBK 2 powder scale. It acts weird most of the time but if you don't breathe on it and stand back a few feet it normally works. Lately it has gotten worse. It will not zero nor will it calibrate. I even put up a special shelf for it so there would be no breeze or vibrations effecting it. Still no good.

So I call Pact and the guy tells me these scales are really sensitive and that it is probably something in the environment causing the problem. He tells me not to use the AC adapter that comes with it as this can throw it off. Then he tells me to leave the battery out of the compartment as this works better. I am doing this stuff a he is telling me. Still does not work. Then he blames static on the shelf since it is plexiglass, so I move it back to my wood work bench....still dancing numbers. He says "I am sure it is something wrong there but if you want to send it to us we will look at it.".....I just told him that I had already read a bunch of bad reviews on this scale and that most people had the same customer service experience I just experienced. This guy was much more apathetic about the product than I can get into a post. It was more his attitude, I think he knew there was nothing that I or he could do to fix this scale. At least that is what it sounded like talking to him. All I can say is there will never be another PACT product in this house.

[mrawesome22]

I've had one for 7 years. Never a problem. It has produced some very, very accurate ammo.

Every time I'm done using it, I put it back in it's box. Could yours have a bunch of dust in it?

Just a thought.

[glockster157]

No, I keep it covered. What I was really amazed at the guy at Pact telling how they won't work with the supplied DC adapter. Mine doesn't work with the DC adapter, the battery in the compartment or out and according to this nonchalant person it is most likely my reloading room conditions fault. Glad you got a good one.

[Jim243]

It is more likely your lighting conditions than anything else. Neon or florecesent lights play hell with all brands of electronic scales.

Jim

[glockster157]

It is at least 10 ft from a fluorescent tube. I have direct incandescent behind the bench.

[1Hobie]

FWIW, my smurf digital will drift a bit over time but I just zero it every 5 minutes or so when loading if I see it doing so. I have an RCBS calibration weight set and check the scale down to .05 grains at each start up. It hasn't let me down in 15 years and I have a 2 tube flourescent(sic) over the bench.

However, it does sound like your experience with c/s was much less than satisfactory, That'd p*** me off too.

Regards,

Hobie

[mrawesome22]

I will agree with the guy that it super sensitive. I have to make a consciensce effort to not breath hard around it because it will register hard breaths.

Are you following the calibration instructions to the T?

Also, every time the pan is removed and replaced, the zero button should be pushed.

But if it won't calibrate, I'd say it is faulty.

How long have you had it?

[glockster157]

I have had it a couple of years but it has only been out a few months. I had it put up for a long time. I calibrated it several times but recently I can't get it to 0.0 to start a calibration. The CS at Pact is more the point of the post than the defective scale....they just don't seem to care.

[1Hobie]

If you can't get it to zero, you've probably got an instrument that is junk.

I would take some light compressed air and blow out the area where the posts of the table go in. What the heck, nothing to lose. Then, I'd e-mail Pact and follow up with a printed letter expressing politely your concerns.

Smurf stuff is warranted for life.

Hobie

[Vance]

Lyman CS is the same way. After dealing with Dillon, Lee and Hornady CS, It is difficult to deal with apathetic attitudes.

[mrawesome22]

Maybe they are going under. In the years I've been reloading I don't believe they have ever come out with a new product.

I will say your negative review of their cs is one of many I have read.

Almost makes me hope mine will break so I can give them a call.

Try calling back and smile the whole time you are talking to them.

[SHR970]

Very likely what they don't want to admit to is that the Chinese that are making the circuitry are using crappy or counterfit resistors in the Wheatstone Bridge that is used in the strain gauge that is the heart of the system. There is no reason for a wandering zero let alone wandering readings. All of the Don't use the adaptor, batteries in / out (aka circuit noise) is B.S. So is the "it's ubersensitive"; it's not like we are talking about analytical balances or anything else on that level of accuracy. If they have a known noise problem, then they have a known lousy board design. DC does not induce noise like AC does. But don't listen to me, talk to any seasoned Electrical Engineer or electronics repair tech.

Counterfit parts coming out of China has been a major concern in many industries over the last several years.

[1Hobie]

/\+1

[Waldog]

I have had a Pact scale/trickler combo for 6-7 years. If I plug the scale in and let it warm up for 30 mins, when I calibrate the scale and zero, it's dead on and doesn't drift. If I just plug and go, I have to re-calibrate every 15-20 minutes.
Also, make sure you scale is on a "clean" circuit. What that means is, don't have it on a circuit that has voltage or load flucuations. By that, I mean it shouldn't be on a circuit that has a refridgerator that cycles on/off.

[amamnn]

+ 1 as to what Waldog says. I have both PACT scales and they work perfectly as long as I follow the instructions in the manual/pamphlet. The tech was obviously tying to guess at what might be happening to you. I had some odd sized rechargeable batteries that would not fit in my BBKII without straining the case--needless to say the scale worked less than satisfactorily unless the batteries were left out of the case. I have a dehumidifier that will drive both scale and the dispenser and my calculator and my TV nuts when it switches on. Static electricity will also cause problems. Does this mean I think my SCALES are bad----?????? Not at all. BTW, I wonder if the PACT tech had the OP try the magic reset code? There really is one--though it isn't really magic but does to a master reset on your scale.

BTW, if you have a scale of any brand--and let's remember who first perfected/makes/has made/repairs all brands of digital powder scales--- I won't tell, but their initials are PACT---if your scale has problems and you have fixed all the above problems--you might try using a line filter. This is a fancy way of saying lay a STRONG magnet on the power cord about six inches or so from the scale. These days various devices like refrigerators, heaters, AC units, water heaters, cell phone chargers and etc. can switch on and off while you are loading and you will not know--but your scale or TV or whatever will. The magnet will help reduce the power spikes cause by all that and stop the electronics of your scale from being confused.

There is an article on 6mmbr.com that gives you a source for this magnetic filter if you do not have one already or can't find one. BTW, refrigerator magnets are not strong if your 4 year old can pull it off the door. If you can pick up an older Smith and Wesson model 60 loaded or unloaded with your magnet, it will work just fine.

Working on an anti-static mat is a good idea whether you use an electronic scale or not. These mats are easily bought online and for prices much less than in days of yore when I got mine. Yes these scale are sensitive, but no more so than a good quality balance beam.


Still, there are some people who refuse to be dragged kicking and screaming into --well--even the 20th century, and for them the old ways are best and dern to heck all you newfangled round earth lovin' evolutionists!! So there! At least the OP was trying to get real-- or post modern or something--

[TXGunNut]

Another +1 on Waldog's post. Don't move it, don't unplug it and turn off the ceiling fan. Dunno about flourescent lights but they annoy me too much to have in my loading room.

[1Hobie]

"There is an article on 6mmbr.com that gives you a source for this magnetic filter if you do not have one already or can't find one. BTW, refrigerator magnets are not strong if your 4 year old can pull it off the door. If you can pick up an older Smith and Wesson model 60 loaded or unloaded with your magnet, it will work just fine."

Could you give us a direct link to the article at 6mmbr? I've looked and can't find it.

Thanks,

Hobie

[SHR970]

Hobie; that is easily done with a ferrite bead on the line. No need for magnets; you can buy these at any decent electronics shop.

Edit to add: If the system needs one from the factory then they are providing a poor product to the end customer in that they have failed to put a necessary and inexpensive item on where it is needed. They are in effect "Cheaping Out" on a product that an inaccuracy can cause end product damage or personal injury.

[1Hobie]

Thanks but I'm not proposing the use of a magnet for line filtering. I work with different electronic devices and know of the ferrite bead. But I've never heard of using a magnet to reduce or eliminate "noise" in an electrical circuit. I do work with isolation transformers and they probably could be used for reducing or eliminating "noise" also.
I'm waiting to get that link from amamn so I can read what was said. I did read on that site to avoid looping the power cord to keep from developing a magnetic field.

I think the aspect about florescent lights are that they do produce "noise" by the nature of how they create light. I have two 2 tube lights with daylight bulbs in them and also 6 60 watt floods over my benches. No shadows and very good overall illumination without being blinding.

Hobie

[BigJimP]

I'm not defending PACT ....but a lot of the electronic scales, last I knew, on the market ...are made by PACT, in china, and re-branded with other names...

I agree - the electronic scales are really fussy ....and overall, I've been lucky with my RCBS version ( that was made by PACT) ...but its about 10 yrs old or so ...and I think they were better at one time than they are now.

If you really want a better electronic scale check out ....

a Denver Instrument MXX-123.

they're a little more money - but they're accurate to 0.01 grain vs 0.1 gr -- and they're a good product.

[1Hobie]

My smurf scale has served me well for the money. It calibrates out nicely and drifts little. I just got in the habit of zeroing it every so often even if it's still reading zero just in case. For my level of reloading, it's all I need. I do have a back-up mechanical scale in case the power goes out.

Hobie

[Slamfire]

Very likely what they don't want to admit to is that the Chinese that are making the circuitry are using crappy or counterfit resistors in the Wheatstone Bridge that is used in the strain gauge that is the heart of the system. There is no reason for a wandering zero let alone wandering readings. All of the Don't use the adaptor, batteries in / out (aka circuit noise) is B.S. So is the "it's ubersensitive"; it's not like we are talking about analytical balances or anything else on that level of accuracy. If they have a known noise problem, then they have a known lousy board design. DC does not induce noise like AC does. But don't listen to me, talk to any seasoned Electrical Engineer or electronics repair tech.

Counterfit parts coming out of China has been a major concern in many industries over the last several years

Sounds like you understand electronics. Very likely cheap inferior chinese parts with a poor design.

I have a crappy BBK1. All sorts of issues with it. Never use it because it is more trouble than it is worth.