Digital Scale warning

dodgestdshift · September 9, 2005, 10:53 AM

Yesterday, I forgot to warm up my RCBS (PACT) Powder Pro digital powder scale. After loading about 50 cases, I noticed that when I placed the empty scale pan on the scale it read 1 grain. Sure enough the "zero" had wandered and all of my loads were about 1 grain light. After breaking down the 50 loads, fortunately I had only set the bullets on the belled cases and hadn't seated them, I had to trickle in the the rest of the required load.

Conclusion:

1) MOST IMPORTANT, ALWAYS ALLOW THE SCALE TO WARM UP FOR AT LEAST 20 MINUTES.
2) Watch what you are doing, frequently check the scale to make sure the "zero" hasn't wandered. This is easily accomplished by setting the empty scale pan on the scale. It should read zero.
3) This may be controversial - Always charge all your cases then check the powder levels in them in good light compared to the others. Empty cases and double charges will stand out. I don't think it is a good idea to charge a case, and immediately seat the bullet.

BILLY D. · September 9, 2005, 11:36 PM

mine is never unplugged. and it still has to be reset.

kkb · September 10, 2005, 08:12 AM

Here's another tip for the PACT: If the temperature changes more that a few degrees it's time to recal. Even though it'll still autozero I find weights will wander under a grain if the temp changes, say by 3 degrees.

A quick confidence check is to note what your pan weighs just after doing a cal, then every so often zero without the pan in place and verify the pan weight.

Russ5924 · September 10, 2005, 08:53 AM

The one I had needed to be recalibrate every time that it was used even if you had just used it two minutes before.Got to the point I just didn't trust it anymore and after it messed up was more than happy to send it back.

September 9, 2005, 10:53 AM	#1
dodgestdshift Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2002 Location: Marilla, N.Y. (outside Buffalo N.Y.) Posts: 113	Digital Scale warning Yesterday, I forgot to warm up my RCBS (PACT) Powder Pro digital powder scale. After loading about 50 cases, I noticed that when I placed the empty scale pan on the scale it read 1 grain. Sure enough the "zero" had wandered and all of my loads were about 1 grain light. After breaking down the 50 loads, fortunately I had only set the bullets on the belled cases and hadn't seated them, I had to trickle in the the rest of the required load. Conclusion: 1) MOST IMPORTANT, ALWAYS ALLOW THE SCALE TO WARM UP FOR AT LEAST 20 MINUTES. 2) Watch what you are doing, frequently check the scale to make sure the "zero" hasn't wandered. This is easily accomplished by setting the empty scale pan on the scale. It should read zero. 3) This may be controversial - Always charge all your cases then check the powder levels in them in good light compared to the others. Empty cases and double charges will stand out. I don't think it is a good idea to charge a case, and immediately seat the bullet. __________________ The shortest distance between two politicians is through your wallet. Don N. Last edited by dodgestdshift; September 9, 2005 at 11:55 AM.

September 9, 2005, 11:36 PM	#2
BILLY D. Member Join Date: February 15, 2005 Location: MINOT (MINDROT) ND Posts: 81	mine is never unplugged. and it still has to be reset. __________________ PLEASE EXCUSE UPPER CASE TYPING I AM HANDICAPPED AND ONLY TYPE WITH ONE HAND. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. HANDLOADS ARE LIKE UNDERWEAR.....BE CAREFUL WHO YOU SWAP WITH. HAPPY TRAILS, BILL NRA LIFE MEMBER-1965 THE THREAD KILLER

September 10, 2005, 08:53 AM	#4
Russ5924 Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2005 Posts: 1,874	The one I had needed to be recalibrate every time that it was used even if you had just used it two minutes before.Got to the point I just didn't trust it anymore and after it messed up was more than happy to send it back. __________________ Russ5924

September 10, 2005, 08:12 AM	#3
kkb Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2004 Location: Western Slope, Colorado Posts: 403	Here's another tip for the PACT: If the temperature changes more that a few degrees it's time to recal. Even though it'll still autozero I find weights will wander under a grain if the temp changes, say by 3 degrees. A quick confidence check is to note what your pan weighs just after doing a cal, then every so often zero without the pan in place and verify the pan weight.