Digital scale?

O2BShooting · 09-13-2011, 17:22

Pulled my scale out of the safe today so that I could load up some 9mm for the weekend. Put fresh batteries in and pushed the power button and nothing. Tried different batteries same story. Called the manufacturer and since it's over a year old "nothing they could do." This is my third scale and I'm wondering if I need to start storing them in the house. Currently I've had them in the garage in the safe. We've had 100+ weather for over three months and I'm wondering if that's what's killing them.

Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks,
O2B

unclebob · 09-13-2011, 17:46

I think I would find a different scale, if you have already gone through 3 of them. Plus I would get one that does not use batteries. I would also not store it in the garage.

Colorado4Wheel · 09-13-2011, 17:55

Also, never store a scale long term with the batteries in it.

alank2 · 09-13-2011, 18:09

Hi O2B,

I've had my RCBS 750 stored in the garage for a couple of years now (battery in it) and it is still working.

What type of scales are these? You have 3 dead scales?

If you don't have a use for them, I would like them for an electronics experiment I want to do using load cells. I'd be willing to pay shipping. I might even be able to get one working for you and could ship it back if I got it working...

Thanks,

Alan

XDRoX · 09-13-2011, 18:22

Buy once, cry once with digital scales.

njl · 09-13-2011, 18:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colorado4Wheel

That's what I bought when I realized my Lyman digital could not be trusted.

unclebob · 09-13-2011, 18:42

The most important piece of reloading equipment that you buy is not the press or the dies it’s the scale. It could mean the difference of a nice day at the range, to having buying a new gun.
Beam scales go bad also.

njl · 09-13-2011, 18:47

That may be...but while my Lyman digital is an out of warranty paper weight / digital approximator, if the Dillon Eliminator ever gives me serious problems, Dillon will take care of it.

unclebob · 09-13-2011, 18:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by njl

That may be...but while my Lyman digital is an out of warranty paper weight / digital approximator, if the Dillon Eliminator ever gives me serious problems, Dillon will take care of it.

All of Dillon electronic equipment only has a one year warranty. Read the little blue box on page 4 of The Blue Press.

Colorado4Wheel · 09-13-2011, 18:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by unclebob

All of Dillon electronic equipment only has a one year warranty. Read the little blue box on page 4 of The Blue Press.

Dillon Eliminator is the Beam Scale. So it has the Lifetime warranty.

unclebob · 09-13-2011, 19:05

Just trying to straighten out that some people might think that the digital scale has a life time warranty.

njl · 09-13-2011, 19:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colorado4Wheel

Dillon Eliminator is the Beam Scale. So it has the Lifetime warranty.

Yeah...not much electronics in the Eliminator...unless you install one of those fluorescent lighting kits underneath it.

Boxerglocker · 09-13-2011, 19:10

IMHO either will work just a matter of personal preference. Regardless of which you choose neither are being used to their full potential without a set of these...

PhantomF4E · 09-13-2011, 19:21

Heat and humidity are not a friend of electronics. Generally corrosion at the battery contacts is the killer. Take the batteries out when you are gonna store them? Do they have an a/c adapter plug ? try that ?

WiskyT · 09-13-2011, 19:32

My car is chock full of electronics and it is exposed to worse conditons than the OP's scale and they work fine. I think it's a question of quality.

Colorado4Wheel · 09-13-2011, 19:38

Cars are designed for that. Reloading scales are not.

IndyGunFreak · 09-14-2011, 06:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colorado4Wheel

Also, never store a scale long term with the batteries in it.

I'm still trying to figure out where to put the batteries..

. Given the OP's issues, this seems like a no brainer to me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by unclebob

Beam scales go bad also.

Beam scales typically only go bad from abuse. Knock it off the bench, drop it, bend it, etc. If the scale is not abused, it should really never be a problem. If by chance something does happen, if you get one w/ a lifetime warranty(Eliminator or the RCBS 505), just ship it back and get it fixed.

unclebob · 09-14-2011, 06:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by IndyGunFreak

Beam scales typically only go bad from abuse. Knock it off the bench, drop it, bend it, etc. If the scale is not abused, it should really never be a problem. If by chance something does happen, if you get one w/ a lifetime warranty(Eliminator or the RCBS 505), just ship it back and get it fixed.

Sorry I had an Ohaus Dial-0-Grain that was not abused. A friend of mine also has a Ohaus that looks like the Eliminator and it also was bad. He thought his Ohaus was right and his Dillon Terminator was wrong. If I had not taken two of his rounds and pulled them apart and weighted the charge he probably would still be using the beam scale. He also went out and bought a set of check weights.
For those that do not know check weights and calibration weights that come with the scale are two different things. Calibration weights are to calibrate the scale. Check weights are to make sure the scale is reading the weight you put on the scale.

Colorado4Wheel · 09-14-2011, 08:05

My Dillon Eliminator is spot on for my check weights. My digital is about .05gr off. A beam is not like a digital. It doesn't spit out "3.25gr" . It just has a pointer. A digital has to decide if that 3.25gr is going to register as 3.3 or 3.2. That .05gr is not important but its one of those things you don't even know is happening with out check weigths. This is why some people have scales that don't match.

biggun1911 · 09-14-2011, 08:40

I leave my Dillon digital scale in the garage stored with batteries in. I have had no problems. I have had it for several years. I tend to buy from Dillon because in my experience they sell good equipment. I have never been disappointed.

I will add that my first Dillon digital scale quit working and Dillon replaced it. This was before they stopped the lifetime warranty on electronics.

fredj338 · 09-14-2011, 09:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by unclebob

All of Dillon electronic equipment only has a one year warranty. Read the little blue box on page 4 of The Blue Press.

This is true, but they will repalce it for 50%. I had a first gen Dillon Term. Ran great for about 6yr then started drifting. Dillon replaced it w/ the current version, runs great, always zeros fast & holds the zero perfectly. It's now 4yrs old, so we'll see. IMO, there are no deals in dig scale, cheap as cheap does. Go Dillon, RCBS or maybe the new Hornady, but I haven;t tried one. A good beam scale is a nice backup for when the elec gear goes bad. Yes the beam can go bad, but rare.

O2BShooting · 09-14-2011, 13:59

Thank you for all of the replies.

I did not store the scale with batteries in it. Upon reading my post I can see where the confusion is coming from.

The scales were from a name brand company. I was just wondering if others were having issues with storing scales in places that might not have ideal temperatures.

Since I wasn't able to load I guess no range for me this weekend unless I go .22 only.

Thanks again.

fredj338 · 09-14-2011, 16:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by O2BShooting

Thank you for all of the replies.

I did not store the scale with batteries in it. Upon reading my post I can see where the confusion is coming from.

The scales were from a name brand company. I was just wondering if others were having issues with storing scales in places that might not have ideal temperatures.

Since I wasn't able to load I guess no range for me this weekend unless I go .22 only.

Thanks again.

FWIW, mine is in the garage & on a power chord. It could be the batteries are causing damage if you are NOT using the unit often enough.

Colorado4Wheel · 09-14-2011, 19:58

I can't imagine risking batteries weeping on your nice scale. Batteries are know to do that.

cole · 09-15-2011, 16:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by O2BShooting

... Any input would be appreciated...

Get a beam scale. Seriously, how many of us really shoot precision loads in a gun that truly requires a digitally precise measurement of our powder charge? And, if you use a progressive press, IMO, a digital scale is a total waste of $ as inherent powder drop variations negate its precision. YMMV.