FX 300 i scales

[aaronraad]

Dave,
I'm currently setting up my loading room and was going to set the scales on a steel stand (100x100SHS with a plate on top) independent of the bench dyna bolted to the floor so it wouldn't have any vibration from the press etc.
Is this a good way to do it or is a concrete bench better for any reason?
Also how do you earth the scale?

Tim, the more you can isolate the scales from all changes the better- thermal, vibration mechical and sound, moisture, electrical/RF, curious children etc.

I looked at one of the antistatic mat/pad options for scales and then went through the kitchen draw and pulled out a rectangular version similar to this instead and haven't looked back:


Static isn't an issue but it's just takes out the last bit of vibration. If the wife asks why we are short 1 place mat in the set, you know nothing!

I also use the top plate from the shield assembly to cover all but the small 20c piece opening above the pan. Effectively a very short windshield with an opening just enough to load and unload which item I'm weighing. The A&D pans are relatively large, so if you can do anything to reduce their exposure to drafts without having to utilise a full shield all the better for your handling.

There is a threaded earthing connection on the A&D FX-i's which you could use if you want, but I haven't bothered. Just need to screw in an earthing wire with a small crimp lug, preferably grounding to something you won't start a galvanic reaction with.

I also use a power-board with independent switches to plug the A&D adaptor into. I prefer to be able to switch-off the unit and then unplug, instead of just pulling the plug to isolate the unit from mains power surges when not in use.

[Macca]

i find the mains power surges a lot while in use. its really bad in the country where my loading room is. i run mine of a pure sinewave inverter and a battery

[aaronraad]

i find the mains power surges a lot while in use. its really bad in the country where my loading room is. i run mine of a pure sinewave inverter and a battery

All those 2-phase welders kickin'

[DenisA]

i find the mains power surges a lot while in use. its really bad in the country where my loading room is. i run mine of a pure sinewave inverter and a battery

I run mine off a pure sine wave invertor and a car battery too. I also have the scales constantly earthed to my bench which is bolted to the slab.

My AnD fx-120i doesn't wander at all...... ever. They're are unreal.

[wulf]

A couple of weeks ago my digital scale, a Lyman 1200, started giving erratic readings. I've since been trawling the Internet searching for a replacement and found A&D EJ-303 and A&D FX300i very attractive. After reading this thread about the A&D FX300i I wonder if there is someone who has used the A&D EJ-303 scale and is willing to share their experience? The EJ-303 is significantly cheaper and from my reading should be able to do the job. Any opinions?

[Macca]

its a strain gauge scale so not even in the same league

[Tim N]

Aaron,
Thanks for the info.
I will also want to sort out the power supply.

[Tim N]

Hi Denis,
What sort of inverter do you use?

[DenisA]

Hi Denis,
What sort of inverter do you use?

Tim I use a COTEK 300w pure sine inverter. At the time I got it through an auto electrician mate at trade price. Thought I might use it for other thing too ............ hasn't happened yet.

[wulf]

its a strain gauge scale so not even in the same league

The FX-300 scale may be technologically superior over the EJ-303, but is the extra cost justified?

On paper, the EJ-303 does read down to 1mg with a standard deviation and linearity of 3mg, which is a little over one kernel of powder. I was merely seeking comments/advise about the EJ303's performance in practice, e.g. time required to stabilize, repeatability of measurements, drift over time etc. in comparison with other scales such as the FX-300 to help me to make the right decision.

[DenisA]

its a strain gauge scale so not even in the same league

The FX-300 scale may be technologically superior over the EJ-303, but is the extra cost justified?

On paper, the EJ-303 does read down to 1mg with a standard deviation and linearity of 3mg, which is a little over one kernel of powder. I was merely seeking comments/advise about the EJ303's performance in practice, e.g. time required to stabilize, repeatability of measurements, drift over time etc. in comparison with other scales such as the FX-300 to help me to make the right decision.

Prior to my FX120i, I was using a Sartorious AY123 lab scale which is a strain gauge. I was running these off my pure sign inverter and the car battery as they were terribly drifty run off the grid. That's why I set up the inverter.
Off the inverter, I thought the level of drift was O.K at the time. Looking back now, I think I was in denial. Some nights they were fine, but some nights they would wander, not by much, but continuously which is unsettling when your trying to load accurately. It causes you to keep second guessing and triple checking each load. If I could hear wind outside, although I couldn't feel any draft, they would terrible and I wouldn't want to use them.

The magnetic force restoration scales are unbelievable. I've never had them drift. Occasionally a second or 2 to resettle, but no drifting. Loading the most accurate powder charges could not be any faster.

If I had this experience years ago, I would have gone straight to the magnetic force restoration scales and recommend this path to any one asking. If they broke, I would pay $800 to get this kind of accuracy and time saving again..

Spend the money on the good scales as you'll be saving reloading time and shooting time and money not stuffing around with inaccurate loads, especially given the extreme accuracy that is the standard in F-class now.

[Barry Davies]

Amen.

[Brad Y]

I must admit the EJ-123 could well be a good option for those who cant (or wont) lash out the dollars for the more expensive model. The EJ 123 is $510 from an Aussie online retailer. 3 year warranty is good. Weights to 0.015gr (assuming it will move in 0.02gr increments). The big thing is how it behaves with voltage/flouro lights/static and if you can trickle straight in or have to take the pan off each time you add powder etc. Set it up properly on an anti static mat, earth it properly and set up a stable and filtered power supply and it may well be as dependable as the FX-i 300 scales which run at $895 from the retailer Im looking at. Of course it could be a lemon but after using an RCBS rangemaster 750 scale for a while and it being reliable and repeatable after being set up properly, I may splurge for a set and trial them out as a cheaper option.

[Longranger]

Why go to the trouble of using an inverter, battery and then the switch mode power supply?

It would be far more stable to use a battery coupled to a dc regulator circuit. This cuts out the stuff in the middle.

12VDC to 240VAC to 12VDC kind of doesn't make sense... Battery 12.6V to regulated 12VDC would be slicker and more stable... not to mention more efficient.

[bsouthernau]

You still need to charge the battery. Out here in the sticks where the ultimate electricity source is the sun 12V to inverter to 12V is easier way to do it. And on the original thread I've been very pleased with my FX-120i except it just abruptly stopped working recently. Looks like it's the (Chinese made) AC adapter which has failed. New one on the way and I'll be wiser and hopefully happier when it arrives.

Barry