Cell phone interference & digital scales

Today I had just completed my reloading session and had shut my Dillon digital scale off when my iPhone rang. I answered my phone and after about a minute looked down at my scale and the digital display was flickering, turning off and then back on, getting dim them bright and basically convulsing like there was a short circuit.

I attempted to shut the scale off by pushing the power button but the scale didn’t respond. To shut it down I had to pull the power cord. All of this occurred while I was talking on the phone.

The phone was plugged into a wall outlet and my phone was about two feet or less from the scale while I was talking.earlier I had my phone within two feet while listening to streaming and had no issues. The only issue was when talking on the phone.

I’ve seen a similar event a few years ago. I’m a pilot and was flying from east Tn across the mountains to North Carolina. I was navigating with a Magellan aviation GPS mounted in the instrument panel. I took along my Garmin aviation GPS to compare to and about thirty minutes into the flight the Garmin went psycho. I wound up shutting the Magellan off and my Garmin resumed normal navigation. I wound up calling Garmin and describing the situation and shipped my unit to them to be checked. Garmin stated there was no issue found.

Garmin stated that they believe the circuitry (oscillator) in the Magellan interfered with the receiver circuitry in the Garmin causing it to shut down.

I’ve also experienced similar with another handheld device with an LCD screen creating interference with an audio system.

Our cell phones have radio transmitters, receivers and oscillators that can interfere with other sensitive and poorly shielded devices like our electronic scales. So in the future I will not be using my cell phone in proximity to my scale for fear of causing inaccurate readings.

I have noticed that w my Hornady digi scale. Cell has to be totally off for the scale to work.

Digital scales appear to be poorly shielded and are known to have issues if within the field of some fluorescent lighting, so it wouldn't surprise me at all to find a cell phone creating interference.

Does your phone support the newer 5G protocol?

I have had a Lyman DPS scale/dispenser since 2003. I keep my cell phone at least 8 feet away.

I’ve got an RCBS digital scale, but I think I’ve only used it once.

I have a lot more confidence in my RCBS 5-10 and 10-10 balance scales. I also have a set of check weights to verify the accuracy.

No phones allowed in my shop when reloading. I sometimes take mine with me but turn it off when I sit down in front of my press...

I can not say about cell phones.

But My wife and I have two way radios to communicate between the house and the shop. They will cause quite a bit of interference in my Lyman DPS II

s&wchad said:

I’ve got an RCBS digital scale, but I think I’ve only used it once.

I have a lot more confidence in my RCBS 5-10 and 10-10 balance scales. I also have a set of check weights to verify the accuracy.

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I agree Chad, I mostly use my 1010 but mine is labeled Ohaus before RCBS had them. Super accurate and never a worry...

ArchAngelCD said:

Does your phone support the newer 5G protocol?

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Yes it’s 5G. I don’t remember ever having an issue with my old 4G iPhone.

Thanks for that. Makes sense to keep the electronic devices away from each other, but I admit I hadn’t really considered it with the scale/dispenser that I use. I will now.

mikld said:

No phones allowed in my shop when reloading. I sometimes take mine with me but turn it off when I sit down in front of my press...

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That’s a very good idea.

s&wchad said:

I’ve got an RCBS digital scale, but I think I’ve only used it once.

I have a lot more confidence in my RCBS 5-10 and 10-10 balance scales. I also have a set of check weights to verify the accuracy.

Click to expand...

Yes. I have a couple balance beam scales as my primary tools, one is an early Redding from the 1950s. I have a couple of digital scales. But, they are for non-critical uses. I doubt they'll last a fraction of the time/use of a good mechanical tool. Similarly, all my measuring tools are mechanical: vernier calipers, dial micrometers, etc. by Starrett, Brown & Sharpe, etc. They are all lifetime use tools, built by and for those who appreciate craftsmanship. The digital/electronic equivalent tools are all built to be disposable: use, break, toss, repeat. Even Dillon only gives one yr warranty on electronics.
I don't understand the concept that "using technology" unilaterally equates to superior results or process.

But, I'm sure the profit margins of the electronic digital stuff, with offshore production and built-in planned obsolescence, is very much in the retailer & manufacturer's favor.

No phone, No close air ducts and a perfectly level table.
Jim

.38SuperMan said:

Today I had just completed my reloading session and had shut my Dillon digital scale off when my iPhone rang. I answered my phone and after about a minute looked down at my scale and the digital display was flickering, turning off and then back on, getting dim them bright and basically convulsing like there was a short circuit.

I attempted to shut the scale off by pushing the power button but the scale didn’t respond. To shut it down I had to pull the power cord. All of this occurred while I was talking on the phone.

The phone was plugged into a wall outlet and my phone was about two feet or less from the scale while I was talking.earlier I had my phone within two feet while listening to streaming and had no issues. The only issue was when talking on the phone.

I’ve seen a similar event a few years ago. I’m a pilot and was flying from east Tn across the mountains to North Carolina. I was navigating with a Magellan aviation GPS mounted in the instrument panel. I took along my Garmin aviation GPS to compare to and about thirty minutes into the flight the Garmin went psycho. I wound up shutting the Magellan off and my Garmin resumed normal navigation. I wound up calling Garmin and describing the situation and shipped my unit to them to be checked. Garmin stated there was no issue found.

Garmin stated that they believe the circuitry (oscillator) in the Magellan interfered with the receiver circuitry in the Garmin causing it to shut down.

I’ve also experienced similar with another handheld device with an LCD screen creating interference with an audio system.

Our cell phones have radio transmitters, receivers and oscillators that can interfere with other sensitive and poorly shielded devices like our electronic scales. So in the future I will not be using my cell phone in proximity to my scale for fear of causing inaccurate readings[/U].

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I should be safe I have a old fashioned rotary phone hanging on the wall next to my gun area! Yes it still dials out!

As far as you said pilot. A large welding shop I worked for was directly under the landing path going to Albany airport. Planes were low enough they had wheels down at that point

One day a couple official cars showed up at the shop and FCC type people with some sort of device invaded our shop. It seems like a brand new TIG machine was wired wrong and under some circumstances totally messed up some electronics in the overhead planes. We were not aware of any problem at that time!

We shut the TIG machine down and called the company that sold the machine and they came out and fixed it. ( As a bonus that also fixed the problem we had on occasion of the shops answering machine loosing its settings and messages)

When I was attempting to get digital scales to work reliably in my shop, I turned off everything except one 100 watt desk lamp. I have fluorescent lighting, off. Cell phone, off. radio, off. CD player, off. Jes me, a desk lamp and a digital scale. (tried 3). Still had problems. Digital scales are so-so, especially when I'm doing a load work up. Maybe if I took it /them up in the hills they may be more useful...

Just an FYI. My computer speakers pick up some interference if I have my cell phone near the wires.

And to the contrary, I used a known weight (230 JHP .45 bullet) with my cell phone in the house....230 on the digital scale, brought cell phone to the bench about 3 feet away.....230 on the scale.....put the cell phone beside the scale and touching the case....still 230 on the scale.

Checked it on my Dillon balance beam scale....230.

Guess in MY case the presence of a cell phone means or does nothing.

Randy

.38SuperMan said:

Yes it’s 5G. I don’t remember ever having an issue with my old 4G iPhone.

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I have read that phones with 5G which is a very high frequency sends out EMI that can effect many electronic devices including airplane navigation. I'm sure it's the 5G that's interfering with your digital scale, that's why I asked about your phone.

I haven't tried a digital scale in years.