Cell phone interference & digital scales

[pasote]

I have never had a problem

I have used an electronic scale since 1994 with no problems whatsoever. I was an NRA high power service rifle shooter for 10 years and I used a Pact/RCBS electronic scale with great success. I still have that scale but I upgraded it to an RCBS rangemaster 2000 and I use check weights every 10th round and it is very accurate and precise. I always have my IPhone 11 in my pocket and I have had no problems whatsoever. It is a non-issue with me

 

[growr]

my phone is a 4g Samsung....perhaps that is why there is no interference....

Randy

 

[BLUEDOT37]

...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.

Interesting to know.

When you're streaming music the phone is only transmitting periodic low power pings to the cell tower but once a call comes in it transmits at a higher power, dependent on how close you are to the tower, which of course creates the potential for interference.

Thankfully my RCBS Charge Master 1500 has not experienced any issues related to cell phone usage & mine are normally less than three feet apart when I'm reloading & I've received calls many times.

.

 

[Nemo288]

One way to cut down on RFI, at least thru the power supply, is to install ferrite beads on the power wire(s).
This has helped me with florescent interference but obviously won't correct direct radiation into the scale.
I have since retired this Lyman digital scale in favor of a GemPro 250 but the ferrites did help with stability of both.
Worth a try especially if you have dimmers anywhere in the house.
These create harmonics throughout the local power wiring.

 

[Paul in Nevada]

It isn't just the RF in your loading area. If the scale is corded it also gets EM interference from noise on that circuit. I might try Nemo's invention above. I have an older Pact scale that used to be satisfactory but in my current house it's unreliable.

 

[Nemo288]

I'd love to claim inventing that but did not.
Those may be older than I am and I am nearing 3/4 of a century.
I don't know when the ceramic ferrite material was invented,
but the idea of the inductive choke goes back to the very beginning of radio and electronics.
Many electronic appliances these days have ferrites on the power wires to prevent RF going either into or out of said device.
Most cheap switching type power supplies as in many wall-warts produce a lot of hash and RF garbage that is not well filtered.
This alone could cause your scale to be unstable if not cleaned up.
You will see ferrite beads on USB, video and other cables as well to try and keep the signals inside from getting out and vice-versa.
This is the factory ferrite on the power cord for the external monitor on this laptop.
Ferrite bead - Wikipedia

 

[s&wchad]

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

Never a worry is right… Beam scales last for a long time and aren't affected by fluorescent lights, cell phones or other electronic interference. As you mentioned, they're also extremely accurate and repeatable. I bought the 5-10 about 45 years ago and got the 10-10 in the late 90's. Both still work great!

Here's a 1960's vintage Lyman/Oahus M5 that I recently got for under $20 at a swap meet. I couldn't pass up the deal and though it would make a good back-up, but I can't imagine my 5-10 or 10-10 ever having a problem.

 

[gwpercle]

RCBS 5-0-5 will not be affected by any electronic transmissions .
I promise you !
Gary

 

[jcelect]

Distraction!

I am of the belief that reloading is a solitary undistracted endeavor! That means no TV, no radio, and NO CELL PHONE! When ANY of these distractions happen, you walk away, come back later, dump everything, and start over! This MIGHT prevent a double charge causing a catastrophic failure and/or injury!
IMHO jcelect

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I bought an RCBS 5-0-5 many many years ago. I wanted the Ohaus 10-10 but couldn't afford it. I finally got a 10-10 from an old gun shop who took in a lot of reloading equipment from a window and I got the 10-10 for only $30. Like I said above, never a worry...