static electricity

[Dan_69GTX]

Thanks for the update!

How long did you run the fan before running your test?  Just curious.

[lewmed]

 I set the fan on my loading bench and let it blow across my press and scale for a few minutes while I was filling the powder measure.  Then I directed the fan on the powder measure and started my test. I also tested a few things that I knew would hold a static charge like scotch tape and plastic wrap by holding them in front of the fan for a few seconds the static cling was gone. I always let my electric scale warm up before loading so now when the humidity is low I'll also turn the fan on.

[tdogg]

I also have issues with static due to the extreme dryness here in AZ.  I've grounded my press and now I've ordered a Ionizer fan!  I will do a test with and with out the fan to see how it changes my drop variation.  Hopefully I see the same results as your test!

Cheers,
Toby

[tdogg]

Got the ionizer fan today and ran a test with and without it on.  I was rolling through the test with great results until for some unexplained reason my powder drop started to bind up?!  It wasn't resetting completely and the cases were not getting charged.  During my controlled experiment to see how the fan affects the variability it stops working!  I had to stop testing and pull it apart and clean it.  I'm not entirely sure what area was causing the binding but there was some buildup in the drop tube that most likely was the cause. 

It was time to clean the drop regardless.  I think part of the issue was that I was using the same case for the test and the case flare was getting larger and larger with each drop.  I think it finally stopped grabbing the expander button and pulling the powder drop to reset it as I raised the handle/lowered the shellplate.

Without fan:
I ran three sets of 10 drops, with three different charge weights (was adjusting to attempt to match my target charge weight).

Set 1   
1   47.2
2   47
3   47.26
Mean   47.15
StDev   0.136
Spread   0.26

Set 2   
1   46.94
2   47.12
3   47.28
Mean   47.11
StDev   0.170
Spread   0.34

Set 3   
1   46.78
2   46.68
3   46.68
Mean   46.71
StDev   0.058
Spread   0.1

With Ionizer Fan:
Set 1   
1   46.94
2   46.9
3   46.98
Mean   46.94
StDev   0.04
Spread   0.08

Set 2   
1   46.4
2   46.44
3   46.4
Mean   46.41
StDev   0.023
Spread   0.04

My reloading setup is in the garage and it isn't a controlled environment.  I moved our indoor weather station into the garage and it showed it was 55 F and 7% RH.  It is dry right now in the high desert!

I think the preliminary results indicate the fan is helping.  I will have to repeat the ionizer fan test to confirm the results.  I wanted let the powder drop dry (both the cleaning solvent and oneshot lube on exterior).

Cheers,
Toby