BEFORE Hornady introduce their electronics module:
I built my own about 6 years ago. It consisted of a counting module and 3 microswitches. I got comfortable using it. It not only counted how many times I primed a case, but also when there were no primers. And there was a green "go" light to let me know I had primed the current case.
But alas these counter modules have a finite life and mine died this year. I had become dependent on the counter and the lights so I needed to at least replace the counter module. I decided to scrap the whole thing and start over.
After a few different tries, I did away with the "out-of-primer" switch and light. That's never been a problem. But I wanted the switches to occupy a much lower profile on the press and I wanted to get them from being in the way of the primer feeder tray.
After a number of experiments, being a bear of slow wit, I finally realized that a surface mount (SMD) micro switch would be perfect to detect when I had "primed".
So here's the new arrangement.
Much lower profile. Much neater. (and SMD switches are cheap. ~$1/ea). I bent the leads up some and soldered the wires straight to them. Glued it to a piece of plastic and the plastic to the press. The switch is 7.5mm high and this is perfect. It won't activate until the primer arm is at it's lowest point. My only concern is there were no specs on the # of lifetime cycles. I hope it's 100k.
Then I moved the reset switch to the other side of the press.
Here's the overall view from the back.
(Yes I paint the small primer parts green and the large ones red for quick id.)
And here's the reset switch. Yes, I cut off the case feeding arm as I will never use the auto-feeder. It was just in my way.
The box has a standard LCD counting module, an LED (with scr locking circuit) to tell me when I've primed, and a reset button. The LED stays on until the reset switch it activated. That way there's no double counting.
While working on this I reloaded a couple hundred runs 'manually'. I did fine. My primer follower rod is marked off in increments of 25, so no problem running out of primers. Maybe I'm slightly OCD, but I've come to love the counter. And if something needs attention during the cycle, the LED light gives me comfort that I've primed already.
My SCR locking circuit is crude and could probably use a couple bypass capacitors. Unless I'm plugging/unplugging the wires it never give a false count, but it would hurt.
I considered the Hornady electronics module, now that they have it, but it's got more than I need or want and I'm happy with my DIY.
I built my own about 6 years ago. It consisted of a counting module and 3 microswitches. I got comfortable using it. It not only counted how many times I primed a case, but also when there were no primers. And there was a green "go" light to let me know I had primed the current case.
But alas these counter modules have a finite life and mine died this year. I had become dependent on the counter and the lights so I needed to at least replace the counter module. I decided to scrap the whole thing and start over.
After a few different tries, I did away with the "out-of-primer" switch and light. That's never been a problem. But I wanted the switches to occupy a much lower profile on the press and I wanted to get them from being in the way of the primer feeder tray.
After a number of experiments, being a bear of slow wit, I finally realized that a surface mount (SMD) micro switch would be perfect to detect when I had "primed".
So here's the new arrangement.
Much lower profile. Much neater. (and SMD switches are cheap. ~$1/ea). I bent the leads up some and soldered the wires straight to them. Glued it to a piece of plastic and the plastic to the press. The switch is 7.5mm high and this is perfect. It won't activate until the primer arm is at it's lowest point. My only concern is there were no specs on the # of lifetime cycles. I hope it's 100k.
Then I moved the reset switch to the other side of the press.
Here's the overall view from the back.
(Yes I paint the small primer parts green and the large ones red for quick id.)
And here's the reset switch. Yes, I cut off the case feeding arm as I will never use the auto-feeder. It was just in my way.
The box has a standard LCD counting module, an LED (with scr locking circuit) to tell me when I've primed, and a reset button. The LED stays on until the reset switch it activated. That way there's no double counting.
While working on this I reloaded a couple hundred runs 'manually'. I did fine. My primer follower rod is marked off in increments of 25, so no problem running out of primers. Maybe I'm slightly OCD, but I've come to love the counter. And if something needs attention during the cycle, the LED light gives me comfort that I've primed already.
My SCR locking circuit is crude and could probably use a couple bypass capacitors. Unless I'm plugging/unplugging the wires it never give a false count, but it would hurt.
I considered the Hornady electronics module, now that they have it, but it's got more than I need or want and I'm happy with my DIY.
