Noisy clock

For everything to do with Dolomites, Toledos, FWD cars and Dolomite-based kitcars.
Post Reply
Message
Author
User avatar
tinweevil
Guest contributor
Guest contributor
Posts: 3936
Joined: Tue Oct 03, 2006 5:42 pm
Location: Forest of Dean

Noisy clock

#1 Post by tinweevil »

In a thread far far away rich uttered forth:
.... wont start cos that clock you can sometimes hear ticking from the house has flattened the bleadin battery again
Which reminds me... If your clock is noisy it's because the electronics inside it are getting tired. 'Electronic parts cause noise!' I hear you exclaim 'Surely you can't be serious?' Well I am serious et cetera et cetera.

There is an RC circuit (RC = Resistor Capacitor) that provides the energy to kick the moving parts. As the capacitor ages the kick provided gets weak, this has some effect on accuracy but not that much because the clock is mechanically regulated for time. The weak kicks do mean the gears inside don't mesh fully which is what makes your clock noisy. In extreme cases the hands can stop briefly while there is a graunching noise from inside as the gears clash instead of meshing.

The fix is easy, change the capacitor. The type and value of the capacitor need not be exact just change the resistor as well so that the RC constant remains the same.

Tinweevil
1978 Pageant Sprint - the rustomite, 1972 Spitfire IV - sprintfire project, 1968 Valencia GT6 II - little Blue, 1980 Vermillion 1500HL - resting. 1974 Sienna 1500TC, Mrs Weevils big brown.
Post Reply