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Other Vintage Household Electrical or Electromechanical Items For discussions about other vintage (over 25 years old) electrical and electromechanical household items. See the sticky thread for details. |
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17th Mar 2013, 11:08 pm | #1 |
Hexode
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Stourbridge, West Midlands, UK.
Posts: 434
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USA electric clock
I have had an electric wall clock in the loft for some time now, I bought it at a boot sale a few years back for a fiver, I decided to get it up and running, but noticed the rating plate is stamped '117v/60cycles', I never spotted this when I bought it, but went ahead and connected it up through a step down transformer, it started working straight away, but is losing time, I checked over the movement and all seems OK, so why is it losing time?
The make is Simplex,and made in the USA. Last edited by Mike Phelan; 18th Mar 2013 at 10:22 am. |
17th Mar 2013, 11:34 pm | #2 |
Rest in Peace
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Matlock, Derbyshire, UK.
Posts: 1,378
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Re: USA electric clock
It is doubtless a synchronous clock which uses the mains frequency to determine the speed. Running at 50Hz will mean that it will be running at 5/6 proper speed.
I have seen circuits to phase lock to 50Hz and output 60Hz. You could also use a quartz crystal oscillator to generate 60Hz. |
18th Mar 2013, 1:02 am | #3 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK.
Posts: 16,527
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Re: USA electric clock
Run it as a conversation piece and use your watch to tell the time
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18th Mar 2013, 1:44 am | #4 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Stockport, Greater Manchester, UK.
Posts: 827
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Re: USA electric clock
Some circuit ideas here:
http://sound.westhost.com/clocks/freq-changer.html |
18th Mar 2013, 9:16 am | #5 |
Heptode
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Edinburgh, UK.
Posts: 805
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Re: USA electric clock
60Hz signal generator and a 100V line public address amplifier driven hard.
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18th Mar 2013, 9:24 am | #6 |
Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Fife, Scotland, UK.
Posts: 22,801
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Re: USA electric clock
Put it amongst a row of 50Hz wall clocks labelled London, Tokyo, San Francisco etc, but label this one "Planet Zorg".
David
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18th Mar 2013, 10:18 am | #7 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: North Somerset, UK.
Posts: 2,129
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Re: USA electric clock
If you wish to use the clock regularly to tell the time, rather than simply as an exhibit, then I would run it on a small power inverter.
Buy an inverter by mail order or on ebay from the USA, that is designed to output 110/120 volts 60 cycles and that will run your clock fine. Such inverters are intended to run from a 12 volt battery so as to provide backup power, but may of course by powered from the mains via a suitable transformer/rectifier. A sine wave unit would be best for a clock. The smallest size would suffice. |
18th Mar 2013, 12:00 pm | #8 |
Dekatron
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Derby, UK.
Posts: 7,735
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Re: USA electric clock
Because it is designed for 60 cycles per second power: it requires 120 reversals of the supply to move the clock forward one second. So in the UK (where we have 50 cycles per second power), it will take 1.2 seconds to move the clock on one second.
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18th Mar 2013, 12:07 pm | #9 |
Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Fife, Scotland, UK.
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Re: USA electric clock
Small power inverters aren't very accurate in frequency. The timekeeping would still be poor.
David
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Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done |
18th Mar 2013, 1:36 pm | #10 |
Pentode
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: London, UK.
Posts: 205
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Re: USA electric clock
I purchased an American 60Hz 1950's clock radio a few years back with a Telechron motor - same timing issues with running it on our UK supply. I looked at all options ( replacement gears, building a 60Hz supply etc) and in the end purchased a replacement NOS 50Hz motor from a guy in the States, it wasn't too cheap but it did the job. I think Simplex also did/do manufacture clocks for Australia ( 50Hz supplies ), maybe you could find someone with a spare motor there? Or replace the motor/gearbox with a very cheap Quartz controlled battery unit ?:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_tr...at=0&_from=R40 ? |
18th Mar 2013, 1:50 pm | #11 |
Octode
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,517
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Re: USA electric clock
There were some Simplex clock systems installed in this country which ran off mains 50Hz. Some had an additional wire which engaged a clutch which enabled a Master clock unit to hold the movement with the minute and seconds hands at exactly the '12 oclock' position to synchronise all the clocks; if this extra wire was left off the units just ran as ordinary 50Hz clocks. I know of at least one of these systems being installed as late as the 1980s. Try to find a service agent, there may still be spares for these still around.
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18th Mar 2013, 10:27 pm | #12 | |
Hexode
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Stourbridge, West Midlands, UK.
Posts: 434
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Re: USA electric clock
Quote:
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18th Mar 2013, 10:30 pm | #13 |
Hexode
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Stourbridge, West Midlands, UK.
Posts: 434
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Re: USA electric clock
Just to update this thread,a neighbour had a damaged Smiths clock,but a useful 240v/50Hz motor still intact,i have just found it fits the simplex,and also the hands fit the mechanism,i have just started it up and it is keeping time now!
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18th Mar 2013, 11:35 pm | #14 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK.
Posts: 16,527
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Re: USA electric clock
Maybe you can sell the old motor to someone in the USA
Postage shouldn't be a killer on something so small.....
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20th Mar 2013, 8:06 pm | #15 |
Pentode
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Dorset, UK.
Posts: 240
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Re: USA electric clock
I've just come across this, seems to be what the original poster is looking for;
http://www.domino405.co.uk/60hz_clock.html |