A fast 'o' slow meter for my Magneta PO36 clock

This is to be a meter indicating how fast or slow my clock is with respect to MSF, it will have a micro and an MSF receiver in it and display the time difference on a meter.

Having received a meter for the project, many thanks to mole42uk, I have made the box to put it all in but I have a quandary, which way round? The switch shewn is to set it in +/- 5 second or +/- 25 second ranges.

So... which way round?

[8 Tracker]

A very interesting little project. Did you make the scale yourself, or was it already in the meter?

Personally, I would have the needle swinging to the right to indicate fast, as this is the same direction the clock hands would move if they were fast.

Do let us know how you get on with this one.

By the way, I wondered what "DY" was to the left of the meter, then I realised, "HP" upside down!

Mark.

Did you make the scale yourself

No it came with the meter, perfect for my application.

I would have the needle swinging to the right to indicate fast

I wasn't thinking of that way round (it will be) but switch to the left or right?

[Radio Wrangler]

I must have misunderstood something, it sounds too obvious If the switch selects the time range of the meter, have it so dolly-up selects the range on the upper scale, dolly down for the lower scale.

David

have it so dolly-up selects the range on the upper scale, dolly down for the lower scale

I didn't even think of that, the switch (got from from Maplin this morning) has a nice up for ON and down for OFF thingy, I was thinking ON for 5 seconds, you have nailed it there David.

Back to the original question (badly phrased by me), switch on the right of left (as per photos), they look the same to me but I am sure some industrial designer will know the correct side for it to be on. A bit pernickety I know, may as well get it right now rather than look at it later and think 'is that the right way round'?

[M0FYA Andy]

I think it depends on whether you are right or left-handed, so you don't obscure the meter with the hand you would normally use to operate the switch.

Andy

[8 Tracker]

Now I understand! I agree with Andy. I am right handed, so would naturally put the switch on the right.
Mark.

I am swinging to the right too, will decide tomorrow and then you get to see the insides.

Well, it is done, bit slack at work did the programming this morning. The micro is a "Start USB" http://www.mikroe.com/startusb/pic/ great little board, comes with a USB bootloader, no need for a programmer and code complied in Microchips IDE (Integrated Development Environment, it's free to as are the C compliers) just loads and runs (even the USB code, must be a clever bootloader). 5V regulator is from my old projects stash.

The pictures show the insides, the outside (showing 1.5 seconds fast) and a view of the whole clock. I use american coins to regulate the pendulum, much less likely to get nicked for want of 10p or so.

BTW if anyone want's the code you are more than welcome. It's engineers code not programmers! Attached the lot for fun.

[Radio Wrangler]

A chrono-swingometer! You just need to book Peter Snow, now...

David