That is only a fast article to assist these individuals who have a quartz clock with a pendulum.
The best way these clocks work is that they’ve a pulse generator within the electronics that prompts a coil primarily based magnet. The change for that is linked to the pendulum swing (in several methods on totally different clocks) however all share the identical precept. The pendulum bob incorporates a magnet with north polarity. The electro coil magnet that activate and off because the pendulum swings has north polarity as nicely so that they repel one another. The coil magnet will get a present on the exact second the pendulum swings previous it and the magnets repel one another pushing the pendulum left or proper (relying on which means it’s travelling). I’ve an excellent Metamec clock that does this on a grand scale and appears like one thing out of a science experiment from the early twentieth century.
The purpose right here is that after you perceive what’s going on you’ll be able to check the effectiveness of the coil driving the pendulum. Let’s imagine for example, your clocks pendulum is siwngs for 2 minutes after which stops. How can we diagnose the issue?
Properly firstly it’s a must to make the idea that the failed component is both the coil or the mounted magnet, so test the mounted magnet is there and has not fallen off. It’s important to search with this utilizing one other weak magnet or ideally a paper clip. If the paper clip sticks to the pendulum rod on the backside of its size then you recognize there’s a magnet in there. As soon as you recognize the magnet is within the rod then you’ll be able to test the coil.
Coils rot or break. If you could find the identical gauge wire with the identical shielding then you’ll be able to both utterly substitute the coil wire by re-wrapping it or join it again up collectively the place it’s damaged.
A useful trace on that is to seek out out simply how a lot energy and magnetism the coil is in need of so as to drive the pendulum perpetually. You are able to do this purchase working a comparative check. You take away the battery after which swing the pendulum in as close to as doable to the unique arc you keep in mind it swing forwards and backwards by. This offers you a zero energy place to begin. You know the way lengthy it swings for with none energy in any respect.
You then put the battery in. Get one out of the packet so you might be completely certain you aren’t utilizing a dud (Ive performed this so many instances and it has price me numerous confusion time and pointless provider orders). Now swing the pendulum as you probably did when the battery was not within the unit. Measure how for much longer the pendulum swings for. You see usually the issue with the coil is a brief out. This implies solely a share of the magnetic discipline is being generated. As a result of the very low power required of the coil to maintain the pendulum swinging you’ll find that even when the coil is shorted by 90% you’ll nonetheless be capable of see this mirrored in an extended swinging time than with none energy.
This opens up choices on what you are able to do about it as a result of if the coil isn’t getting sufficient energy its extremely unlikely this has something to do with the ability supply (though there’s one factor I’ll come to afterward). It implies that the probelm is nearly definitely with the coil itself and its digital joinery. So if the pendulum is not less than getting some energy you’ll be able to take a look at the next choices.
- Test the solder joints on the tip of every wire coil part. On most clocks they’re single thread wind so you must solely be in search of two contacts. Look rigorously on the joints and if they’re onto a circuit board then take a look at the beneath of the circuit board so test of the solder joint has gone on the board versus the tip of the wire. If its damaged then repair it by re-soldering or establishing a dependable digital connection in another means – barrel becoming a member of clips can be utilized on a few of he bigger coils.
- Rewind the coil. You want a micrometer to measure the diameter of the copper wire. There are two diameters to measure – with and with out shielding. You then work out the shielding thickness through subtraction and you’ve got a specification on your shielded wire. Go and purchase some, rewind the coil with the identical size or longer and be part of it again as much as the circuit.
- Purchase a brand new motion. This isn’t as drastic as you may assume and will actually be the primary possibility for many fashionable clocks of this sort. You simply substitute the entire thing within the data that your coil or primary logic board has failed. Take note of dimensions if you purchase your built-in motion and pendulum drive unit. The general depth of your mounted motion is must take account of the place the pendulum must swing. There’ll solely be a sure deviation from is present swinging arc that can work. To elucidate; let’s imagine the pendulum motion you purchase is obtainable with a 21 or 6mm spiggot. On taking your clock aside you discover that what you really need is a 16mm spiggot on the entrance, in any other case and the glass entrance wont return on as a result of the spiggot sticks too far by the clock. At 21mm it was by no means going to work and at 6mm it was by no means going to be sufficient to even get by thickness of your face (you thick face). On this case it’s essential pad out the mounting on the again and use the 21mm spiggot with solely, say, 10mm protruding of the face . The remaining spiggot size is being taken up by spacers you made as much as mount the motion. However heres the issue. By placing he spacers in you will have moved the entire motion again by perhaps 1cm. If the pendulum hangs down right into a glass confronted part under the clock you’ll be able to guess your final quid that it’s going to not match on this aperture with out hitting the again or sides of the clock. The regulation of sod takes over your undertaking. Your answer isn’t going to work and by no means was since you didn’t do your measuring taking pendulum place and size under consideration. I wont undergo what it’s a must to measure; in the event you perceive the precept of what Im saying right here you’ll know what to measure. If you happen to dont then ship me the clock to repair and take in the fee as its not price you making an attempt and failing and getting terribly annoyed with it. Thats my job, or was just a few years in the past once I first began doing these. Now I’ve a way.
- If you happen to look in the back of your clock and see that the unit makes use of two batteries in two separate areas of the clock then you could have an unbiased pendulum unit with a typical quartz motion in its centre. These are separate parts and will be changed individually. So, in the event you clock isn’t working however your pendulum is working nice you could simply have to interchange the clock motion and never the pendulum. That is helpful as a result of for just a few causes. Firstly you should purchase a brand new 57mm quartz motion which are typically customary measurement for the hand match. This implies you should utilize your unique arms. Secondly the answer goes to be cheaper as a result of there is no such thing as a want to interchange every part. Lastly and most significantly there is a component of standardisation is what these pendulum actions drive and you’ll in all probability be capable of use your outdated pendulum with it as they’re overpowered so as to drive a wider vary of pendulums – utterly logical from a design transient and market standpoint. Primarily, as a result of its a common sort of product, it’s overpowered in my expertise which suggests its extra more likely to drive no matter pendulum weight or size you will have. With the mounted models the place you will have a really built-in motion and pendulum driver, you’ll find that they’re solely suitable with a spread of pendulums. An excellent bit of recommendation is to purchase a pendulum from the identical place on the identical time. Its just a few kilos extra and permits you a check unit if nothing else. If you happen to get one with out shopping for a assured suitable pendulum how are you going to know if the unit is defective, badly fitted, or in case your pendulum is simply too heavy. One other space of incompatibility is centre of gravity. The fixings on these models are inclined to fluctuate from producer to producer so its very easy to get a unit the place your present pendulum can’t be modified to adapt to its new fixing to its armature on the motion. In brief, get a again cease place by having a pendulum that you recognize is suitable earlier than you begin work on it. It saves a great deal of time within the bother capturing part.
I do these clocks so in the event you don’t just like the look of all of the above give me a hoop and I ought to be capable of quote you on the spot after just a few questions. Costs fluctuate drastically between £30 and £200 for among the actually actually onerous suits with solely a mm to spare in some areas. There are simply not as many sorts and variants on the built-in pendulum and clock models which suggests some actually imaginative customized becoming on most events. Whereas I’ve my strategies, that is one sort of job that hardly ever repeats in precisely the identical means and every part is a customized match usually.
Time is cash and its by no means a fast job except you might be fortunate to have the ability to get a precisely the identical motion. Even then, by slight design revisions and enhancements, the suitable nature of precisely the identical motion produced 5 years aside is much from 100% on most events. Its foolish issues like the place they mount the time change button on the again not matching the opening in your clock to realize entry to the identical. Hanging fixings typically change and it means they should be sawn off. If you happen to noticed a quartz motion the vibrations can kill it lifeless so it means scorching wire for reducing and so forth and so forth. Lots of work usually and a stunning quantity for what ought to technically be extra akin to altering the toner cartridge on a photocopier.
As normal this began as a fast article and has became a two hour marathon of cross referencing and growing an comprehensible narrative. I wouldn’t do it except I loved it. The opposite factor is its actually fairly empowering broadcasting assist to such a large viewers. It encourages and motivates me to make what I say comprehensible. I hope you do.
