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digital clock advances

3044 Views 29 Replies 14 Participants Last post by  concretemasonry
Hi all,
In one room of my house, the digital clock advances up to one hour a day; I assume it's due to [fluctuating?] current from the box? This happens with any clock.
Any ideas?
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i have no idea, that's messed up though. only thing i can think of is ghosts.
I don't recall if AC powered digital clocks use the AC frequency to time themselves (60 hz = 1 second). But they must...Is there anything else on that particular circuit? Cfl's, old fluorescent shop lights (anything with an older ballast), electronics, etc? I know a clock run on modified sine wave (eg from a cheap dc-ac inverter) will make clicks run double-time. Kinda curious on this one...
What else is on the circuit that it's plugged into?
I imagine most recent clocks use electronics to keep time. As such, it would be based on the frequency (frequency counter in an IC like a 555).

If this happens with multiple clocks, I would suspect that the first one was bad and every one since then has been somebody in your household screwing with you.
If the clock has frequency counting circuitry, and you have a bad connection in the power feed, it may count the static of your bad power supply as extra blips in the frequency.

Another possible problem is the clock is configured for 50 Hz power supply, and connected to a 60 Hz source. That would an hour to your display for every five hours of elapsed time.
I am thinking the same way as KB is you may have the clock set at 50 HZ supply which it may account the wrong time and few case may have a glitch on the clock when the timming sensor go bad as well.

Merci,
Marc
I bet KB's got it. Most inexpensive digital clocks use the line frequency for timing, very few use an internal oscillator. Somehow you have it set for 50Hz.
I bet KB's got it. Most inexpensive digital clocks use the line frequency for timing, very few use an internal oscillator. Somehow you have it set for 50Hz.

but this has been multiple clocks. Unless the OP recently moved to the states from an area that used 50hz and brought a bunch of clocks with him or he got a really good deal on clocks on a late night tv informercial, I would doubt it was the 50hz/60hz issue.

Personally, I think it has to do with the findings of the Gravity Probe B and it's findings with time space and gravity interrelation. The means used to measure gravity and it's effects on space time have somehow created a time warp in the OP's house and speeded up time in that one room.

I would suggest the OP to refrain from staying in the room for any longer than absolutely necessary as while he is in this time warp, he will age faster just as his clocks have and his life, as observed by an outsider, will quicken until his ultimate demise.
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I withdraw my theory. I think nap has something here ;-)
but this has been multiple clocks. Unless the OP recently moved to the states from an area that used 50hz and brought a bunch of clocks with him or he got a really good deal on clocks on a late night tv informercial, I would doubt it was the 50hz/60hz issue.
That would be hilarious. A whole shipment of 50Hz clocks, unloaded on TV to unsuspecting Americans at GREAT prices!

Really though, if it's not the clock it's probably a harmonic problem caused by some nonlinear load on the circuit. The clocks detect zero-crossings of the AC waveform. Each zero crossing advances the clock by 1/120th of a second. If some device on the circuit is introducing glitches in the voltage waveform that look like additional zero crossings, the clock will run faster. This is likely to be something electronic, like an electronic ballast or switching power supply.
i have no idea, that's messed up though. only thing i can think of is ghosts.
I thought, "wow! I'm actually going to get an answer to this 15-year old mystery? Wow!"
But you surely made me laugh! Only thing: used to be hunting cabins; not sure if there Are any ghosts!
I don't recall if AC powered digital clocks use the AC frequency to time themselves (60 hz = 1 second). But they must...Is there anything else on that particular circuit? Cfl's, old fluorescent shop lights (anything with an older ballast), electronics, etc? I know a clock run on modified sine wave (eg from a cheap dc-ac inverter) will make clicks run double-time. Kinda curious on this one...
Nothing else on circuit; but I hadn't researched how the clocks 'time' themselves. Interesting tip.
Then it's gotta be ghosts; I live alone, not even a cat.....
Children, as a newbie, I find you mahvelous.
I am a young {...} lady; have no TV thus no QVC; never thought to check under the hood of the clock; it's the bedroom in a 3-room cabin so pillow is staying put; I am not adverse to the space-time continuum theory as I've been ... well, kinda new-agey since Mother 'graduated'.
But I'll take any more considerations! Tho I highly suspect the landlord's exaggerated electrical wiring expertise.....
Then it's gotta be ghosts; I live alone, not even a cat.....
that room should be quarantined from all human traffic and sealed:eek:
I am not adverse to the space-time continuum theory as I've been ... well, kinda new-agey since Mother 'graduated'.
.
as to being children; attitude is everything in life. If I acted my age I might be accused of being one of the ghosts messing with your clocks.

but, since I don't believe in ghosts, we're down to my theory and some dirty power.

and this has been happening for 15 years? My you have patience.

so, let's get serious.

are you supplied by a public utility company?

have you placed the fast clocks in other rooms and if so, how did they react?

Do you notice any problems or oddities with anything involving electricity?

just to be sure, by digital clocks, you mean the type with LED or LCD display and not the original digital clock that simply had a roll of numbers that spun around like a rolodex (See, I told you I was old. I'm hoping you know what the heck a Rolodex actually is) and there were all of similar type?

have you plugged the clocks into different receptacles in the room? and?
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Electronics do fail. DH has a digital clock he's had for 20+ years. In the last 5 years it started adding about 3 minutes a month. He refuses to replace it.
Mother has several wind up clocks.
OK I'll get serious, but you folks will have to wait a month. JUST cleaned out the parent's house today in another sate... and it will be awhile before I'm on the internet back home.
Yes sir, never had it before; I could be older than you.
It is a real live 'modern' clock, and I must say, I've not tried it in another room. Duh, as the kids would say. No other noticable electrical oddities {she says with trepidation...}
Thanks for your patience if you want to wait; I'm curious about power coming in [public; owner wired! not me...]
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