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You're reading What makes an electric alarm clock run too fast from one outlet and fine in another in the same house?
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I have tried 3 different electric alarm clock radios and they ALL exhibit the same problem when plugged into one of 2 receptacles in the bedroom. I have one of those clock radios plugged into a 3rd receptacle in the same bedroom right now and it is keeping perfect time. Another clock radio is now in another room and it is keeping perfect time.
I know you are joking about "live minutes longer" expecially since if the clock is running too fast, time is passing more quickly than it should!
by Euchre Nut on January 20th, 2008
Ok, I have been thinking about this. I'm assuming you're in the States (outlet), I'm from UK but domestic wiring is similar. If the clocks are taking their time reference from the mains supply, then there is something different about the mains coming out of the 'time-distort' outlet. I considered gross harmonic distortion, but chances are that would still be synchronous - no dice. Even if that outlet was being supplied from a different street phase (very unlikely) it would still be at the same frequency, just phase shifted. The only way I can think that the outlet is running at a different frequency is if it has been supplied from an inverter (electronic transformer) which has a faulty timebase, or an independent generator. Try pulling the fuse or breaker for those sockets. If the faulty one is still on, trace it's connection to the point of supply. Failing that, maybe get hold of someone who has a portable digital 'scope, and get them to have a look at the waveform and it's period.
by Sparks on January 21st, 2008
If the bad outlet is by the bedside table, it is possible that you are victim to an elaborate prank. Using a rectifier and a tweaked (58 or 62 Hz) inverter it would be possible to produce an outlet that kept bad time on synchronous clocks. Very unlikely though, but I have heard of an electrician who, when cheated of pay, installed a hidden random-operation timer switch into the ground floor ring main so that the supply was interrupted for 5 mins. each night. The baffled householder then spent months resetting the VCR clock/timer daily!
Try plugging in the heaviest load that the outlet should be able to supply and see if it runs properly.
What is the observed time error in a 24 hour period?
by Sparks on January 21st, 2008
Is it possible the outlet in question makes an intermittent connection (loose plug, maybe) so that the clock intermittently switches to battery backup on a lousy quartz crystal timebase that runs too fast during these periods? Remove the battery & see if the clock resets to 12:00 periodically.
by xprofessor on February 3rd, 2008
Intermittent connection, of course (hand slaps forehead) give that man the cup! Never even thought of it. There you are Euchre Nut, try it and see. Could also be a loose terminal in the plug, or pinched/cut power cord. Good call, Prof.!
by Sparks on February 5th, 2008
You're too kind :)
by xprofessor on February 5th, 2008