What to do when the atomic clock goes haywire?
One of our always reliable radio controlled clocks decided to tell the time almost exactly four hours late all of a sudden. It gets the time from some atomic clock in Germany and has done a great job for fifteen years. I have replaced the battery and put it in a window to make sure it's reached by the German radio signals. It made no difference. I don't understand how it can malfunction the way it does. The only remedy I can think of is open it and move the hour hand four hours forward. What would you do?
Best regards, Niklas ๐
Is there any button for selecting the time zone? There should be. The clock can not know its time zone by itself?
That's good thinking! I can't see buttons or other ways to make any settings. Perhaps they program them for the market they are sold in. Most of Europe is the same time zone. Or they only sell them in markets with German time. ๐ The German radio signals probably can't reach the whole globe.
Best regards, Niklas ๐
Is that a reset button, in the middle, at the battery symbol? If so, I assume you have tried it several times? :-)
I don't think it is. At first it looked like that kind of hole, but in it there seems to be some plastic cover or something.
Best regards, Niklas ๐
I see. Western Europe has 3 different time zones, so I still find it a bit strange that the time zone can not be set. Now I am out of ideas!
Remove the battery, short the battery terminals with a metal clip. Any charge on any capacitor now disappears. Reinsert battery after 24 hours.
I've had the exact same clock and when the battery was near empty the clock moved the hour hand four hours to show it's time to change the battery. After changing the battery it could take a few days for it to get the radio signal to set the clock. The reception for the atomic clock signals are very weak here. Most radio controlled clocks doesn't work at all. I have three different radio controlled clocks I have to set manually. Nowadays I rely on internet time :-)
For us the clocks usually gets the right time in the first night after a battery replacement.
Best regards, Niklas ๐