Perplexed by Time

[Daveinet]

You don't say how old the clock is.

There are going to be two major components there. One is electronic and consists of a crystal controlled oscillator (very often a multiple of 32,767 Hz) with digital divider to get a 1 second pulse out. The other is a mechanism to make the clock tick in response to the 1 second pulse.

Either the electronics are skipping some pulses or the mechanism is sticking and not ticking on every pulse. I would put it in the fridge and see if that causes it to lose time. If it does then see if you can stop it by freezing the electronics. If that does not work then look for mechanical sticking, especially if it more than about 5 years old.

Also, the advice to carefully clean the battery contacts is worth taking.

This is 90% on target. These clocks do have a crystal controlled pulse, but the mechanism is still mechanical. I have a pulse clock in my house that fails to keep time as well. The mechanism is sticky, so sometimes the pulse that fires the wheel that turns does not fire the wheel as far as it is supposed to. In your case, I believe the motion of sailing is affecting the mechanical motion of the clock. If you want to test it, try hanging it from a string. This will prevent the inertia created from the waves affecting the clock motion. Analog clocks may look cool, but can be motion sensitive, even though it is crystal controlled.

 

[KD3PC]

Most clocks and watches with an "analog" mechanism are usually adjusted in several positions....those the clock/watch is most likely to be in most of it's life.

A ship's clock is a beast of a dying breed. Most are adjusted to keep time in 6 or 8 positions, as opposed to 3 or 4 for most "home" clocks. While some of the clock is crystal/electronic (and if you could "look" at it with an O-scope or freq meter, it would probably be dead on reliable and accurate) using that electronic heart to move the mechanism still leaves a lot of slop.

I would check and see if your W&P is a wall clock or chronometer, and if a chronometer call them and ask who in your area can "time" the one you have. It will take a few days for a clock maker to time it...

hope this helps

 

[nutheastah]

simple answer "when sailing all time stands still" However have you tried your time piece on another boat?

 

[Jackdaw]

A mechanical quartz clock like yours is driven by a very small electric stepper motor. Like others note, the natural quartz oscillation frequency of 32786 (a very happy power of two) is reduced by some very simple power-of-two dividers down to a usable 1Hz pulse. An integrated amp uses the pulse to drive the armature in the motor which pushes the drive train connected to the hands. Stepper motors work via magnetism and can be rather sensitive. Either stray magnetism or vibration can cause it to miss steps and loose time. I would look at both. Or return it. I have one of these clocks and it functions perfectly.

'Adjusted to positions' is a tuning feature of pure mechanical movements and not relevant to quartz, as quartz clocks are not position sensitive.

 

[Gunni]

We had a similar issue with the same clock so I bought the clock guts at an electronics shop for $5 and fixed it myself.

One of two W&P clocks aboard is doing the same thing. Loses time after a month with a new battery, while the other continues to work for maybe 6 months. I note that they both use a ridiculous hard to find N-size battery, would really like to replace the mechanism with one that uses a standard size battery.

 

[Jackdaw]

One of two W&P clocks aboard is doing the same thing. Loses time after a month with a new battery, while the other continues to work for maybe 6 months. I note that they both use a ridiculous hard to find N-size battery, would really like to replace the mechanism with one that uses a standard size battery.

LOL! The first time I saw this madness was on a boat in France, with a Plastimo-branded clock on it. Thought the N size battery was voted least likely to be found in some remote harbor store or chandelry.

Unless of course you are a devotee of old-school HP calculators... then you have a cache of Ns for your HP-41CV.

 

[Gunni]

Years ago a brother gave me one of those Russian Naval submariner clocks built in Chistopol. When the wind-up mechanism died after about 8 years I took it to a clock repairman who recommended a Japanese Takane quartz movement replacement. I was able to find exact replacement for the hour, minute and sweep hands and the thing has kept perfect time for 15 years (on a C-size battery). I'm putting a Takane mechanism in the Weems & Plath clock - it uses a sensible AA battery.

 

[All U Get]

Years ago a brother gave me one of those Russian Naval submariner clocks built in Chistopol. When the wind-up mechanism died after about 8 years I took it to a clock repairman who recommended a Japanese Takane quartz movement replacement. I was able to find exact replacement for the hour, minute and sweep hands and the thing has kept perfect time for 15 years (on a C-size battery). I'm putting a Takane mechanism in the Weems & Plath clock - it uses a sensible AA battery.

That's it Gunni, a Takane replacement is what I used. Stupid little hands were hard to get back on, but it works. Those little N batteries are hiding in the drugstores with the medical batteries. (Wife keeps a few aboard)

All U Get

 

[Joe]

Unless of course you are a devotee of old-school HP calculators... then you have a cache of Ns for your HP-41CV.

Ahhh... the HP12C... still have one in my real estate brief case that I acquired in 1989 . The greatest handheld calculator ever... closed many a deal with that simple, user friendly tool on the kitchen table next to the paper DRE contracts I filled out by hand. Yep, those were the days. No internet, no public search engines, no emails, no laptops, no hassle... Just you and the client face to face.

 

[skipper66]

W&P Clock

The OP says he is losing time, which is actually appropriate for a sailboat. Everything runs slower, which is nice because it makes for a longer day of sailing.

Gfrazzle, I like your dad.

I have a W&P clock, barometer, and thermometer combination unit on my O'Day 22 that does exactly the same thing: it runs perfectly all winter hanging on the wall in my den, but loses time every day all summer when its mounted on the boat. The unit is mounted near the fuse/switch panel when its aboard, so maybe there is something to the electrical interference idea.

Really disappointing considering the cost of this unit.

 

[jbrudzinski]

Good morning. As mentioned in an earlier quote I believe your seeing the difference between a clock and a chronometer. The inner working of a clock are designed for a stationary environment (escapements, pendulums,etc. need a stable platform). A chronometer is designed to function accurately in an unstable environment (aka at sea, with design features to compensate for continuous movement). If W & P are calling your timepiece a chronometer you may want to send it in for repairs.

Great question to pose. I was just looking at time pieces for my boat and will definitely look for a chronometer. Thanks for sharing.

Jay

 

[Roadking Larry]

On my 1st boat Quartermaster were responsible for maintain then click. We had a baby quartergasket Chek abourd fresh out of being whelped. Fine young sailor, but a little naive and a little slow on the uptake.
The periodic maintenance routine came up to sync the clocks. IIRC the basic routine west set the main clock in control and set the rest of them throughout the boat. They explained the procedure, handed him a stopwatch and sent him on his way. When he was done there were not 2 clocks on the boat were the same.
It seems the part where you set the clock in control to 0800 someone didn't adequately explain the use of the stopwatch. Every clock on the boat had been set to exactly 0800.

 

[kloudie1]

As a treat to my eyes (and some old Navy memories), I bought a Weems/Plath Martinique barometer and ship's bell clock. Beautiful pieces to look at but the clock movement is quartz and really not a good one. The ship's bell cracked early on.. W&P was kind enough to send me a new one but shortly after that the thing that smacks the bell quit working. The clock has gained time (2-3 minutes a day) since I bought it more than 20 years ago. Beautiful pieces of eye candy but not as functional as a cheap TimeX. I was disappointed that such an expensive clock was so bad as a clock! Now, thanks to info from the forum, I see that I can probably fit in a new movement that has electronic bells ! Great info Gunni ! Thanks for the tip on the Takane movement !

 

[Chris Patterson]

Reminds me of my jeweler that said one time in a question of the accuracy of a Rolex. "When you're wearing these kind of watches, we're really not concerned about whether it keeps accurate time or not".

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

Used to have a wife who could not wear a battery watch- HAD to be a wind up. Something in her body chemistry would cause the watch to lose time, quite rapidly. She'd lose an hour a day. Watch ran perfectly when not on her wrist.

 

[kenackerman]

I just read through the current downloadable Weems & Plath catalogue on Time & Weather instruments. It makes no distinction on any of it's time instruments as being a chronometer. All time pieces are labeled as clocks. Several of their collections are labeled as life time warranty.

While many of their time & weather instruments are made in Annapolis, some are listed as being assembled from globally supplied parts. Which I think means some Chinese stuff gets in there in a few collections. Collections that are made in Germany & Denmark are labeled as such while American made collections sport an american flag. The point being it behooves one to ask the origin if one doesn't want products with Chinese parts.

I think your best bet is to call them in Annapolis (eastern time) and tell them what's going on and they should be able to sort it out & resolve it for you. All of the wall mount clock mounting was non movable.

There was no discussion of allowing for movement.

If all of that doesn't set you on your path in correct time, you could always try NOT tacking via use of the iron jenny to see what the clock does OR you could sit at the dock & drink cocktails while you watch the clock to see what it does.

 

[bawlmer]

Hey. Before everybody gets crazy with after market replacement parts, Weems and Plath has a lifetime warranty on their clocks. Just call them and get a RMA. As long as it is not battery corrosion they will fix it free. Cut and paste link below. Interested to see what they say about your issue.

http://www.weems-plath.com/customer-service.php

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

Still betting it's some form of electrical interference aboard the boat affecting the clock, in which case Weems and Plath cannot fix it.

 

[Joe]

Will someone just call Weems & Plath and end all this wild speculation.

 

[kloudie1]

Correction, Weems and Plath has a two year warranty on the ships bell clocks; lifetime warranty on "instruments" .. Mine has a German made movement..