Just added a new slave to my masterclock system.
This is built in the style of a regulator and uses 3 modified quartz clock movements to display hours mins and seconds in a 12" office dial clock case.

I found my master clock could only drive 3 clock motors using the 4093b chip. I was already driving 2 slaves from this output and as this new clock had 3 seperate clock motors I have now added a "repeater". The repeater sits inside one of my clocks and can drive upto 6 clock motors.

Full details here http://uk.geocities.com/brettoliver@...ctronic_1a.htm


PS I have added a short animation showing the master driving an analogue and binary slave and electro mechanical chiming to You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzlPAHDf2f0

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Hi Brett

Once again great work!! looks good.

Have you ever considered adding msf. to your master?

Mark

 

Thanks wombweller.
I would love to add MSF to my master. If there is a simple decode circuit out there that would give me a 1 sec pulse (I'm not bothered with the other time and date data) I would give it a try.

I ran the Maplin MSF clock for many years before I built my Master but the signal here is not too good and it would get lost many times a day. I have an MSF alarm clock that works well but again the signal comes and goes.

My best bet is to use an MSF pulse to sychronise my seconds pulse maybe once an hour or perhaps a day.

Anyone know of any circuits out there I could use?

 

Have a look at MAS6180 here Micro Analog Systems Oy - Documentation if it looks possible them PM me your address and I will post you one.

 

oliverb:

Your clock looks like and English clockmakers' regulator with the three hands. That is very nice.

Here is an English clock from 1795 going for $15,000+
28015

 

Hi Brett

I think you may be in luck!! I have searched for such information for a while.I have found some info from which I will duplicate to make my own version msf. clock.

Hans summers created an msf. clock some years ago.He used a bunch of 74lsxxx IC's to decode the NPL. time signal.I would use the updated version of those IC's. He does provide a very comprehensive parts list and Schematic he does also show at what point you get a 1 hz signal from the circuit and how it actually decodes the signal.You will deffo get the info you require to get your clock going with his info.

Alternatively and much simpler than Hans set up is the Em2s MSF. receiver add this to a 60khz antenna and you have the parts required to get your master clock going.

Radio Controlled Clock : Report

MSF Receiver modules for OEM development of products

I hope this info helps,I think it will and I do hope you try it out as it will be a bonus to your clock.

Cheers!!

 

Bob

Wish I could afford one of those myself!! I do like his website and I often view and dribble all over my keyboard while viewing.

I am creating a similar clock with astro dials but mine is from a combo of 30 and 1 sec impulse slaves and a bit of circuitry to boot for a calender dial with auto correct.I have not yet decided if I should timebase this clock via a 1 sec pendulum or electronics my preference is to use an ex sync or gpo. pendulum as give a good visual aspect all housed in an early Gent master case.

Cheers!!

 

Thanks bobledoux. That was the look I was after.
I looked at the dials on 10 differant regulator clocks and picked out the feature that I thought looked best. I went for hours and seconds showing 1 to 60 not 0 to 59, hours in Arabic rather than Roman in 24 hours not 12 hour. I also added a leading 0 to the 24 hour numerals from 1 to 9 to keep the hour dial balanced.

The dial was then drawn using a cad program and printed out on Lazertran transfer paper before being transferred to a blank dial that I sprayed off white. The dial was then sprayed with varnish to make the Lazertran backing tranparent to show the dial background.

The case was from an old 12" school clock, I have stored away the dial and movement for safe keeping.

wombweller & gaspode42
Thanks for your replies. I have printed out the design from Hans but I like the look of the ready built modules as my clock is full to bursting already!


Off the top of my head I will need a bit of logic circuitry to sych the seconds on the hour pulse from my clock. If a MSF seconds pulse is present the seconds timebase is reset to this pusle. If not present due to a loss of signal the clock will run off it's own quartz crystal.


Thanks again. Brett.

 

Sounds interesting Brett!! could you give me the nod if you come up with something?

Mark

 

No problems. I have checked out the cost of a pre built MSF module and antenna and it comes to around £50.

I have ordered an £8 radio alarm clock off ebay to see if I can hack the parts I need. I through 2 of these out last year.

I'll let you know how I get on.
Brett.

 

I want to add a sync circuit to this project to keep perfect time.

see my new post Synching Quartz Master clock to DCF77/MSF

If I get this working I will add details to this thread.

 

thank u very mutch

 

Thanks to the help from members of this froum I have now completed my DCF77 decoder.
I have now fitted it to my Master and it is keeping perfect time after 6 days.

I have written up a word doc on my Master Clock that includes full details of the DCF77 decoder. The doc is 48 pages long and I have included all the diagrams and vero layouts I could find along with many photos.

While I'm sure no one will want to build the whole clock there may be parts that may prove useful.

The Word file is 25megs. I am unable to post the attachemnt to this forum so have pasted a link so it can be downloaded. This link only lasts 29 days so perhaps by then I will have managed to post it on the forum.

Brett.
edit new word updated use same link to download pics below added to file

https://vstuff.virginmedia.com/n/50-...4a2c3cc6a8a20/

 

Here are a couple of pics of the modified Master showing main display panel contols and also a view from below showing control switches.

Note I have added these pics to my Masterclock Word doc see temp download link above.

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I am looking to add battery backup to this clock in particular preventing over dicharge of my sealed lead acid battery and have started a new thread here.

Sealed Lead Acid Battery Discharge Protection

If anyone has battery backup for their clocks already I would be glad of any help.

If I get a working circuit I will post details back on this thread.

Brett.