It's also worth noting that, in answer to an earlier query regarding the backstop roller, the text describes putting "a head on it" before passing the wire through the glass bead and then bending it t

I may be preaching to the converted, but clock systems such as the Synchronome are current controlled, and the recommended current through the system is 330mA. The voltage applied will be dependent up

If you can find some, glass capillary tubing will do the trick. I made one a few years ago, but I've no idea where the glass tube is now! Failing that, a piece of silver steel of the correct diameter

A wee bit off-topic, but....... It should perhaps be remembered that, as Malcom has said, a reverse current is induced in the coil by the collapsing magnetic field when the circuit is broken. When usi

Hi Darren, You are quite correct, but there are also other ways to minimise the voltage across the contacts as they open. One is to put a capacitor in series with the power supply such that it is the

Ernie, In order to photograph the commutator switch, I will have to stop the clock and lift out the movement. The commutator is mounted on the back board, but the spindle which drives it is part of th

In the pipe organ world, the use of diodes in direct electric actions is standard practice. I have just fitted up a direct action unit extension organ with about 200 electromagnetic valves, each runs

Ernie, This is as good a place as any to get the response you seek. Unfortunately, I can't be of immediate help, but I do have a fully operational T&N clock here, driving a couple of slave dials. If r

Pardon me being thick, but the RS relay you quote doesn't seem to specify a driver voltage? Ian R

Darren, As you are obviously an electric clock enthusiast, maybe the best solution is to buy a T&N master clock for your Solari clock. The T&N system generates 24vdc in alternate polatarity - made for

Surely there is little point in duplicating stuff. As Eddy pointed out, there is already a perfectly good, and well supported IO group covering all aspects of electric clocks, including (naturally) Sy

I should have added that the "pallet" (ie. Brocot jewel) is attached to the gravity arm and the wheel is attached (albeit loosely) to the pendulum rod. Ian

Hi All, To add even further to the confusion, in Shortt's "free pendulum" clock, the impulse arrangement is the other way round! The pallet (actually the flat surface of a Brocot jewel) rolls over and

Hi Bepi, "Mr Parsons & Mr Ball" is a reference to the origins of Gent's "Pulsynetic" system, invented by Parsons & Ball. Early Gent clocks carried the legend "Parson's Patent". Cheers, Ian

Chris, Interesting experience with reshaping your impulse pallet. Some years ago I actually machined one from a solid lump of brass (and it's still running well). Until then, I wasn't aware of the rad

Brian, I've no doubt that others will chip in on this one. I wouldn't take too literally what Arthur wrote as there would be quite a variation in values due to manufacturing tolerances. The nominal re

James, You don't need to know the voltage, or Ohm's Law - just put an ammeter in series and you can read the current directly! As others have said, it's the CURRENT that operates the clocks. Cheers, I

Simon, For "beautifully worn" read "knackered". With a quartz movement, I wouldn't even accept it as a gift!! Regards, Ian R Macclesfield, UK

Bepi et al, The clock I referred to was (and still is, although I no longer have it) a Russian "Etalon" free pendulum clock. It is based on (and is a copy of) the Shortt-Synchronome free pendulum cloc

...and the Moon. When I had my most accurate clock running, the Moon's phases clearly were reflected in gaining and losing rates. Ian R Macclesfield, UK