LED clock?

I've now had these two clocks running for about a week and they both keep time with the MW clock. With the blue backlit LCD one, you have to be within a certain angle to be able to read it and it's harder to read from a distance. The yellow LED one has an acceptable color, isn't too bright and is visible from a distance and an angle so I will mount that one and see how it does over the camping season.

I wish the clock on the microwave worked off 12V ... Doesn't seem like it would be too hard to put that feature in at the factory.

I've now bought 2 clocks to check out. Just got this one which is a RioRand combo temp/volts/clock (1st 2 pics). Looks identical to the Drok one. $12.95 on Amazon. Has kept time for 3 days so far, woohoo... (The MW clock was not set to match the RioRand clock in the photo.) Will probably permanently mount the clock on top of the kitchen cabinet - easy to get 12 volts to as well. The yellow color is fine and isn't too bright.

Also bought the blue backlit LCD clock in the photo ($7.64 on ebay) and will try it out. I like Gdetrailer's NOS fluorescent one from the 70s/80s.

If none of these work out, I'll get one of the other ones posted above or a similar one. I'm still quite aways from having dementia and don't really need a clock to tell me what day or date it is tho. :D A clock is useful for DW and myself so we won't miss an important TV show like survivor or DWTS. ;)

I do not allow clocks in the trailer,, I retired and have put my watch in the top drawer of my dresser and have not touched it in six years, I am sure the battery is dead! The most convenient clock out there is that big bright thing in the sky.. If its some where over the Atlantic ocean its before lunch.
If its directly over me its Lunch, If its over the Pacific ocean its BEER THIRTY!!
Relax and enjoy,, ditch the clock!!

Thought of another clock that can be wall mounted and it has a wall power supply so you could possibly adapt to 12V.. Kind of pricey but looks nice and seems to work well.

Bought this one for my Dad a few years ago, it has large numbers since he has vision problems but it IS LED.



Keeps time even when no power is applied, do far accuracy is pretty decent, Only have adjusted it once or trwice over the last couple of years since I bought it.

Power supply is a DC voltage, can't remember what voltage though but even if it isn't 12V you should be able to work around that easily.

Can get it HERE for $50

myredracer wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:


Ah, the OP said "Would like to get an inexpensive panel mount style of LED clock" and I don't think he wants to spend thousands of $$$ nor wants/needs that accuracy.
bumpy

Yep. Just after a basic 12 volt LED display (clock only) that I can mount in the kitchen so we can tell what time it is with a quick glance.

It's too bad they can't somehow have battery backup for a microwave clock so it it doesn't require resetting every time the power is turned off.

Found exactly what you are looking for.. It is a 12V clock module which was commonly used in autos in the 1980s-1990s..

NOS items..



Can be found at Electronic Goldmine for $5.95

Description..

Vintage fluorescent automotive clock board made by National years ago. These were commonly installed in Detroit cars and were the standard for several years. It is about 2.46" long x 1.3" high x 1" deep (excluding male 5 pin connector). Simple to operate and use: +12VDC, GND, and mode select pins to operate the clock. Operates from 11VDC to 15VDC and produces a bright green display. By connecting the mode select pin to (+) you can display time continuously (if not connected you can press a metal bar on the front to display current time). Displays hours and minutes (no seconds) and has two buttons on the front to set hours and minutes. Brand new old stock. Hookup info sheet and setting instructions are shown below in PDF. No connectors, wires, or case included. Requires 2.7mA in standby mode and 75mA when the display is on. Own a piece of automotive history before they are gone forever!

Just have to make a bezel to fit around the module.

They do have a discount on two for $11..

Can't say they will be super accurate but it should be pretty reasonable.

You might score what you're looking for at a good truck stop. Found 12v LED clocks a couple of years ago, bought 2 so haven't looked lately.

Bumpyroad wrote:


Ah, the OP said "Would like to get an inexpensive panel mount style of LED clock" and I don't think he wants to spend thousands of $$$ nor wants/needs that accuracy.
bumpy

Yep. Just after a basic 12 volt LED display (clock only) that I can mount in the kitchen so we can tell what time it is with a quick glance.

It's too bad they can't somehow have battery backup for a microwave clock so it it doesn't require resetting every time the power is turned off.

Bumpyroad wrote:

GordonThree wrote:
Battery powered "atomic" clocks are just fancy quartz clocks. The WWVB receiver is only powered up occasionally, it takes too much power to leave it on all the time (compared to the micro amps for the quartz, a counter and the lcd display.) I bet even the ones that plug in only power it up on occasion.

If you need higher accuracy than a junk quartz clock here's options:

Get a clock with a TCXO - temperature compensated crystal oscillator - the quartz has a heater and operates at a stable (high) temperature. As quartz resonate frequency changes slightly with temperature, this improves accuracy... should cost under $100

Get a rubidium oscillator (an actual atomic clock) instead of quartz, very popular for high precision timing. Expect to pay a couple grand, used ones that have expired calibrations are cheaper on ebay. You'll need a separate counter to display "time" as this is just a frequency reference.

Get a GPS disciplined oscillator, based on either quartz or rubidium. Again, you'll need a separate counter to keep track of time, but it should be very very accurate.

Don't forget, your elevation will also affect the accuracy of time keeping, regardless of oscillator used. The farther out from the Earth's gravity well, the faster time passes relative to those closer in.

Ah, the OP said "Would like to get an inexpensive panel mount style of LED clock" and I don't think he wants to spend thousands of $$$ nor wants/needs that accuracy.
bumpy

oh, I meant to reply to the post above mine, regarding quartz clocks lacking accuracy.

I guess I could have replied: I don't think they make synchronous motor digital clocks anymore? (rely on power company to keep time) Past 20 years or so, regardless if a digital clock says quartz or not, it has a quartz oscillator on it.

myredracer wrote:

Gdetrailer wrote:
Instead of a LED clock, how about a LCD travel clock which has an automatic nightlight backlight..

Backlight turns on when it gets dark and off when it gets light..

This one can be had for about $15..

Buy it HERE

I like the fact that that one shuts down in the dark. Will look into. Have enough lights in the kitchen/living area (MW, radio, voltmeter, ammeter) and is already more light than we'd like at night. Have found that most of the small LED clocks don't say they are quartz or atomic so may/will not be accurate.

I have several LCD battery powered clocks, no problem with accuracy, might gain several minutes per year which is pretty much inline with even the most cheap wrist watch I have ever had..

I have an older Timex that I bought 8-9yrs ago at Walmart and just this year bought a Elgin with 2" numbers because the alarm switch on the Timex are wearing out and getting flaky.

Here is the Elgin I have..



Get it HERE for about $18 It also has night light feature so the backlight turns on when dark and turns off when it gets light (saves on batteries).