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Digital electric clocks are made primarily of circuit boards that can't be easily repaired without a knowledge of electronics.
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Clocks are an integral part of our society. Clocks measure our waking hours, our working hours, and even our leisure hours. They offer a standardized measurement for time, one of our most valuable commodities. And when clocks don't work, we're late for something. Here's how to keep them running on time.
A clock is an instrument for measuring time. Electric clocks rely on the 60-cycle-per-second alternations of household current (AC) to ensure accurate timekeeping.
A synchronous motor inside an analog clock drives a gear train, which in turn moves the clock's hands. Older clocks may have metal gears, but the gears of new clocks are generally made of plastic to reduce operating noise—and manufacturing costs.
When an alarm is set on an analog clock, a cam gear presses against a lever, which in turn holds a vibrator arm above a frame. At the preset time, the cam gear moves outward, allowing the vibrator arm to repeatedly contact, or buzz, the frame.
Digital clocks rely on electronic circuitry instead of gears and levers. If a component fails, however, the clock will probably have to be replaced because most are difficult to repair.
To disassemble an electric clock:
- Unplug the clock from the electrical outlet.
- Carefully pry off the face cover with a knife blade.
- Remove the screws from the case and slide the motor and gears out.
- If necessary, desolder the power cord leads from the field coil terminals to remove the cord.
To repair an analog alarm mechanism that sounds at the wrong time:
- Pull the alarm lever out and turn the clock hands until the alarm goes off
- Unplug the clock and pry off the crystal.
- Move the alarm hand until it agrees with the time the alarm sounds.
To repair an analog alarm mechanism that doesn't ring at all:
- Access the alarm mechanism.
- Spray the alarm mechanism with electrical contact cleaner.
- Clean the vibrator arm.
- Carefully bend the vibrator arm to adjust the gap between the arm and frame as needed.
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