LIGHTHOUSE CLOCK

Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2010 6:35 pm     Post subject: LIGHTHOUSE CLOCK

Hello all
Please help
I have a little lighthouse clock that runs fine, but on the hour it has a light and a song, if I hit the test button it plays but will not when running. I can hear it trip or click on the hour, but no song?
what can I do


Ken

Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 1:31 pm     Post subject:

Typically, with a trigger clock that may be similar to yours, the clock movement acts as a "trip" mechanism. It can be connected via wires to another box or device which will control sounds or actions. The clock would send a signal at the top of the hour to activate the sound/action device box. This should be the "click" you hear on the hour (the clock movement trying to trigger the sound/action device box).

If your lighthouse clock is similar, check to see if the test button is hooked up directly to the sound/action device box. If so, this would explain why it works properly every time the button was pressed (as both the movement and sound/action device box run off their own set[s] of batteries). But if you have a short or separation of wiring between the movement and the device box, the movement would not be able to trigger the sound/action device box. If possible, check the wiring between the movement and sound/action device box. I am willing to bet that this is where the problem is stemming from.

Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 12:06 am     Post subject:

Chris
sounds like you know what I have here,
I will check the wire.

hanks for the tip, as I had no clue why both seem to work but not together.

its cool and has a light in the tower


K-

Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 10:26 am     Post subject:

OK so I opened this movement and found a contact switch, it had some green battery acid corrosion, here you see I have put some baking soda on the contact. all is well. ah maybe this clock was better off quiet, three seagulls, three waves, and a fog horn, two times every hour.

I did solder new wire to the contact as they were hard from age. that's why there both blue

Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2010 9:26 am     Post subject:

I had the same problem with the same lighthouse clock as Ken692. After searching the internet for a replacement movement with an identical "chime" and absolutely no luck, I stumbled onto this post. Upon inspecting the clock, I found that the wires between the movement and the sound box were stripped and twisted together, then just shoved into the space between the two devices. I thought a small wire nut or a dab of solder would have been more appropriate for the connection! Needless to say, just twisting the wires a bit restored the connection. Time to get out the solder station so that this doesn't happen again. Next project is to find the clock with the 12 different chimes that quit working 5 years ago and was put away somewhere..... Thanks Chris - My wife will love to have the sounds of seagulls and the surf back!