movements for outdoor clock

Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2010 11:23 pm     Post subject: movements for outdoor clock

I have an outdoor clock (howard miller model 615-036 City Centre serial #E06454). I need a movement that can be used with this clock. After the original movements broke down I replaced them but ever since that replacement any time the weather gets humid or it rains then the clock loses time. The shaft is 1/2 inch, the opening is 3/8, the longhand is 9in and the short hand is 7 inches. I am using a quartz movment with 1 AA battery. I do use the Q-80 Accessory that is supposed to stand up to heat or cold and that seems to work however the presence of moisture in the air seems to be the problem. Any help for a person with no clock expericence would be greatly appreciated.

Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 1:40 pm     Post subject:

That is the trouble with the Q80. While the cover is meant to protect against temperature, there is not any sort of protection provided against moisture. That being said, the Q80 movements can be used in exterior applications providing that moisture is not necessarily a recurrent factor.

Have you checked the metal clock casing? HM still sells model 615-037 (also City Centre) and claims that the metal casing is water resistant. Maybe there is something you can do with the metal casing of your clock, to make it better resist moisture, and help prolong the use of a Q80 movement...

As of yet, I have not seen any sort of movement offered that was primarily for exterior use (where the movement casing itself was sealed to be water tight) - but Klockit has been looking around for one. It would be nice to see this type of movement also offered as a high torque option as well.

Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 5:30 pm     Post subject:

thanks for that information. I have wondered about the "seals" on the clock case. The clock only seems to lose time when it is hot and humid (not just hot) or when it rains. It worked all winter with no problems. Do you think a "high torque" movement would make any difference? I am looking at part 10114.

Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 9:21 pm     Post subject:

A high torque movement would typically be required if your clock has a minute hand length that is longer than 7". You had commented that your longest hand was 9", which should require a high torque movement. The high torque will deliver more power to the movement to drive longer hands. I believe it also better apportions the power from the battery that is required to drive the longer hands (so you are not changing batteries every couple of months). If you are not using a high torque movement, the clock motor would more than likely loose time anyway (as it proceeded from the 6 to 12 position) - especially once it started to use up some of the battery power. If you find that you are changing batteries every three to four months (or frequently), or loosing time over the span of a few weeks, then I would recommend the high torque option as a replacement. 10114 would work for thin clock face applications (no thicker than 3/16"), otherwise the 10115 will work for thicker applications. Keep in mind that the 10115 might be able to be spaced back with a wood spacer (if the need should be and the case will warrent it).

High torque movement aside, I would recommend taking a look at your case to see if the seal is possibly wearing. If we do not want to keep replacing movements, then we should see what we can do to promote a better environment for the movement to work in.