Quartz pendulum grp B sec hnd can I adapt a grp A to fit?

Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 7:03 pm     Post subject: Quartz pendulum grp B sec hnd can I adapt a grp A to fit?

Bought 2 P/N 11101 movements and would like to use the funky mouse sweep second hand (68223) on one of the clocks. Is there anything I can do to adapt the "A" sweep to the "B" movement?

Thought about cutting mouse & gluing it to a "B" sweep but these things are TOO small to handle easily, and it may not work anyway. Any other suggestions?

Why doesn't Klockit standardize the sweeps to eliminate this issue?

Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 9:09 pm     Post subject:

I am not certain modifications can be made to the sweep hands. The difference between the two groups of sweeps has to do with the diameter of the mount shaft of the second hand. Movement manufacturers seem to have two standards for the center pin shaft that accomodates the second hand sweep. Some manufacturers make it one diameter, while others make it a different diameter. If the movements could be standardized, then we could potentially eliminate the need for two sweep groups. Unfortunately, we do not engineer the movements - they are the product of the vendor. This means that we can do little to change/standardize second hand pin shafts (unless we were to manufacture them ourselves or pay a large amount of money for re-tooling). As an alternate option, you might want to consider exchanging your movements for #11091 or #11084 (group A sweep options in time only pendulum movements).

Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 7:19 pm     Post subject: Sweep second hands grp A Versus Grp B

Thanks Chris for the response. I figured that was why there are differences in the sweep mountings. If you make the sweeps; why not make them for both shaft sizes?

I noticed that the alternative movements you suggested both use only one AA size battery. Seems likely that the C Cell battery would last longer?

I think I saw an answer you gave elsewhere in the forum noting that 2 AA size or 1 C cell battery would last about a year. You didn't mention the life of 1 AA battery in a clock that also has a sweep second hand. Any estimate for that configuration?

The clock I am building is a large wall clock with glass in the front. That presents a damage exposure when changing batteries! A French cleat mount makes it easy BUT it still has to be removed and replaced.

Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 7:57 pm     Post subject:

Drbill - We actually purchase the sweeps through a couple of different vendors. They are not manufactured to our engineering specifications... We simply purchase them as is (as offered).

The "C" cell battery may last a bit longer, but (in my humble opinion) not much. I have found that "AA" batteries in my household require changing about every year to every year and a half. With the "C" cell, I know that the minimum run time is about a year and a half as well. Both a "C" battery and a "AA" have 1.5 total volts to deliver. The sweep second hand really will not be taking much of the power draw on the battery.

In my limited understanding of the subject, I have been told that the batteries will not have an affect on movement timekeeping until they drop to a certain voltage. At that point, you may notice a minor loss of time as the movement pulls the hands up from the "6" to "12" position. As I was explained, the movements require a certain amount of total voltage to push the hands (again, the second hand requires minimal power in the grand scheme of things). As voltage declines over time, the hour and minute hands would typically be the first to be affected.