Q1 POWER

I used two power supplies to run the clock. One is strictly to

operate the relays and to provide power to the dial movement. The second power supply is a precision, highly regulated and stabilized supply that is capable of setting down to a microvolt. I wanted to be able to control the voltage operating the impulse coils with precision so that the force applied to the pendulum would not vary. The precision supply is only used for impulse. The impulse coils operate at approximately 1.5 volts and draw about .080 amps.

The logic board that runs the clock consists entirely of mercury wetted high speed relays that are operated directly from the HE devices. They have an unusually long life and should continue to operate for many years before needing replacement. According to the manufacturers specifications, they should last approximately 90 years operation at 1 cps. The stack of electronics in the picture on the left consist of: (1) top left, the control relay box, (2) top right, vacuum gauge showing the vacuum in the tank, (3) middle Power supply for the HE devices and relays, (4) bottom, the precision power supply. This supply can be set to microvolt precision.

The computer on the right is running the Microset timing program.