Getting fed up with replacing batteries in my kitchen clock. Does anyone know of any device or kit to get it to run off the mains ? The battery is AA 1.5 volt. I have lots of ex phone chargers but would need to know how to bring the volts down.
It sounds as if you need a new clock or better batteries. The AA battery in my kitchen clock (and other clocks around the house) generally lasts at least 5 years. It would IMO be silly to resort to trying to run it off the mains.Getting fed up with replacing batteries in my kitchen clock. Does anyone know of any device or kit to get it to run off the mains ? The battery is AA 1.5 volt.
Same here really, I suppose. Although I said "at least 5 years", I suppose the truth is that I don't really know with greater precision than to know that it certainly is 'years'. One way I know is that one of them is in a very difficult-to-access place, and it really is 'years' since I last had to confront the mission of dealing with that problem!What they both said. I've got 4 battery powered clocks, and whilst I wouldn't like to say the batteries last 5 years, they certainly last long enough for me to have no idea how long they last. If that makes sense.
Only if one replaces the battery with a wind-up spring or weight or suchlike - unless you believe in perpetual motion! However, we could be talking about a pendulum which is 'cosmetic', rather than functional, hence just a guzzler of battery (or whatever) power.Make the pendulum long enough and no batteries are needed.
True - but there certainly would not be space enough to do that in any of the battery clocks I have, so I suspect it would be a common problem.Alternatively, if you've space inside the clock casing fit a battery holder for a D or C cell and connect this into the AA holder. Then the battery might outlive the clock.
In theory you can have perpetual motion (but not free energy, over-unity malarkey etc)unless you believe in perpetual motion!
No - just a restart now and then. Oh, and I'll also need a near-perfect vacuum and near-zero friction bearings to minimise the number of restarts.Only if one replaces the battery with a wind-up spring or weight or suchlike
Most of mine have bodies around 30cm diameter, a corresponding depth (i.e. not one which appears exceptionally either slim or deep), and contain a mechanism only a few cm square. I've never looked and measured to see if it could be done, but subject to that disclaimer I think C-cells, at least, could be housed.True - but there certainly would not be space enough to do that in any of the battery clocks I have, so I suspect it would be a common problem.
Quite so!...Oh, and I'll also need a near-perfect vacuum and near-zero friction bearings to minimise the number of restarts.
Mine are also 20-30cm diameter. However, most, if not all, of them are solid wood, with the (small) mechanism recessed into it (almost flush). I therefore think that, in most cases, at the least I'd probably have to take a router to them to create enough space to accommodate a larger battery. However, given that they really do last 'for years', there is little/no incentive to take such steps. I've also got a couple of diddy ones, one which has an AAA battery and the other a baby button cell - and both of them seem to last a long time between battery changes.Most of mine have bodies around 30cm diameter, a corresponding depth (i.e. not one which appears exceptionally either slim or deep), and contain a mechanism only a few cm square. I've never looked and measured to see if it could be done, but subject to that disclaimer I think C-cells, at least, could be housed.True - but there certainly would not be space enough to do that in any of the battery clocks I have, so I suspect it would be a common problem.
Or several AA cells in parallel.Most of mine have bodies around 30cm diameter, a corresponding depth (i.e. not one which appears exceptionally either slim or deep), and contain a mechanism only a few cm square. I've never looked and measured to see if it could be done, but subject to that disclaimer I think C-cells, at least, could be housed.
That would obvious facilitate the physical 'fitting', but batteries in parallel can be unpredictable, particularly if they don't age/deteriorate at the same rate - if the voltage of just one drops, all the others will discharge into it!Or several AA cells in parallel.
Good point.That would obvious facilitate the physical 'fitting', but batteries in parallel can be unpredictable, particularly if they don't age/deteriorate at the same rate - if the voltage of just one drops, all the others will discharge into it!Or several AA cells in parallel.
Kind Regards, John
Maybe cheaper, but probably generally more bulky - and, of course, they rot & go mouldy, too (much more rapidly than batteries)Good point. I was given a 'potato clock' at Christmas (two different metal strips; supply your own potato). Not a bad idea. Potatoes are cheaper than batteries!... but batteries in parallel can be unpredictable, particularly if they don't age/deteriorate at the same rate - if the voltage of just one drops, all the others will discharge into it!
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