TO: ALL WOOD COUNTY ARES MEMBERS (OFFICIAL)
ALL ARES AND NON-ARES AMATEURS ANYWHERE (INFORMATION)
FROM: KEN HARRIS WA8LLM ARRL DISTRICT 3
EMERGENCY COORDINATOR WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INC.
WOOD COUNTY ARES BULLETIN NR 19.51 DATE: December 22, 2019
SUBJECT: TRY NEW BATTERIES
Some electronic pieces of equipment use their battery power source for more than just one function. A good example is the new digital electronic clocks that automatically update and set their time every day around midnight. At around midnight every night the VLF (Very Low Frequency) receiver is turned on and receives, or tries to receive, the 60 KHz National Bureau of Standards Time Standard Frequency. If the receiver receives the signal, it synchronizes the digital clock with the national time standard, and it is good for another day.
What happens if the batteries in the digital clock start getting week? Well, the clock goes on working, but the VLF receiver is unable to receive the 60 KHz national standard time frequency, and in turn is unable to re-synchronize the digital clock. The clock uses much less current then the receiver to operate, so the clock just keeps on running. The best thing to do is change the batteries in the clock and see what happens.
More than likely you will have cured your clock problems. Other electronic equipment may have similar problems. In this any case try a new set of batteries before doing anything else.
Ken Harris WA8LLM
WCEC
Wood County WV