Gilderfluke&Co Mp3-50 Audio & Show Controllers - Manual (Page 124)

Care & Feeding of an ‘Atomic’ Clock
(Mp3-50/8 or Mp3-50/40 with RealTime Clock)
The ‘Atomic’ Clock we are currently using is manufactured by Oregon
Scientific. We have modified it to allow it to run from a wall mounted power
supply, and output a resynchronizing pulse to the Mp3-50/8 or Mp3-50/40.
The internal battery on the clock module has been replaced by a Ni-Cad,
which receives a trickle charge whenever the ‘Atomic’ Clock module is
powered up.
A single two conductor cable connects the ‘Atomic’ Clock module to
the Mp3-50/8 or Mp3-50/40. This wire lands on the ‘D’/White input to the
Mp3-50/8 or Mp3-50/40 (the striped lead is the positive, bottom most termi-
nal). The input to the Mp3-50/8 or Mp3-50/40 is optically isolated. If need-
ed, you can stretch these wires for hundreds of feet, if needed.
The link between the ‘Atomic’ Clock module and the Mp3-50/8 or
Mp3-50/40 can be tested by pressing the ‘snooze’ button atop the ‘Atomic’
Clock. This will light the back light on the LCD display, as well as the LED in-
dicator for the ‘D’/White input to the Mp3-50/8 or Mp3-50/40. This will also
set the RTC inside the Mp3-50/8 or Mp3-50/40 to the completely WRONG
time, if the connection is working. You must manually set the time within
the Mp3-50/8 or Mp3-50/40 after testing it in this way. If you don’t want this
to happen when testing this connection, power down the Mp3-50/8 or
Mp3-50/40 before doing this test. The LED will light even with the Mp3-50/8
or Mp3-50/40 off. Power the Mp3-50/8 or Mp3-50/40 back up when you
are finished testing.
To permanently prevent such accidental clock 'miss' settings after the
‘Atomic’ Clock is installed, you can open the battery compartment and
cut the wire which runs through it. This will disable the ‘snooze’ button, and
thereby prevent it being hit accidentally in the future.
The Mp3-50/8 or Mp3-50/40 is powered as you would normally (12 or
24 VDC is normally used). The ‘Atomic’ Clock is powered by the included
12 VDC ‘wall wart’ power supply.
The batteries in the ‘Atomic’ Clock module and Mp3-50/8 or Mp3-
50/40 are meant to be used as backups during power outages. These units
should remain powered up 24 hours a day, once the installation is complet-
ed. If left unpowered for an extended period, remove the batteries.
The ‘Atomic’ Clock should be placed as high as possible, preferably
near a window which faces Colorado, and as far away from other sources
of interference (computers, radios, televisions, etc.) as possible. This is a
radio signal which varies in quality with the weather (and sunspots). It may
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