Ed, I'm not sure if this matters, but are these digital or analog
clocks? Analog clocks, from what I recall, keep time via a synchronous
motor that controls its speed in response to 60hz current. Digital
clocks may depend on this as well, but may alternatively depend on self
contained oscillators that create even a finer time base. Presumably,
if that's the case with digital, voltage fluctuations should be leveled
out inside the clock with simple voltage regulation circuitry. And with
the analog clock, voltage level shouldn't affect it at all since the
frequency is driving it.
Part of this relies on things my dad told me over the years (he was once
in the clock business and knew a lot about this stuff, re: analog) and
the rest is a smattering of stuff I think I know about digital
electronic circuitry. I could be way off base, so I'll be interested to
hear if and how far.
None of this, though, adequately explains your experience because no
amount of screwed up wiring can affect your current frequency, unless,
perhaps, there is some leaking 3-phase power nearby (not likely in your
bedroom).
Nearby interfering electronic devices emitting radiation on the other
side of the wall?
Ed Van Scoy wrote:
>A friend sent me this baffling note from a friend, any
>help here would be greatly appreciated.
>
>"In our bedroom we have a electrical outlet that is
>driving me nuts. Seems when you plug in a clock to
>this one outlet the clock begins to gain time faster
>then it should. At first I thought I had a bad clock
>so I changed it out for another one in the house that
>had been working fine. It to began to add about 15
>mins. each day to the replacement clock. The one I
>removed from the outlet returned to normal after
>plugging it into a outlet in another bedroom. I know
>the one solution would be to just use another outlet
>but is there a problem that I need to address with the
>outlet in question? Can a outlet some how get more
>watts to it that it could change the time in a clock?
>If you have any suggestions PLEASE pass them on to me.
>I don't have a meter to check this out but I'm
>thinking of getting one. I'm not sure what it would
>tell me to help fix the problem.
>
>Thanks,
>Ed
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