VFD replacement clocks

[Yoda]

@ luinge84, dropped you a PM a couple of days ago...
Just get back to me, if you like.
Greetings,

[Bullitt]

Hi Yoda. My clock stopped working half a year ago (have not used the car so much)
Got around to check the power supply two weeks ago, and power is good.
I could try changing the battery, but the clock was supposed to work without the battery right?

[Yoda]

Hi Bullitt,
yes you are right.
Might be, that the step-down switching regulator IC is blown by a high voltage spike of the cars electrical system.
I am almost finished with the next Version 3.0, that also covers this potential issue.
My clock is running fine for about 2 years now, without any issues.
Sent you a PM to further investigate and see what we can do.
Greetings,

[Yoda]

Hello, just wanted to give a sign of life, that this thread is not dead.
Some of you contacted me via PM and some clocks or housings are
shipped already. I have created a new batch of clocks and housings,
that can be shipped, if you like to have an almost original looking
dashboard clock, just drop me a note.

DMC12_Clock_Housing.jpg

Greetings,

[Maritime-elf]

Can you tell me how long the clock would last by battery alone? I know that sounds strange, but there are no wires going to my current clock. I think they got cut, when the kill switch was installed into the cigarette lighter. Anyway, about how long do the batteries last, and are they difficult to replace?

[Yoda]

Hello,
here comes some explanation about the clock.
First of all it is designed to be connected to the car as the original clock.
That means, it only runs on 12V cars main power, which
feeds the controller, display and the RTC (real time clock)
on the PCB (printed circuit board). The only reason for the
coin cell battery is to back up the RTC while the cars
battery is disconnected, for example over a longer period
of storage or due to maintenance work on the car.
I wanted to have this feature implemented on the clock, so that
I do not have to set the time, everytime I disconnect the cars battery.
Most likely the coin cell battery will last a few years,
but it will not feed the controller or light up the display.
You need the stock wiring or at least a ground wire,
12V continuous power wire and a 12V power wire, that
has power when ignition is on, only.
In addition to that, you can also dim the clock, when the
headlights are switched on. For that you need the fourth
wire, that has 12V power when the headlights are switched
on, only.
So you need the cars 12V power to operate the clock.

[Maritime-elf]

I guess that is good news and bad news for me. I am sure the wires are still in there somewhere. But not sure where. I know they must have been disconnected when the lighter was removed for the kill switch. I will consult the wiring diagram maybe I can figure it out. I would like to have a clock again. Thanks


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Yoda]

Hey Maritime-elf,
dropped you a PM to check out further details on your situation.

[Alan]

Yoga,

Are you still making clocks?

Thank you,
Alan

[Yoda]

Hi Alan,
yes I do. Still making the clocks.
Dropped you a PM for further details...
Greetings,