New Clock Module - Looking for Testers

[Mario]

So as we all know, the original center console clock modules are well over 30 years old by now and fail fairly often. There have been many clock replacements made all fairly good, but I haven't seen any drop-in modules that use a VFD (vacuum fluorescent display). I love the look of VFDs and think they look better in a stock DeLorean than LEDs do, so I decided to make a drop-in clock module replacement PCB that used the original VFD.

Features:
- Looks completely stock
- Fits in original case
- Keeps much better time than the original (±3min/year)
- Battery-backed, so it keeps time if you disconnect the battery (Backup battery should last 2.5yrs out of a car, 10
- Uses less power than stock when on and when off
- 12 and 24-hour modes
- Adjustable brightness
- Change whether colon flashes or not

To set the time, you do exactly as you do with the stock clock module - just hold one of the buttons until the minute or hour starts incrementing. But if you hold down both buttons for a couple seconds, you'll be taken to a menu where you can change the options.

I'm looking to get these available for sale to the community. But to do so, I first need a lot of road testing of the prototypes I currently have. I can't do it myself because I don't have a DeLorean yet! So I'm looking for two members of the community (only have two prototypes to give at the moment) who would be willing to install one of these in their car.

If you want to get one of these clock modules to test, I am looking for members who meet the following requirements:
- Obviously, you need to have a DeLorean with a hole for a clock module.
- Is willing to put the module in their car right away so it can start being used immediately.
- You need to have an original clock module case front and buttons! I can only give you the back half of the case. You need to supply the two buttons and green plastic front.
- DD's their DeLorean. I don't want to send off my two prototypes only to have them sit unused in a car all winter!
- Will be willing to send the prototype back eventually (probably after 3-5 months or so).

If you meet the above requirements, please shoot me a message and we'll discuss it!

For the rest of you, here's a few pictures of the clock (sorry for the poor photos, my camera is ancient).
Front and back of the populated PCB (no display, of course):

http://i.imgur.com/G6FF65A.jpg

Showing the time in 12 and 24 hour modes, then the four menu options (12/24 hour mode, high brightness level, low brightness level, colon flash on/off):

http://i.imgur.com/XkVbmgT.jpg

Thanks to thirdmanj for the photo I used for the DeLorean on the back of the PCB - http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?4072-The-best-photos-you-ve-ever-taken-of-your-car&p=58031&viewfull=1#post58031
I'm sorry I didn't ask you first! If you want, I can take it off future versions of the board.

[Nicholas R]

Wow this looks awesome! If I weren't out of the country, I would definitely offer to test one. Since I'm normally in Florida, I often end up driving the car more in the Winter than I do in the summer. I really like how bright it is. This will definitely be a great product to get onto the market!

[Mario]

Wow, I just noticed a couple pretty serious typos in my post up there... I wish we could edit posts on this forum. This feature point was meant to be:
- Battery-backed, so it keeps time if you disconnect the battery (Backup battery should last 2.5yrs out of a car, 10yrs inside a car)


Wow this looks awesome! If I weren't out of the country, I would definitely offer to test one. Since I'm normally in Florida, I often end up driving the car more in the Winter than I do in the summer. I really like how bright it is. This will definitely be a great product to get onto the market!

Thank you! Once inside the case it's just a little brighter than the original, though the brightness you'll get really depends on the particular VFD that you put in it. They have a filament inside that gets "used up" over time and causes the overall brightness to lower. The other problem is that those original displays are very scarce - I wasn't able to find any source for them anywhere on the internet. You can pretty much only get them from the DeLorean clock modules. As such, it would likely have to be a refurbishment sort of deal: send me your clock module with a non-broken VFD, and I'll give it a new PCB and send it back.

Because of that, I have also made an LED version that uses all-new parts for the electronics (but does not look as stock, of course). But I just need to solder a few of the boards together and re-write the firmware a little, and then I'll probably send a few of those out as well! :)

[Bitsyncmaster]

Nice looking PCB layout. Did you find a source for the displays or are you removing them from OEM cores?

[dn010]

He is using the original VFD on a new board. I'd offer to test one but I'm missing the 2 buttons on my broken clock!


Nice looking PCB layout. Did you find a source for the displays or are you removing them from OEM cores?

[mluder]

Does look nice and I'd love to help but I don't drive consistently enough in the winter months.

One question... Have you tested the display under the factory cover? The reason I ask is there was another version done awhile back that looked great out of the case but was nearly unreadable when behind the cover. Something to do with the display color and the factory plastic screen cover canceling brightness when combined.

Cheers
Steven

[Domi]

Really nice PCB :)
But as I understand you need to own the original VFD or it will be impossible to use it, right?

[Mario]

Nice looking PCB layout. Did you find a source for the displays or are you removing them from OEM cores?


Really nice PCB :)
But as I understand you need to own the original VFD or it will be impossible to use it, right?

Yes; unfortunately, these VFDs are impossible to find otherwise. I've also looked for different VFDs (my original plan was to use an IVL2-7/5 (http://www.sovtube.com/825-1209-thickbox/ivl2-7-5-vfd.jpg)) but I could not find any that had the digits I needed and fit inside the OEM case. As such, you'll need to have a non-broken VFD from an OEM clock. Often times the VFD is okay even if the clock doesn't work, though.


One question... Have you tested the display under the factory cover? The reason I ask is there was another version done awhile back that looked great out of the case but was nearly unreadable when behind the cover. Something to do with the display color and the factory plastic screen cover canceling brightness when combined.

Cheers
Steven

Yes! It looks great, maybe even a tiny bit brighter than stock. And since it is the stock display, there are no issues with the color. It looks exactly the same as the OEM clock.

The only cover I have is cracked, unfortunately, but you can see it shines through very well:

http://i.imgur.com/8QWGwYK.jpg

[Domi]

Sounds good, thank you for your answers :thumbup:

[Elvis]

I like the project, the PCB looks awesome
and I like the idea of a backup battery.

Still - most clocks with working display can be repaired without big trouble.

[iflights]

https://i.imgflip.com/vyk8m.jpg (https://imgflip.com/i/vyk8m)

[mluder]

Yes! It looks great, maybe even a tiny bit brighter than stock. And since it is the stock display, there are no issues with the color. It looks exactly the same as the OEM clock.

The only cover I have is cracked, unfortunately, but you can see it shines through very well:

http://i.imgur.com/8QWGwYK.jpg

Oh... I see. It uses the stock display... Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't that, and not the control board, that normally fails?

Cheers
Steven

[Mario]

Oh... I see. It uses the stock display... Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't that, and not the control board, that normally fails?

Cheers
Steven

Not from what I've heard. The usual failures are that the clock keeps really bad time, doesn't keep time at all, or doesn't come on at all. These are almost always caused by bad capacitors or cracked solder joints.

The screens don't really fail unless the glass has been cracked. They'll get dimmer over time if they've been used a lot, though.

Admittedly, the PCBs can often be fixed. But I think this board offers enough that it would be worth it for some. That is also why I am making an LED version as well. :)

[Mario]

I have not yet found anybody to test these things how I'd like. I might have to loosen my requirements or just wait until summer, when people are driving more consistently.

[DMC-81]

Hi Mario,

I like this project, and I may eventually be interested in one. My clock is pristine, but the buttons don't change the time. I took it apart, and the buttons hit the PCB board, but nothing happens. I don't know if there is a simple fix for that.

Does your new PCB board use a stock connector (plug and play)?

Anticipated price?

Thanks!

[Bitsyncmaster]

Hi Mario,

I like this project, and I may eventually be interested in one. My clock is pristine, but the buttons don't change the time. I took it apart, and the buttons hit the PCB board, but nothing happens. I don't know if there is a simple fix for that.

Does your new PCB board use a stock connector (plug and play)?

Anticipated price?

Thanks!

The hour button has be be held for 60 seconds to work.

[Mario]

Hi Mario,

I like this project, and I may eventually be interested in one. My clock is pristine, but the buttons don't change the time. I took it apart, and the buttons hit the PCB board, but nothing happens. I don't know if there is a simple fix for that.

Does your new PCB board use a stock connector (plug and play)?

Anticipated price?

Thanks!

Yes, it's completely plug-and-play! Just swap the green plastic cover and buttons over and plug it in. It uses the stock connector. Do you drive your car regularly? Would you like to test one?
Honestly, not sure on the price yet. I try to sell things like this near cost, but since original displays are difficult to get, that drives up the price.
I have also designed an LED version that uses 100% new parts and costs less. :) It functions identically to my VFD version, but uses a new LED display instead. The digits are green and slightly larger than stock. I actually have PCBs for it but have not yet assembled/programmed one.


The hour button has be be held for 60 seconds to work.

Really? I have about 5 stock clocks that I've tested and I only need to hold down either button for a few seconds for the time to start changing. Is that how your clock behaves? Sounds like dirty contacts, maybe.

[Bitsyncmaster]

Really? I have about 5 stock clocks that I've tested and I only need to hold down either button for a few seconds for the time to start changing. Is that how your clock behaves? Sounds like dirty contacts, maybe.

It depends if you happen to hit it when the minuet rolls over. That's when my OEM clock would increment the hour.

[DMC-81]

Yes, it's completely plug-and-play! Just swap the green plastic cover and buttons over and plug it in. It uses the stock connector. Do you drive your car regularly? Would you like to test one?
Honestly, not sure on the price yet. I try to sell things like this near cost, but since original displays are difficult to get, that drives up the price.
I have also designed an LED version that uses 100% new parts and costs less. :) It functions identically to my VFD version, but uses a new LED display instead. The digits are green and slightly larger than stock. I actually have PCBs for it but have not yet assembled/programmed one.

Thanks for the additional information. I'll have to double check my clock and see if the contacts are dirty, or if its user error. I thought I had tried holding the buttons down for a few seconds, but not for a minute.

I'll check that and report back. Regardless, if all I have to do is change the cover/buttons, and not modify or send my clock away, I'm interested in testing one. I drive my car occasionally. PM me if you're OK with that.

Cheers,

[Nicholas R]

It depends if you happen to hit it when the minuet rolls over. That's when my OEM clock would increment the hour.

I think your clock might be a little bit funky. My clock has always worked like any normal clock with a minute and hour adjustment button. One button increases the minutes, one increases the hour. If you push either, the number immediately changes. If you push and hold, after a second or two, the numbers begin to increase incrementally. On mine, the minute does not roll over the hour; it just goes back to :00 of the same hour.

Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but there is a tiny screw inside the clock that you can adjust to speed up or slow down the time right? I used to have a post saved where someone explained how to adjust the speed, but it was on the old .com site. I think that I lost that document in a hard drive crash a few years ago.

[Ryan S.]

Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but there is a tiny screw inside the clock that you can adjust to speed up or slow down the time right? I used to have a post saved where someone explained how to adjust the speed, but it was on the old .com site. I think that I lost that document in a hard drive crash a few years ago.

Wow I didn't know about a speed adjustment screw. Mine is about 3 min/week faster. I wish I can slow it down a little.

[Bitsyncmaster]

I think your clock might be a little bit funky. My clock has always worked like any normal clock with a minute and hour adjustment button. One button increases the minutes, one increases the hour. If you push either, the number immediately changes. If you push and hold, after a second or two, the numbers begin to increase incrementally. On mine, the minute does not roll over the hour; it just goes back to :00 of the same hour.

Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but there is a tiny screw inside the clock that you can adjust to speed up or slow down the time right? I used to have a post saved where someone explained how to adjust the speed, but it was on the old .com site. I think that I lost that document in a hard drive crash a few years ago.

It maybe my clock was a little funky. I've since replaced it with one from over the pond.

Yes there is a little "trimmer capacitor" that can do minor adjustments to the crystal frequency. That should let you do minor adjustments to clock accuracy. I think I remember the "trimmer" just rolls over so you want to mark the current adjustment and probably make a 1/4 turn change to see if you moved it the right way (got slower or got faster). So when you have made a full turn your back where you started.

[DMC-81]

Hi there,
I have agreed to test this clock for Mario. I installed it today and it was a 10 minute job to remove the old one, change the cover, and reinstall the new one. Here are a few pictures:

New clock arrived:
40205

Old clock:
40206

Swapping the cover and buttons:
40207

New clock installed. The time was already correct thanks to the battery backup and prior setting by Mario:
40208

New clock in 24 hour mode:
40209

My first impression that it is a high quality clock. :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

It looks very much like OEM (a good thing in my opinion). You can change the time by pressing the hour or minute buttons for a few seconds. To enter the menu, you just have to press them both for 3 to 4 seconds. I just tried the 12/24 hour mode today, but will try the brightness and colon flash modes later.

Cheers,

[Mario]

Thanks for the favorable review! I'm glad it looks stock as that was the main goal. :) The brightness and colon flashing settings are not terribly interesting unless you happen to care about those things. I personally like having the interior lights in my cars to be very dim at night, so I'll be using that setting when I get my DeLorean.

[Ryan King]

I would be willing to test for you if you'd like. My car is a daily driver. So let me know.

-Ryan

[PJ Grady Inc.]

I would be willing to test for you if you'd like. My car is a daily driver. So let me know.

-Ryan

Good Ryan luck as his vetting process is pretty stiff! I didn't cut the mustard as "Greenie" is not a daily driver. I did offer to rotate it into customer cars as I do lots of shakedown testing on our restorations but no dice! I guess I wont be marketing these things?
Rob

[Mario]

Good Ryan luck as his vetting process is pretty stiff! I didn't cut the mustard as "Greenie" is not a daily driver. I did offer to rotate it into customer cars as I do lots of shakedown testing on our restorations but no dice!

Sorry Rob! I don't know how often you test cars and I wasn't sure if it would be used as often as it would be in a daily. It also doesn't really represent a normal use case.


I guess I wont be marketing these things?

You are free to do what you like. I have been talking to another vendor for a while now, but more would be appreciated, of course. I could just sell them myself, the market isn't that large.
The LED version might sell better because it will be cheaper (and more readily available). You will be free to stock them if you want to (or don't, doesn't make a huge difference to me).

My hope is to open-source both designs so you could even make your own if you wanted, but we'll see if I end up doing that (depends on negotiations with said vendor).


I would be willing to test for you if you'd like. My car is a daily driver. So let me know.

-Ryan

I have somebody else lined up already, but I will let you know if I get more prototypes made!

[PJ Grady Inc.]

I understand it would not be a normal use case. It looks good however so I'd still be interested if you want more than one vendor involved. If so PM me with any proposal you may have.
Rob

[DeloreanJoshQ]

I am interested in following this and if it works well I would like to purchase one. I tried the "DeClock" version and I am not happy with the outcome; it was too dim compared to the stock one and didn't look "stock". Let me know when these are available for purchase and the price. Keep up the progress!

[DeloreanJoshQ]

I am interested in following this and if it works well I would like to purchase one. I tried the "DeClock" version and I am not happy with the outcome; it was too dim compared to the stock one and didn't look "stock". Let me know when these are available for purchase and the price. Keep up the progress!

[DMC-81]

I had the battery disconnected for more than a week while I wrestled with my fuel accumulator replacement, and when I reconnected the battery, I was pleased to see that the clock was still keeping the correct time. Very nice feature! Also, I tried the colon flash setting, (turning it on). This setting gives the clock some subtle animation.

Still impressed! :thumbup:

[iflights]

The other thread of an owner looking for a clock reminded me to check in on the progress of this project.

Are there any updates on the testing? Any line of sight to getting this ready for sale?

Thanks
Steve

[DMC-81]

Hi there,

After three months, I continue to be impressed. My favorite feature is the battery backup. I disconnect my battery after every drive, so when I connect it again to go for another drive, the clock is right on time. :thumbup:

The other favorite is the stock look.

[Mario]

The other thread of an owner looking for a clock reminded me to check in on the progress of this project.

Are there any updates on the testing? Any line of sight to getting this ready for sale?

Thanks
Steve

Hey Steve! Thanks for the interest. Sadly, I have not been working on this project at all recently. I've been working on a project for my other car, a 1st-gen Honda Insight (read about it here (http://www.insightcentral.net/forums/modifications-technical-issues/81626-controlling-instrument-clusters-display.html) if you like).
I will pick it up again some time in the future after I'm satisfied with the performance of the prototype modules. It sounds like the tests have been going well so far!
As for sales, I will have to continue to talk to DeLorean vendors and see about selling them the PCBs/designs or whatever. I most likely won't want to do orders and screen swaps myself. I still need to decide on how I want to do that.


Hi there,

After three months, I continue to be impressed. My favorite feature is the battery backup. I disconnect my battery after every drive, so when I connect it again to go for another drive, the clock is right on time. :thumbup:

The other favorite is the stock look.

Good to hear! Not exactly the intended use case, but it will certainly work fine. :) The backup battery will probably last for 2.5-3 years with that behavior (as opposed to 10+ years if the car's battery is always connected).

[DMC-81]

Hi there,

After one year of testing, I can solidly recommend this clock product. To repeat the features that Mario outlined, it:

1. Looks completely stock
2. Fits in original case
3. Keeps much better time than the original (±3min/year)
4. Battery-backed, so it keeps time if you disconnect the battery (Backup battery should last 2.5yrs out of a car, 10 yrs inside a car)
5. Uses less power than stock when on and when off
6. 12 and 24-hour modes
7. Adjustable brightness
8. Change whether colon flashes or not

In the time I tested it, both when my battery was disconnected between drives (3-4 months), when it was connected all the time, in hot and cool weather (sorry, no cold testing), it never missed a beat. My favorite features are 1, 4, and 6.

Here is the clock removed. It took all of 5 minutes.

49113

I'm looking forward to the possibility of this product being offered. I give it 5 stars!! :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

[DeloreanJoshQ]

How can I buy one???

[iflights]

Me too!

[mluder]

I'm in...

Cheers
Steven

[aotmfilms]

Same here.

[Lenny]

And me

[Mario]

I'm looking forward to the possibility of this product being offered. I give it 5 stars!! :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Thank you for the wonderful, glowing review! I'm glad it's worked well, means my design should be pretty robust.

To everybody else - I would love to sell these and get them in the hands of DeLorean owners. The biggest problem I still face is where to get enough displays. I haven't talked to many vendors, but as far as I know, none of them really have a good supply of clocks, broken or working.
I would probably need to do an exchange program - you send in your clock, I swap the display over to the new PCB, then send it back.

I haven't touched this project in a long time, but it could be sold in its current form - just need displays.
Most likely I will not be able to sell this version and will need to sell an LED version instead (hardware already been developed, just needs firmware). That can be made with all-new parts, no exchanging required, and cheaper as well. Downside is, it doesn't look perfectly stock.

Not sure what I will do yet. I will likely be more motivated to work on it once I actually get my DeLorean, which is still waiting on some long-lead items.

[r00b]

I have a clock with a good display, I'd like to do the exchange.

[DeloreanJoshQ]

I have a clock with a good display, I'd like to do the exchange.

Same here