Drifting Clock on an M!G

[jrooks]

Hi:
I have an M1G and it is working great with the exception of one annoying little trait. Its clock drifts about a minute every week or two and it is a constant nuisance to fire up the ELKPR package and re-sync the clock to the computer periodically. The clock in the computer is pretty accurate. (The computer uses Xp.) I don't see any of the other clock problems mentioned in these threads (thank goodness). The unit is probably about 1 1/2 years old and I am using the RP software (and firmware) available at the time.

Does anybody know if there is a tweakable padder across a timing element somewhere (like a crystal) that would allow me to bring this thing a little closer to reality? I haven't snooped around the board yet and I figured I would ask on this forum first.

Although I am an elecrtical engineer I really don't want to mess with the board other than to perhaps tweak an adjustment. Other than this small item, this thing works flawlessly and I don't want to get it mad.
Thanks, John

 

[wuench]

Hi:
I have an M1G and it is working great with the exception of one annoying little trait. Its clock drifts about a minute every week or two and it is a constant nuisance to fire up the ELKPR package and re-sync the clock to the computer periodically. The clock in the computer is pretty accurate. (The computer uses Xp.) I don't see any of the other clock problems mentioned in these threads (thank goodness). The unit is probably about 1 1/2 years old and I am using the RP software (and firmware) available at the time.

Does anybody know if there is a tweakable padder across a timing element somewhere (like a crystal) that would allow me to bring this thing a little closer to reality? I haven't snooped around the board yet and I figured I would ask on this forum first.

Although I am an elecrtical engineer I really don't want to mess with the board other than to perhaps tweak an adjustment. Other than this small item, this thing works flawlessly and I don't want to get it mad.
Thanks, John

It has been talked about in various threads. Most people use NTP to sync their time daily with a time server (requires an M1XEP).

 

[Kevin L]

Right. Most electronics are lousy timekeepers. Like wuench, I use NTP to sync all my electronics, at least those I can access.

Kevin

 

[jrooks]

OK, I assume that this is to say that there is no on-board adjustment. Is this correct?
Thanks, John

 

[Kevin L]

I don't believe so, John. I use Elk-RP and the M1XEP.

 

[tmbrown97]

As mentioned though, NTP is pretty easy once you set it up... I like having the Elk keep itself current every day, and also having it update the time on my thermostats... makes for very accurate clocks throughout the house.

 

[Lagerhead]

You can set the M1 clock from a computer through the ASCII protocol; the command to do so is rw (Write Real Time Clock Data). Assuming you have a good clock source somewhere, you can automate this once and forget about it.

But use NTP if at all possible.

Right. Most electronics are lousy timekeepers...

Ya, and I don't think the M1 internal clock is any better or worse than your typical computer clock. My M1 loses about 4 seconds a day pretty consistently.

 

[Spanky]

The timebase on the M1 has a separate timekeeping processor with a small backup battery in the case of total power failure. If the crystal is slightly off, the time will loose or gain. As mentioned in an above reply, using the M1XEP and the NTP time update will keep the time absolute.