Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
h a l f b a k e r y
Birth of a Notion.

idea: add, search, annotate, link, view, overview, recent, by name, random

meta: news, help, about, links, report a problem

account: browse anonymously, or get an account and write.

user:
pass:
register,


                 

AC-clock with "real" battery backup

Battery backup on a normally-AC clock that's actually useful!
  (-3)
(-3)
  [vote for,
against]

I have a low-cost clock radio that also has a "beep" alarm which can be used in lieu of the radio. It also has a poor excuse of a battery back-up system.

Why a "poor excuse"? Well, IT DOESNT SET OFF THE ALARM OR EVEN DISPLAY THE TIME if the AC is lost and all that's present is the batteries. It only "backs up" the time so that it'll be correct when the power comes back on-or, at least, that's what it's SUPPOSED TO DO!

I have found that it's nowhere near the right time when the power comes back on-even when it was a 10 minute power cut WITH BRAND NEW BATTERIES!!! It's often 3 to 4 hours off when the power comes back on. Also, it doesnt remember the alarm settings AT ALL, reguardless of how long or short the power outage was! so even if the power cut out for 2 seconds at night, then came back on again, before the alarm was supposed to go off, it STILL wouldn't work! That kind of defeats the purpose of a battery back-up, right? It wouldnt do you any good in ANY situation-ever!

How about a clock where it's 100% functional on AC OR batteries? Everything would function the same either way, including the alarm. It shouldn't be that hard to implement, but I've never seen a clock that does this

Of course you could just get a battery-only clock, like I currently use, but the problem is it SUCKS DOWN BATTERIES! it only lasts about a month or 2, which is not very long for a clock, because I've had watch batteries last for YEARS before they went dead! I guess that's because my clock is just crap, but still, if the clock just had the batteries as a "safety-net" in case the power goes out, it'd last a heck of a lot longer.

Also, just as an added bonus, if you put rechargeable AA or AAA batteries in the clock (whatever it uses depending on design) and then used them as backup while normally using it with AC, the clock would keep those batteries charged. If you DONT have rechargeable batteries in it, and the batteries are low, the display should indicate that somehow, with a flashing battery icon or something.

Dickcheney6, Sep 28 2008

(?) Got One http://www.thinkgee...office/lights/9bac/
Got one. Does exactly as specified. [reap, Oct 01 2008]


Please log in.
If you're not logged in, you can see what this page looks like, but you will not be able to add anything.



Annotation:







       I have a sneaking suspicion that a brief trip to your local neighbourhood hardware store would address your concerns.   

       I believe that, these days, you can even buy alarm clocks that are completely independent of electricity.
MaxwellBuchanan, Sep 28 2008
  

       You described my cellphone perfectly.   

       I set its alarm to wake me in the morning, and if the power goes off while I am sleeping, the phone's battery will go on standby for at least 24 hours.   

       Other then that, all the features you mention are available in other alarm clocks other then the one you have.
Giblet, Sep 29 2008
  

       //other then the one you have// and the one I have.
FlyingToaster, Sep 29 2008
  

       Ugh, it's the return of John James AutoBONE!
Dickcheney6, Sep 30 2008
  

       No, I boned it.
phoenix, Sep 30 2008
  

       Me too. See the [link]. I have one of these. It operates exactly as specified, including recharging the battery as well as a bucketload more features. [-]
reap, Oct 01 2008
  

       Just plug your clock into a UPS.
AbsintheWithoutLeave, Oct 01 2008
  


 

back: main index

business  computer  culture  fashion  food  halfbakery  home  other  product  public  science  sport  vehicle