The early version clocks kept time when unplugged however they didn't come in the fancy case. Thanks for the heads up on the price drop and I just picked another one up for work. So now it's like I paid $60 each.
(Topic ID: 140877)
Linz
Mt Rainier, MD
Quoted from Robotronx:For anyone like me that thought 80 bucks was too much these are now 40.
Yup. Just got mine in the mail today. Totally worth $40...at $80 I would have been a bit disappointed. A great addition to my gameroom.
Mine is still running strong..not sure if mine saves the time as I've never unplugged it...its my gameroom/downstairs clock so no need to unplug it. Everyone who sees it loves it!
At 40 bucks..that's worth it
Love mine, anyone care to show how to mod to save the time? Saw a few links but no pics on what is soldered where.
Victoria
4 weeks later
Is this running on batteries or 12V? Anyone can send one to europe (the netherlands)? I found a site but the shipping is 40$
Quoted from osudrummer:Love mine, anyone care to show how to mod to save the time? Saw a few links but no pics on what is soldered where.
will get a new clock next week
will make some more Pictures of the time.save-mod
Quoted from kapsreiter:will get a new clock next week
will make some more Pictures of the time.save-mod
How did you get this to europe?
no
easy to open, 4 screws
then you have to press inside this 4 holes and you can take out the display from the front
should have every electronic shop
here is a link to a European shop for the details
Quoted from PeterG:Try to understand why you do this, is it to keep the time running if the power is off?
EXACT THIS
I switch all my neon signs in the gameroom with a mainswitch
also this clock
Quoted from kapsreiter:I switch all my neon signs in the gameroom with a mainswitch ...
I do this as well, and the battery would be absolutely necessary.
If someone would charge, say $20 plus parts I would pay. Wonder if I brought it to TPF if Borygard or someone else would?
Kitchener, ON
These clocks are awesome for $40. But that's not possible in Canada
Amazon.com $40us - won't ship to Canada
Amazon.ca $136.95cdn + $5.54 shipping
eBay.com $54.04cdn + $33.11 shipping
So the cheapest I've found is almost $90 + tax. I really like the clock, but not for $100
Quoted from Luckydogg420:These clocks are awesome for $40. But that's not possible in Canada
Amazon.com $40us - won't ship to Canada
Amazon.ca $136.95cdn + $5.54 shipping
eBay.com $54.04cdn + $33.11 shipping
So the cheapest I've found is almost $90 + tax. I really like the clock, but not for $100
Yes, international shipping of almost anything of moderate weight is expensive.
Quoted from kapsreiter:here is my new Pacman clock
i soldered the smd DS1307 RTC + Quartz on it
the battery is mall then a CR2032, but there is enough space inside the case
working great
Thinking about trying this again which way does the little chip go in? The dot goes on the top or bottom? Can't tell from the picture
And does the Quartz go in any special way or does it matter?
Quoted from Luckydogg420:These clocks are awesome for $40. But that's not possible in Canada
Amazon.com $40us - won't ship to Canada
Amazon.ca $136.95cdn + $5.54 shipping
eBay.com $54.04cdn + $33.11 shipping
So the cheapest I've found is almost $90 + tax. I really like the clock, but not for $100
Same to europe, not an option. I have to wait to get to the US and order one then.
Or find someone who will make a deal
I made the modification that kapsreiter described. I initially tried a crystal that fit the surface mount pads, but that didn't seem to work - it remembered the time, but the clock didn't run when power was off. I switched to the through-hole part and it works great, just needed a bit of sticky-tape for mounting. Also, found a digikey part for the CR1220 coin cell holder: BC501SM-ND:
http://www.digikey.com/product-search/en?keywords=bc501sm-nd
Okay, maybe I'm just not understanding this...
Does the battery keep the clock on, or just the time? I'm interested in doing this, but don't need the clock running 24/7. I too had been hoping it would keep time as an arcade thing, so this is key to me actually using it.
Quoted from goatdan:Does the battery keep the clock on, or just the time?
The battery just lets it keep time while the unit is unplugged. The battery doesn't operate the LEDs on the front.
The crystal and the real time clock chip keep the clock ticking (powered by the battery).
Quoted from Wolfmarsh:The battery just lets it keep time while the unit is unplugged. The battery doesn't operate the LEDs on the front.
The crystal and the real time clock chip keep the clock ticking (powered by the battery).
thats absolut right!
how should such a small battery run all this leds ? may be for 30 seconds 
Quoted from empty-m:I made the modification that kapsreiter described. I initially tried a crystal that fit the surface mount pads, but that didn't seem to work - it remembered the time, but the clock didn't run when power was off. I switched to the through-hole part and it works great, just needed a bit of sticky-tape for mounting. Also, found a digikey part for the CR1220 coin cell holder: BC501SM-ND:
http://www.digikey.com/product-search/en?keywords=bc501sm-nd
Did you get all your parts from digi key? Mind sharing all the part numbers needed?
Sure.
The timekeeping chip is DS1307ZN+T&RCT-ND:
http://www.digikey.com/product-search/en?keywords=ds1307zn%2BT%26RCT-ND
The crystal is 535-9033-1-ND:
http://www.digikey.com/product-search/en?keywords=535-9033-1-nd
And the battery holder is BC501SM-ND:
http://www.digikey.com/product-search/en?keywords=bc501sm-nd
Like Wolfmarsh explained, the battery is only used to back up the timekeeping chip's internal memory and run the crystal when the system power is off. The DS1307 has two power input: Vcc and Vbat. The datasheet calls out that a 48mAh battery should last 10 years of non-powered operation. The cr1220's for the battery holder that fits the footprint have 35 - 40 mAh, so I figure it will last proportionally less. Something to consider since you'll need to disassemble again to replace the battery.
I tried to use a surface mount crystal (actualy tried 2 different ones) and the clock did not track time when off. It simply came back on at whatever time it was at when turned off. I put a scope on the crystal and it was not oscillating. The only spec I could find was that the surface mount crystals had a series resistance of 50k, and the DS1307 calls out a max of 45k. However, the through-hole crystal has identical specs and it does work. Don't have an explanation, but figured I'd share in case anyone else found a surface mount part and tried the same thing.
Quoted from yzfguy:I do too....and my clock sits there unplugged... Sigh
Happy to take it off your hands......I would do the modification as shown.
Quoted from empty-m:Sure.
The timekeeping chip is DS1307ZN+T&RCT-ND:
http://www.digikey.com/product-search/en?keywords=ds1307zn%2BT%26RCT-ND
The crystal is 535-9033-1-ND:
http://www.digikey.com/product-search/en?keywords=535-9033-1-nd
And the battery holder is BC501SM-ND:
http://www.digikey.com/product-search/en?keywords=bc501sm-nd
Like Wolfmarsh explained, the battery is only used to back up the timekeeping chip's internal memory and run the crystal when the system power is off. The DS1307 has two power input: Vcc and Vbat. The datasheet calls out that a 48mAh battery should last 10 years of non-powered operation. The cr1220's for the battery holder that fits the footprint have 35 - 40 mAh, so I figure it will last proportionally less. Something to consider since you'll need to disassemble again to replace the battery.
I tried to use a surface mount crystal (actualy tried 2 different ones) and the clock did not track time when off. It simply came back on at whatever time it was at when turned off. I put a scope on the crystal and it was not oscillating. The only spec I could find was that the surface mount crystals had a series resistance of 50k, and the DS1307 calls out a max of 45k. However, the through-hole crystal has identical specs and it does work. Don't have an explanation, but figured I'd share in case anyone else found a surface mount part and tried the same thing.
Thank you for this, i tired previously but ordered the wrong chip it was non smd and didnt work. Just placed my order, exctied to do this mod and then im going to wall mount my clock in my workshop.
I made a youtube video showing both animations.
I also put some additional pictures on my website:
http://gameroominfo.com/2016/12/01/pac-man-arcade-led-clock/
Definitely worth the $39.
6 years later
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