The content of the article:
- Retro is back
- Car clock: functionality
- Types of car clocks
- Setting the clock in the car
A long time ago, when wristwatches from a purely feminine accessory turned into a widespread one, cars also began to be equipped with devices that show the time. Even the digital 21st century couldn't do anything about it, and watchmakers make special pieces to fit on the dashboard so drivers can keep track of the time at a glance.
Retro is back
In the photo: retro clock in the car "Pobeda"
Vintage executive cars have always been equipped with a symbol of success - a clock. As a rule, old cars were equipped with mechanical and electromechanical devices for keeping track of time.
Even in the Dobble brothers' steam car, which could only be owned by the richest people and whose cost was comparable to the price of four Rolls Royces, the clock was installed on the dashboards of American Dream cars, although it did not act as the main attribute.
In the domestic auto industry, watches also served as a status symbol. There were "ordinary" watches, not much different between the models of cars on which they were installed, but they all boasted amazing simplicity and reliability.
The watch was connected to the battery, so it continued to work autonomously while parked or the ignition was turned off. As the plant was consumed on the clock, the contacts were closed, power was supplied to the electromagnet, and this charge lasted for a long time.
Watches from "Pobeda" were produced in two versions - ruby-red of the first series and green-marsh-brown of the second. The watches dedicated to the M-20 Pobeda model were made with Japanese quartz.
Watches for Volga Gaz-21 were smaller in size, but in terms of performance they were in no way inferior to those of Pobedov's, additionally differing in a cunning outline of numbers, creating the effect of a volumetric outline. And yes, the clock had a backlight!
Since the moment when cars began to be produced in mass editions "for the people", the accessories in them have been greatly simplified. Everything superfluous, unnecessary from the point of view of cost, was ruthlessly thrown away.
But as the years passed, and nostalgia for retro began to prevail. Despite the fact that the dashboard, radio tape recorder, telephones, LCD screens, wristwatches are all available to motorists, there is a need for separate clock blocks "as before".
Car clock: functionality
For almost a century, the appearance of car watches has undergone dramatic changes, and its functionality has expanded. For some, such "time devices" are old and unnecessary distractions, but for others they are a symbol of style and utility.
In the middle to the end of the last century, European manufacturers (Mercedes, Audi, Volkswagen) placed large car clocks on the dashboard instead of a tachometer, taking care of observing the time. In cars, the time can be seen by glancing at the radio tape recorder, at the torpedo (if there is a clock installed by default), or on the display installed by yourself.
Modern watches can do a lot and are equipped with:
- interior / outdoor temperature sensors (Celsius, Fahrenheit). Updates of information occur at short intervals, allowing you to see the dynamics of temperature fluctuations;
- calendar (day / month / year);
- a voltmeter (the error is tenths of a volt);
- an alarm clock with a five-minute activation of the "Sonya" mode;
- mirroring function, allowing you to use it as an additional mirror;
- auto-backlight;
- dynamic illumination, depending on daylight hours - brightness at night will not hit the eyes;
- air damper control.
The watch is able to correctly measure the temperature from minus 50 to plus 70 degrees Celsius, although before buying it is necessary to clarify the range of operating indicators, since there are devices that function in a more stringent framework (for example, 0-50 degrees Celsius) and are not suitable for use in cold climatic zones of Russia.
Some devices have an additional sound warning when the temperature "overboard" approaches zero degrees - thus they warn drivers about possible ice on the road.
The measurement accuracy of the sensors can fluctuate within one degree, depending on the place where the microcircuit is installed. Most often, the interior sensor "suffers", slightly warmed up by the operating circuit.
The lion's share of modern car watches are produced and sold in China, scattering around the world through online stores.
Such hours are connected through:
- onboard USB network;
- cigarette lighter socket;
- batteries.
Types of car clocks
In the photo: quartz watch
According to the principle of operation, car watches are divided into quartz and electronic.
A quartz watch in a car always has a power source, it is notable for its low cost and practicality, working without winding. They are resistant to damage, stress and shock, leaving scratches on the watch glass is quite difficult, and the car watch is also easy to operate and reliable. All that is required for their trouble-free operation is timely replacement of the battery.
Another undoubted advantage of quartz accessories is their precision. The budget and high working qualities make quartz watch models for cars an affordable accessory for all drivers.
In the photo: electronic clock
Electronic watches are in no way inferior in accuracy to quartz watches - they are durable, cheap, do not break when overloaded and have a huge range of operating pressures and temperatures. The disadvantages are the dependence on electromagnetic fields and ionizing radiation. Some difficulty can also arise when reading information when a bright sun hits the watch. On a number of sites, electronic watches are positioned as digital LED clocks.
They look stylish and modern in the car. The light, luminous display allows you to clearly see the values on the dial both during the day and at night. Such a watch can be easily attached to the dashboard.
The standard operating voltage ranges from 12V to 24V. The current consumption when the external power is off is about 14μA. In economy mode, only the time is displayed on the clock panel. Uses LR44 or AAA batteries. The backlight color can usually be changed to your liking.
According to the results of "opening" Chinese-made watches, it is possible to supply the assemblers with a solid three, since the installation was not done very carefully, the parts are poorly fixed, prolonged vibration is unlikely to benefit them.
Fans of auto watches suggest disassembling the watch yourself before installing and fixing the controversial units with a neutral sealant.
Setting the clock in the car
Ways of fastening auto watches are different - they are proposed to be installed on:
- rigid fastening of the clip-holder;
- self-adhesive base;
- suction cup;
- magnetic holder.
There are watches that can be installed on specific brands of cars, or universal, suitable for any car, model.
Some watches can be installed on various vehicles, although logos of famous car manufacturers (KIA, Honda, Mazda, Hyundai, Porsche, Cadillac, etc.) are displayed on the dial. Such watches, as a rule, are shock-resistant, made in a steel case, with quartz filling and fluorescent hands. The battery can last up to a year.
The accuracy of a car clock defies logic.Some car owners claim that timing devices are as accurate as the queen of England; others point out that the margin of error is large and the arrows have to be changed regularly.
The clock in the car is mounted on:
- dashboard;
- windshield.
The clock installed on the dashboard may not be very convenient, because in order to see the time on the dial, you need to look from bright daylight into a darkened interior, switching your vision from distance to perception of numbers "under your nose", from large objects overboard to small scale designations. This instant restructuring of vision is difficult for many people, causing short-term headaches and disorientation.
With some habit, such a watch turns out to be much more convenient than watching the time on the phone or being distracted by a wristwatch. The time display panel looks more practical and pleasant, and is also an excellent gift for a motorist.
