40 Year Old Heathkit Clock Hack!
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- Опубликовано: 15 окт 2024
- Just for the Heathkit Fans! Yes, this GC-1107 Digital Clock was my very first electronic build from waaaaay back - and I have found a cool hack/mod to make the first of my projects even better than it ever was.
For further reading check out my blog Heathkit catalog posts:
Highlights of the 1979 Heathkit Catalog - www.frantone.co...
Highlights of the 1984 Heathkit Catalog - www.frantone.co...
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Many comments on that resistor - but I should mention that I modified the dimmer circuit some time ago to run at just a fraction of the default brightness to save the phosphors, and since then the filaments just don't pull the kind of current to heat up the resistor anymore. The resistor stays pretty cool now, and the burn in is minimized. ☺
I wondered about those VFDs still in good condition, I've got a BOSCH microwave oven and most of the VFDs are a lot dimmer, I think this year hit the 25y mark
Fran Blanche I was a baby when you made that clock, Fran. I'm a huge fan and binge watch as I'm anesthesized watching you build stuff!
In 40 years clock radios have barely changed. Because they're perfected? I disagree. Nearly every digital clock I've owned, needs to be constantly reset.
Some mechanical clocks adopted a self-correcting mechanism many years ago; if your clock is slow by 10 minutes every 24 hours, adjusting it 10 minutes ahead, advances the clock speed by about 10 minutes in 24 hours. If it's still off by 1 minute in 24 hrs, adjusting it by 1 minute, makes it keep almost perfect time.
Such a thing is much easier to accomplish with an electronic clock; simply take the amount of time adjusted, divided over the time since it was last set, and vary the clock rate by that amount. I'm no chip designer, but it must be very easy to accomplish. I haven't heard of it, if it exists, and I can't believe it's not part of every electronic clock design.
I think a cross for the EA7316 is an NTE 2060:
www.nteinc.com/specs/2000to2099/pdf/nte2060.pdf
Landrew0 Most clocks that derive their accuracy from the 50/60Hz power line frequency are extremely accurate on a continental scale. For crystal based clocks, if you use a 32.768KHz crystal and appropriate decade counter chip (the number escapes me), you will have a wickedly accurate time base IF the trimmer cap is set for exactly 32.768KHz AND the temperature is stable. The cheap tubular tuning fork crystals are notoriously temperature sensitive. This is precisely why the clock on your $500 motherboard tends to be less accurate than a $5 wristwatch. It's much better if you can find a standard crystal at that low frequency, or go for super high performance with a crystal oven. How accurate do you want/need it to be? That said, if you added a basic battery backup mod, it would still be far more accurate than ever losing power.
I like the little tidbits in your videos, like the backing the screws until they find the thread. Cool Beans!
”hey, it's Fran” is iconic. Never stop
"again"
Anonymous Freak while that's a good addition to my comment, i was here before she tacked ”again” onto it. Lol
I agree! Isn't she awesome?
Self tapping screw starting in plastic should be taught in every school!!! Thumbs up for including!!
It's so nice that you have kept hold of this clock for so many years. I have kept some of my old gear, a drum machine from 1982 and a Yamaha CP 10 piano from 1980, I was only 14 when I got the piano, but still in great condition. :-)
I like your introduction, Fran. People will always find Issues .
Your passion is intoxicating
Love seeing the old Heathkit catalogs - my wife and I married in 1978, and she enjoyed building the alarm clock kit with me (GC-1107) which still works great almost 45 years now. We also built the doorbell kit (TD-1069), which served for years until the audio quality broke down - I didn't think at the time to re-cap it. My idea, which I hoped was the subject of your video is to update the clock with an "Arduino" ESP8266 so that it gets the time signal from the Internet wifi. The only downside of the clock all these years has been having to reset it after our (frequent) power outages!
How can you not like this introduction i always catch myself singing along its like a litle song
The intro is you. Don't change. :)
I look forward to hearing “it’s Fran, again, in the lab” when you sing it it’s a bonus!
Nicely done. Loved the "tender loving care" you give your screws threaded into plastic... just as my dad showed me back in the late 40's. LOL Good ideas need to be passed on. You are the only one online I've run across who noticed or cared to mention it. Glad I'm a Patreon member.
Fran you are fabulous just the way you are! Don’t change a thing.
Your introduction is the best. My wife is not into tech, but looks forward to me watching your videos just beautiful the intro. Stay awesome Fran.
Do not change the intro. Very useful tip about preserving the threads. I like your videos. Thank you Fran. Looking forward to hear "it’s Fran, again, in the lab" !!!
Anyone who doesn't like your introduction can go kick rocks. You're awesome and your intro is too!
I figured out that screw trick on my own and am super proud of it. Glad to see someone else knows about it too. I wish everyone cared that much to preserve screw threads.
Do not change the introduction-we all love it and it is your signature intro.
I absolutely love that your parents (or perhaps just your mom) encouraged you to get into electronics at such an early age. What an amazing gift.
No one was more surprised than I was!
Your voice is lovely and it makes it so easy to listen even when I'm not a native English speaker, thanks for the awesome content, you rock! Cheers from Argentina!
I think you built the watch in your previous life. There is no way for you to be over 40 years old. I'm new to this channel, and I can say, do not change the introduction, it's yours, that's fine!
Who said they didn't like the intro? Heresy! The intro is great, makes me smile every time :)
You're an inspiration! My heart was in my throat for a second just before you flipped your new switch. Glad it worked out so well!
I almost always sing along to your intro...it puts a smile on my face. You are the best Fran!
Haha, to hell with anyone that doesn't like your intro. They can do their own intro however they like on their own channel. The nerve some people have. . . Happy to see another video from you, Fran! Take care.
Love that you used your original 40-year-old iron, on your original 40-year-old clock. Priceless.
Don't ever change, love you!
I love that introduction! And i love how you say: "It's what i do and i'm not gonna stop!"
I assembled one of these clocks back in the day! Used it for many years but the display went bad. My folks lived about 5 miles from the Heathkit factory and they had a showroom I visited frequently. Really enjoyed the video, Thanks for sharing!
I love the introduction Fran. Never change it, it's you
The introduction is GREAT!!!
That trick about finding the thread on tapping screws was taught to me many, many years ago when I used to work for a company doing electronic assembly. We would receive items that failed QC and then have to fix them, so we undid the screws and were taught to back the screws into the holes until you feel it drop, then tighten. I've done that ever since!
I've had my Heathkit GC1107 clock since the mid '70s. I purchased it as a freshman in Highschool and used it as my project in Electronic shop. Not only did I have to assemble it, but I had to learn what each component did and write a report explaining how each part performed the function necessary to make this a clock. Like you, I was not able to get inside the main IC to find out what it did...so I just put it down as a box with inputs that I knew were inputs and outputs that were obviously outputs. The teacher was understanding and only deducted a few points from my project because of that...I only got an "A", not an "A+" though....It turned out I needed to work on my soldering and wire stripping technique!
I had/have one of these exact Heathkit clocks that I built in high school for an electronics class. It worked for YEARS AND YEARS with zero problems. I remember seeing it a while back in one of your videos and simply the shape and style of it brought back a huge wave of memories and nostalgia from those years. I learned to solder on that kit. I didn't even practice ahead of time. Was very lucky it worked at all but that kit seemed pretty simple and fool proof.
I say I have or had it because I have no idea where it is. I know it's in my house... somewhere... I can't remember exactly when I replaced it. I do know I replaced it with a mechanical old fashioned wind up alarm clock. One of those retro types with the big bells on top. I will need to look around and see if I can find it.
I Absolutely love the introduction please never stop. Sometime I don't have time to even watch a video but I hurry and catch at least your intro. Love your channel.
Fond memories of Heathkit. There was a Heathkit store at Devon Ave and Lincoln Ave in Chicago. By the late-70s, I had about 40 Heathkit test equipment and projects.
Great background music! Better than the usual bad EDM/electronica heard on so many other YT videos.
I miss Heathkit. :(
I love the introduction
Me too!
Me too!
I love Weller!
Honestly I do not like the intro at all. Everything else great but hate intro. sorry
Any video you consider 99.52% great sounds pretty outstanding to me!
Love the intro, no need to change it. I remember Heathkit.
I remember that catalog! My neighbor's dad built the (25"?) TV and put it in a custom cabinet. This was of a teak (he being a shipwright by trade) frame with 1/2" thick panels of Plexiglass to show off the innards of the TV, with a number of holes drilled through for ventilation. The remote was of the tuning fork type.
Yes, keep the intro. Great video Fran. There truly is something cool about tinkering, with and improving, old technology.
I love that intro. It's one of the reasons I watch.
Don't ever change, Fran. Your intro is just so you, cute and nerdy. Also, I think you're lying about your age - You don't look like you were a teenager in '78!
My parents finally gave me this very kit my dad and I built back in the early 80's. Still works fine. It is finally mine again! Thanks for the video Miss Fran! You're awesome! -johnboy.
Great video & please keep 'em coming. Was thinking, when you built that clock, I was about to graduate college, the only EE female in my class. LOL. YOU GO GIRL!!!
A+++ on the screw tip at the end! This will now be a little more common knowledge!
YES! This is not taught NEARLY enough ANYWHERE.
Yeah, in all honesty, I LIKE the introduction. It's quirky and a lil cheesy, but unique. Glad you plan to keep it.
Nothing wrong with YOUR introduction because it is YOURS!
I upped you by one. I built the GC1000 atomic clock back in the day. I still have it! Living in Alaska the WWV signal is weak and even with a long line antenna the clock sometimes would not sync. But mostly it did and sat there displaying accurate time for years.
I hear the radio board can be improved to significantly improve it's locking. Not to mention that all the electrolytic caps may be wanting to be replaced these days.
I also built the audio spectrum analyzer (which never worked) and the metronome, and the fancy late HiFi tuner, and a portable RF freq counter that I blew up one day, and more...
That driver you made for the Nimo Tube. That is a masterpiece. Mechanically and electronically. And you design, program, and run those on a 3D printer. You are amazing.
I was born in 1976 and growing up I wish I would have known about Heathkit, I was always interested in electronics but never came across the company. I don't know how I missed it. Later I found out my dad knew all about Heathkit but never mentioned it to me. I love the intro, it's one of the reasons I started watching.
I love your singing intro's and outro's. You are a very interesting person with cool projects to share. Thanks
Fran for President !!
I love that introduction!
Every time you say “In the shop!” in other videos I unconsciously add “FranShop!” Because of FranLab
Hey the intro is fine its you. I wish I lived in the Heath Kit era. I was born in 1978. I wish Heathkit would of made a comeback. They tried, but just didn't fly. I'm a ham and love to dabble in electronics. I just lack troubleshooting skills.
The intro does grow on you. Don't change it Fran. You, BigClive.com, 8-Bit Guy and Clint from LGR are my favourite people to watch. There is something about all of you that makes very pleasurable viewing.
Andrew Cakebread Wow, I follow all of them, too!
Same here!
Ha! Guess I'm in this same club. I've also found that all those folks make wonderful RUclips viewing.
Never stop doing that introduction.
I built the 6-digit Heathkit GC-1005 in November 1974. I was then 10yrs old. I still have it, and it has been a solid performer over the past 43 years. It has always been on. The only issue it has is the minutes digits sometimes flicker or "blink out" completely. There is obviously a loose/bad solder joint involved, as light tapping on the case brings those blank digits back.
This clock uses the Mostek MK-5017 clock chip. The Mostek engineers had a sense of humor. There is an image of Micky Mouse on the actual silicon die, pointing a 7 o'clock. Your clock probably uses the 60Hz line frequency as a time base, as does this clock. That is accurate, more more less, over many months. The power grid does advance/reduce frequency deviations from 60Hz. Back in the 70's & 80's this was more reliable. Today, not no much, with Internet NTP time providers.
WWV & WWVH are still broadcasting time signals: 2.5, 5, 10, 15 and 20MHZ. You can also call WWV on the phone, 303- 499-7111, and WWVH, 808-335-4363. These are probably the last "talking clocks" on the telephone today. WWVL also broadcasts on 60KHz, and is used by those "atomic clock" self-setting clocks. My Costco Home Weather Station has this feature, but I must have too much RFI on 60KHz, as that clock is never right. :(
One day, I'll open up my 1005, and touch up the solder joints on the display board and associated wires. I like the neon 7-segment display, vs the VFD blue/green displays. Neon is a warmer color, not too bright for a night stand clock. I've in the past year or so built a 6-digit nixie tube clock, which has a WiFi module to talk to an Internet network time provider. This clock is sub-second accurate, as it is always syncing with NTP. Comparing the Heathkit with the nixie clock, you can see the power line frequency drift, as the the difference is sometimes 25s one week, then 6s another week. I've thought of building a Raspberry Pi project which you feed 60Hz through a GPIO pin, and use NTP to keep "accurate time", and generate graphs of the +/- delta between real time and power utility 60Hz time.
The GC-1005 must have been intended for Ham radio people I think, as it can easily be set to 12 or 24 hr time. When I was more into HF utility band monitoring, my clock was always set to 24hr GMT/UTC time. I still run it in 24 hr mode, but local time vs GMT.
Below is the link to the Micky easter egg:
micro.magnet.fsu.edu/creatures/pages/mickey.html
Find it amazing that kits so old would include hidden features! The intro is fun, keep it going!
I like your intro. It's like an old friend stopping by for a visit. Byee.....
Our 6 year old daughter Brooklyn is deeply interested in electronics and amateur radio. However almost all of the RUclips videos are hosted by "grumpy and gruff" men. Brooke fell in love with your channel when she first heard your introduction. My wife and I enjoy your shows because of your quiet calm manner. You're the Mr. Roger's of electronics, meaning that you teach without overwhelming a shy withdrawn child yet you also keep adults interested.
Oh and the entire family loves the surprise appearances by Missy.
The biggest complement I could possibly get (blush) ☺
You should check out the youtube channel K7AGE, he looks a little gruff, but he isn't grumpy at all. Also Jeri Ellsworth's channel.
I'm just curious do you think BigClive is kid-friendly?
KPPMt1n7 Well said sir.
mikokuijn definitely watch each of Clive's videos yourself before showing it to the kids 😅
This kit is how I learned to solider, brings back memories! Don't think this clock is still around though, lost to time.
I remember hating the sound of that alarm, but I kept using it for years because I was proud of my work.
I giggle every time I hear that introduction. I love it.
Never stop your little quirky intro. I love it.
I love your intro! Just ignore these people who think that this is childish or so. It's rather cause they're feeling too childish themselves to enjoy a bit of fun...
Hi Fran. I still have this clock that I built many many years ago.. I built several heath kits with this model being just one of them. This is so exciting.
It wasn't the easiest clock to set. I'm going to dig though my boxes to see where I put it.
I love the introduction. I always giggle.
It’s the best introduction to any channel I’ve ever seen.
Your intro makes me chuckle. Ignore the naysayers; they can go whistle. :D "I'm in the lab...Franlab!!!"
I love the intro, Fran. Don’t ever change!
Super fun. Built two of these back in the day. The first didn't work (because I did a horrible job) and went back to the store for a new kit. Sure enough they brought out a practice board and showed me how to solder - just as you said. The second one I made works to this day.
My friend's dad built one of those Heathkit computers way back in the day. I'll have to ask him if he had to take it in to get fixed by a grumpy old Heath/Zenith employee.
I got to see the assembly manual for that computer as he was getting rid of it, and I was utterly amazed--these kits were not for the faint-hearted! You really were building complex, state-of-the-art (for the time) consumer electronics out of piles of parts. You built everything yourself, from the high-voltage supply for the CRT to the floppy drive controller to the keyboard! You even had to calibrate the floppy drive's spindle motor yourself, using a strobe light. It's sad that Heath ultimately folded, but I think they definitely hit the peak of what the average hobbyist solder jockey could reasonably be expected to assemble, and had nowhere to go from there.
We love the Intro!!! You are one of a kind!!!
I miss Heathkit so much. Learned electronics from a Bell & Howell home study course where we built a HK multi-meter a 20 meg scope and then a 25 inch tv learning all the circuits along the way. Cool stuff. Keep your intro.
You are amazing Fran
This really brought me back to 80's when I was just a high school junior, and had started building kits as a hobby. I remember building a clock like this that used MM5315 and 6 LED 7-segment displays. Since it used the mains 50Hz to keep the time, and back then the mains frequency wasn't very stable in Turkey, it never kept time properly. Lost like half a minute each day. Very similar stories, but we didn't have Heathkit in Turkey. I also still have my first soldering iron, a 25W Elsa, still works perfectly with the original tip and heating element. I guess they don't make them as they used to anymore. Your clock reminded me of a VFD vu-meter kit I built back in those days. I'm sure I still have it in a box somewhere, I should find it and do a refurbishing too. Thanks for the video Fran!
I thought I was the only one who started screws that way. It drives me nuts when I see someone jamming a self tapping screw into the threads without starting them properly. Nice video btw!
Omg please don’t stop the into. I always look forward to hearing. I crap you not.
I ALWAYS look forward to the intros you do, Fran. Love 'em!
Adding to the chorus of people saying don't change. Haters gonna hate regardless so may as well just do you.
I remember when my cousin moved to Greensboro NC and I first went to visit him there in the early 80s', we went to a Heathkit store and I was in heaven. I wish they were still around.
I really enjoyed this one. Thanks!
Another great video, I just picked up the IP 271B power supply that is on the 79 catalog cover last week. Still working great! Thanks for the wonderful movies!
I experienced missing time while watching this very informative video. Thanks Fran. (I'm a Fran fan)
I can't believe you're old enough to have built this in 1978. I used to build Heathkits with my dad. There was a HeathKit store in the San Fernando Valley (Los Angeles area) we used to visit at least once a month. I used to love going there and building those kits. I didn't mind when they didn't work because it was fun to debug them. BTW I much prefer your intro to the standard "Hey Guys!!!" that pretty much everybody else does.
I love the way fran does the details.....observation rules...!
Why would people not like the intro? it tells us all is well in the world :)
The intro is great!
I built and still have that exact same Heathkit clock! Green LED display and all. It's been running more or less continuously since the 80s(?) and it still works, although I have never needed to touch up the soldering (knock on wood). I got a little practice on their "Learn to Solder" kit that my parents got with the clock kit. That was my first and only electronic kit build.
In our electronics repair shop back in the day the boss's son had a HERO robot wandering about. I can still hear that thing say "READY" in my head.
Got my dad's Heathkit IM-18 VTVM on the bench in the basement. Dad was VE3TM half a century ago.
COOL BEANS !!
It just wouldn't feel like Franlab w/o your intro now. It's quirky and silly and makes me laugh. I like it. I vote to keep it. :) Aloha
I love your intro. Don't change.
Never stop the intro.
I do like the darlington symbol - 14:38 in the schematics for Q1...the golden old days of solid state electronics.
I love your intro. It brightens my day. ❤
I love your intro.And i love everything you do, never change!
Fran, I love the introduction !
Never change it !
I remember the heathkit catalogue... and the radio shack catalogues...
I use to spend days looking at them, and studying them....
I had them memorised front to back! All the stuff I could never afford to purchase, but wish I could have!
My first heathkit was the morse memu-keyer! it was a very difficult kit to assemble!
I remember soldering in one of the headers in backwards, and then tried for days to de-solder it back out.
Finally a friend of my father's, a very accomplished ham radio builder removed it for me!
The kit worked mostly correct from day one, except for a couple of memory playback locations that always seemed to lose their contents!
It is so cool that you built this kit when you were 14 years old.
Wow Fran, I'm so glad I didn't skip the story! What a magical time and company Heath Kit was. The idea of getting a color TV or a computer you could build yourself blows my mind! Amazing! Thanks for sharing! I am actually kind of jealous! But I guess we are now into another golden age of electronics DIY with affordable and wonderful things like the AVR32 series and the RPi :D