VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1946-1948 Clock wiring.

Hi. I have a base model 1946 Stylemaster. I assume it did not have a clock when new but someone added a correct (I think) wind-up clock. The wiring diagram indicates that there should be a light socket for the clock. I cannot find that socket under the dash. Would Chevrolet have installed the wiring and socket if my car did not come new with a clock? That would explain it. Thanks again everyone.

On my '48 the clock wire was not part of the harness. A separate wire with the bulb socket was connected to the light switch.

A couple of thoughts on the two clocks available as accessories for the passenger cars.

1. If you have a windup clock, it will normally be lighted by a single bulb connected to the head-light-switch, and requires no special attention.

2. If you have an electric clock, it will be lit as above. The power to operate the clock mechanism must be connected to a hot-all-the-time connection. Therein, is the problem. If you do not use the car on a frequent basis the clock can run down the battery, and sometimes, in this process the clock points are fused together, causing damage to the clock. A solution to this problem, is to install an in-line switch to the clock wire. When the car is not used often it will not run the battery down nor cause damage to the clock.

Ray,

My understanding is that the hot wire to the electric clock is to periodically activate the motor therein to wind the spring. Nothing more. Thus, except during this motor winding operation there is no draw on the battery.

Is the above correct or is there a constant draw on the battery and there is no clock spring to wind but the hands are truly moving with a constant flow of juice to a perpetually active clock motor?

Please straighten me out. If I happen to be right then I think it would take a relatively long, long time for a healthy battery to be sufficiently depleted to not be able to start the engine. For longtime storage it seems it is a good idea to disconnect the battery anyway. Seems the draw from the battery to activate the motor for occasional winding of the electric clock would be extremely short..

I an mot experienced on the older Chevrolet electric clocks or any other electric clocks for that matter.

Thoughts?

Best,

Charlie

It is true that there is no constant draw from an electric clock, however when contact is made there is a large load on the points for a short period of time. You are also correct in that a good battery should not run down, but it depends on how long it is sitting idle.

Disconnecting the battery is a given, when left for long periods of time.

All I know is my electric clock makes a tick, tick, tick sound just like my windup.

Russell,

That tick, tick. tick may not be coming from the clock. You may want to dunk your incoming packages before you open them.

Best,

Charlie

Ray gave a very accurate description of how the electric wind clocks work. It is true that the rewind mechanism only uses electricity for a fraction of a second but it has to rewind quite frequently so over a long period of time, especially in winter, it can be a draw on the battery. I used to disconnect the clock in the winter but now I keep a battery tender on all of my cars so I don't worry about running the battery down. I suppose I am shortening the life of my clock but it seems if I don't use it, it tends to get lazy ( gummed up).

Hi do you have the wiring diagram for this clock?

For what model?