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Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Quartz 1Hz Timebase

Here is
one basic circuit of a simple but accurate 1Hz timebase generator built
around a standard Quartz clock circuit board. Just lift the clock PCB
from any cheap quartz clock and carefully remove all extra components
like the drive coil, buzzer, alarm switch and clock mechanism (quartz
movement), etc.
 Next wire the circuit as shown in the schematic
diagram, observing correct connection points and polarities, and power
it from a 5VDC supply. Precision 1Hz clock signal generator is now
ready to serve you. With suitable modification(s) at the output you can
use this circuit to drive blinkers, beepers and microcontroller based
ciruits.
Notes:
  • 1. Stable 1.5-1.6 VDC
    supply for the clock PCB is derived from the 5VDC input supply with the
    help of componets R1, D1 and C1. Only use a 10mm Red color (Vf=1.6V)
    LED for D3.
  • 2. Drive coil outputs (L1&L2) of the clock PCB
    are joined together to get one second pulse output with the help of two
    schottky diodes (D1&D2). Such low-drop diodes are crucial for this
    circuit.
  • 3. The circuit is inverting output type and hence,
    the output is normally at high level,and pulses low once a second.By
    adding a second (optional) transistor, this can be reversed, ie non
    inverting, so that the output is normally at low level, and pulses
    high once a second.

Quartz 1Hz Timebase Generator Circuit Schematic

quartz 1hz timebase generator circuit schematic