American Time Blog

New inCloud features and enhancements make scheduling and coordinating EverAlert equipment, Wi-Fi and PoE clocks and devices easier than ever!

Accurate, synchronized clocks in your building, school or facility are more than a convenience. When clocks display the wrong time or different times from each other, major disruptions and even risks can happen, such as….

• Meetings, classes or shifts start and end at different times, causing confusion and inefficiency
• Wages or compensation are disputed
• Critical tasks like surgeries, food prep or manufacturing processes aren’t tracked or reported accurately
• Maintenance staff spend too much time on clock repairs and adjustments

The decision arises in all sorts of consumer scenarios: classic versus modern. Maybe you're remodeling your home and you have to choose between dark trim or something light and airy. Perhaps you're trying to decide where to eat dinner, and it comes down to the steakhouse that's been there forever or the trendy new restaurant you've been itching to try.

Or, maybe you were shopping for a watch and had to ponder the benefits of analog versus digital. Your evaluation process of analog versus digital when selecting a new watch probably isn't all that different from picking what kind of clocks to install in your facility. It's just that when it comes to selecting a clock, you've got the needs of potentially thousands of people to consider.

To help you make the call, we'll lay out the advantages and some considerations to make when choosing analog clocks.

You wouldn't leave your cell phone unprotected as you venture into the unpredictable environments you encounter day-to-day. Your investment is just too great to risk it. But what about the investment you've made in your facility's clock system, and the other pieces of equipment you rely on to keep things running smoothly? That's worth protecting, too.

Guards for clocks and other pieces of vital equipment protect your investment from damage, vandalism, and theft. After all, it's not just the equipment you have to think about, but the environment that surrounds it. Here’s a look at the types of  equipment guards available, why they're important, and the best environments for them.

When you’re searching for new technology to help students learn better or for a school to run more efficiently, there are countless options. Which technology will live up to its promises? How does a school evaluate differences?

Setting up your WI-fi and Power over ethernet (poe) network clocks is easier than ever!

The American Time Network Clock Setup App for Android users is now available. This new app allows you to configure, provision and activate American Time network clocks (Wi-Fi and PoE) without being tied to a desktop or laptop computer. 

Easy-to-use functionality allows users to:

• Scan clock QR codes on the back of either Wi-Fi or PoE clocks to easily name them
• Create clock configurations with network, time zone, and security settings
• Provision clocks with configuration settings individually or in bulk, saving time
• For inCloud subscribers, you can activate Wi-Fi and PoE clocks on the inCloud portal easily

If you're tasked with selecting a clock system for your organization, the idea might be easy at first: You just buy some clocks and hang them on the walls, right?

But synchronized clock technology offer many options, and the best decision for you depends on the needs of your organization. Here, we'll help determine which type of clock is best for you depending on your industry and the type of building you're responsible for keeping on time.

With Daylight Saving Time (DST) coming up, you may discover that some of your clocks don’t adjust properly after the change happens. As a result, you could end up dealing with employee or staff complaints, classes or shift changes that may be off, and maintenance teams that are bogged down with work orders.

To prepare, here are some quick troubleshooting tips for clocks that don’t adjust correctly for DST.

Daylight saving time changes were formally established in most of the U.S. in 1966, but they continue to be a hassle for maintenance teams, facility managers, IT staff and anyone else in charge of keeping a building running smoothly.

Here are some tips for preparing your clocks for DST and troubleshooting when things don’t go as planned.

Follow the tips below to ensure your clocks and clock systems are ready for the time change.

Routinely check your clocks leading up to Daylight Saving Time

The beginning and end of Daylight Saving Time serve as natural reminders to make sure your facility's clocks are reliably keeping everyone on schedule.

To ensure that a wired system clock is syncing correctly, unplug it, wait at least 10 seconds, and plug it back in. The clock should be receiving synchronization signals from the master controller and display the correct time within 24 hours.

You can take a similar approach to your wireless system battery-operated clocks. Take the battery out, assuring the clock hands come to a complete stop, and reinstall it.

This is a good time to check the life of your batteries, too. If a battery is supplying 1.5 volts or more, it should be good to go. The clock will automatically be on time within 12 hours or sooner.