Imagine you had the chance to go the next five years without a dentist appointment, your annual performance review, or a trip to the DMV. A lot of people would jump at that opportunity.
It’s not often that you can wipe annoying obligations off your calendar in one fell swoop, but once in a while, you’re faced with the opportunity to clear your schedule and make more time for the things you really want to do.
For instance, you probably have better things to do than to change out the batteries in the potentially hundreds of wall clocks in your facility, but one forward-looking decision can pay long-term dividends. Making sure each battery-powered clock in your facility is outfitted with a clock battery pack will take an item off your perpetual to-do list while ensuring your building stays on schedule for years to come.
Here's what you need to know about clock battery packs.
The Convenience and Drawback of Battery Power
When deciding between wired clocks and battery-powered clocks, those who choose the latter option do so for ease of use. Battery-powered clocks can be installed straight out of the box and connect wirelessly to a synchronized network.
With battery-powered clocks, there’s no need to worry about wiring your devices to a power source. They also provide greater flexibility since they can be easily moved from one room to another. In addition, users can rest assured battery-powered clocks will continue to run during power outages.
Their drawback is the need to replace batteries — usually once per year if a clock uses a single battery. Supplemental battery packs that hold six batteries help to mitigate this obligation, giving you five years before they need to be replaced.
Smart Battery Use Saves Time and Money
Replacing a clock’s batteries may be a simple task in itself, but multiply the few minutes the job takes by the number of clocks in your facility, and you’re talking about a project that could take one staff member days depending on how many clocks you’re working with.. And if you have to replace the batteries every year, it's a big waste of time and money.
The clock battery packs, however, would reduce the amount of time spent replacing batteries simply because you don't need to do it as often. And it would save money because you don't need to pay for battery replacements every year. Instead, you can focus on other projects around your facility.
When to Switch The Batteries and What Kind to Use
If you don’t know the last time your clocks got new batteries, there are some signs to look for in determining whether a clock is losing power. Two major signs include:
- If one of the hands is ticking in place and not around the clock as it should.
- If the clock is connected to a synchronized network but doesn't adjust to the correct time.
Once you know you need new batteries, make sure you’re using the right ones. Common batteries come in both alkaline and lithium varieties. Alkaline is the most common, but lithium lasts longer and is more reliable.
When changing the batteries, don’t mix battery types. Doing so can reduce performance and damage your clocks through leaks or ruptures. Chemical reactions caused by mixing battery types mean user injury is another danger.
Also, make sure all the batteries are new, with the same expiration date. One bad battery can spoil the whole batch because all the batteries will perform only as well as the weakest of the bunch. Don’t mix brands, either.
American Time’s Battery Booster Pack
American Time provides a newly redesigned Battery Booster Pack that mounts on the back of a clock, providing five years of uninterrupted service. The Battery Booster Pack comes with American Time’s wireless and Wi-Fi clock models and is optional for standalone clocks that don’t connect to a synchronized time system.
Once the initial batteries in the pack go bad, you can either replace the six AA batteries in the pack yourself or order a whole new pack from American Time. American Time recommends Energizer Lithium Ion batteries for SiteSync IQ® battery clocks and alkaline batteries for everything else. This will achieve the best possible battery life.
