American Time Blog

The Palmdale Aerospace Academy (TPAA) lives and breathes technology.

Founded in 2012, the school serves California's Antelope Valley community -- an area 40 miles north of Los Angeles nicknamed "Aerospace Valley" due to the aerospace industry's long-standing presence. TPAA is a STEM-focused K-12 school with the express intention of supporting the highly technical needs of its neighboring industries.

Ten years later, the school educates over 2500 students. As enrollment grew, so did the challenges. Steel-framed buildings made it difficult for their classroom atomic clocks to synchronize. They had an emergency alert system, but it wasn't integrated with any other systems. Despite being spread across two buildings with a number of outdoor campus facilities, there was no bell system. More students meant more systems to manage.

American Time's EverAlert system changed all that and, in the process, changed their culture.

We get calls every day from folks searching for Synchron Motors, sometimes also known as Hanson motors or movement motors.

Synchron motors can show up in lots of places.  They're frequently encountered in mechanically animated advertising signs, damper controls on HVAC, water heaters and other electrical equipment. 

These motors were also commonly used in synchronized clocks, particularly those tied to legacy wired clock systems from companies like Cincinnati, Faraday, Edwards, Simplex, and American Time.

While many of the complete clock movements using Synchron motors are now obsolete, we are still able to provide the motors themselves in some cases.

But, for those clocks where movements just aren't available anymore, there are still options.

Whether it's for a clock or something else using a Synchron motor, let's take a look at how we can find the parts you need.

Years ago, wired clock systems were the standard, reliable method to keep synchronized time in schools and businesses. Today, those clocks are still manufactured, but there are also wireless options, which utilize more modern technology to transform timekeeping.

So, which solution is best for your school or facilities?

A student races to class as the hallway countdown timer nears zero and the bell rings. An employee meeting starts promptly because everyone is on time. Shift changes are in sync and disruptions are minimized.

Things that seem insignificant to the casual observer – like clocks, bells, and buzzers – have an outsized impact on the productivity of a building or campus. Maintenance teams, building managers, IT directors, teachers and leaders know this.

A single, go-to resource for clocks, bells, buzzers, parts, repairs and upgrades – “standardizing” your clock and bell systems – is an important way to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of your operations.

Let’s look at the key considerations and factors to think about in order to standardize your systems…

High-quality clocks that stay in precise synchronization must have access to two important sources to operate successfully: A power source and a time source.

However, terms like “wireless clocks” and “wired clocks” are commonly used but often misunderstood. In this article, you’ll learn more about these terms and what they mean for synchronized clocks in your building. 

Is your internet router in a place that can be bumped by people in the office? Do you see students jump up to slap that exit sign above the door?

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.

• In schools, clocks, exit signs and other assets are magnets for students goofing around or the errant gym ball.
• On shop floors, debris, sprays and dust can coat your equipment and impact their ability to operate. Lots of moving people and equipment can also easily damage an asset.
• Theft or accidental damage is possible in any building. Guards keep your assets protected, clean, and optimized.

There are even more environments where protective guards can save time, money and headaches. Here’s a look at the types of equipment guards available, why they're important, and the best environments for them.

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.

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?