Choosing the Right Clock for Your Application: A 50-Year Guide to Precision
Whether you are managing a high-stakes control room or a premier indoor sports club, the clock on the wall is more than a timepiece, it is a functional tool that dictates the flow of your operation. After five decades of engineering, we know that “one size fits all” doesn’t exist in the world of professional timing.
1. Identify Your Viewing Distance
Selecting an appropriate size is crucial when choosing a clock for your space. To assist you, we provide a recommended viewing distance for every clock as listed in the chart below. We recommend measuring your area to ensure you select the digital clock size that best suits the space.
2. Consider a Synchronisation Method
While our clocks operate effectively as standalone devices, we recommend a synchronised solution for applications where time accuracy is paramount or where you wish to eliminate any need for manual time adjustments.
Most synchronised clock systems utilize NTP (Network Time Protocol). NTP synchronisation enables various client devices, such as Wharton digital clocks, to synchronise their time with an NTP server. Typically, this server receives its highly accurate time signal from a GPS receiver. This setup ensures that all clocks connected to the network display the identical, highly precise time, sourced from the NTP server.
While most systems make use of an onsite NTP server with GPS receiver as described above, it is also possible to synchronise any of our network clocks with a public NTP server provided it has a static IP address.
NTP
NTP and SNTP are standard network protocols used for synchronising devices over a network or the internet. Most modern electrical devices that automatically show the correct time obtain this information from an NTP server. This might be a local NTP server in some cases or, more commonly with consumer devices, it will be an online NTP server. The NTP server will itself have an extremely accurate time source so that it can send the correct time information to other devices on request.
Some common examples of devices that tend to be synchronised via NTP would be phones, computers, CCTV systems, access control systems and of course clocks. The time sent by the NTP server will always be Universal Time (UTC) and any local time offsets that might be required for the specific timezone would be calculated by the device. Any device being synchronised in this way is typically referred to as an NTP client.
Internal NTP Servers
An internal NTP server could be a dedicated hardware device or even an existing server set up to act as an NTP server. Having your own internal NTP server will give you complete control in ensuring that your organisation has a reliable time source available at all times for any of your NTP clients. It will also significantly reduce any external traffic or even eliminate it completely assuming it has its own time source such as a GPS receiver, a highly accurate source of time regardless of global location.
External NTP Servers
This could be used to describe any remote NTP servers that are available for public use online such as those from the NTP Pool Project in the UK or NIST in the US. Typically there would either be a direct IP address available or a domain name that in some cases will automatically direct any requests to one of a number of NTP servers. It’s worth noting however that many NTP clients (including any Wharton clocks) can only use a specific IP address and not a domain name.
External NTP servers are useful, readily available services that can be used with no additional hardware expense although there are a number of downsides to using this method. Addresses can go down for maintenance or without any warning at all due to service disruptions. A fixed NTP server IP address might even be changed entirely leaving your devices unsynchronised until this is spotted.
3. Determine if a Redundant System is Needed
Many NTP-compatible devices, including Wharton’s network Digital Clocks and World Timezone Clocks, are designed to look up multiple NTP server IP addresses for time synchronisation.
Our recommended solution for maximum control and a built-in fail-safe is to install two internal NTP servers. This fully redundant system ensures continued synchronisation even if one server experiences an issue.
It is also possible to configure your system to use a combination of internal and external NTP server IP addresses if preferred.
4. Choose What Functionality is Required
Do you require a display for time, date, temperature, or all three? Are you interested in a count-up or countdown timer? Wharton Electronics provides solutions for all your requirements, including numerous options for multi-timezone displays.
If you’re looking for a specific product that you can’t find on our website, please contact us. We are always happy to offer suggestions or may even be able to design a unique, custom product tailored to your exact needs should it be required.
5. Review your Environment and Mounting Options
We offer a wide selection of case and mounting types to meet your specific requirements, including wall-mounted, flush-mounted, or ceiling-suspended options. There are also options available for indoor, outdoor, or special environments such as food manufacturing where clocks tend to be washed down and glass is not permitted. We also have a complete range of Stainless Steel products designed for use in pharmaceutical and surgical environments.
Ready to finalize your specs?
Contact Wharton Electronics today. Our engineers have been keeping the world on time since 1975.
📧 sales@wharton.uk | 🌐 www.wharton.co.uk