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How many LCD clocks in your kitchen?

edwardh1 | Posted in General Discussion on June 29, 2009 02:44am

RANT !!! Appliance manufacturers dont get it – they all put a clock on the device. I wonder when the sink faucet will have a clock? If we are smart enough to make the things- how about a switch to turn the clock off. My kitchen is lit up at night!!! Grrrrrrrrr.

Free market is not working here- probably a case where our government could help- if there is a clock- have a way to turn it off.


Edited 6/29/2009 7:45 am ET by edwardh1

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  1. Piffin | Jun 29, 2009 02:53pm | #1

    Man o Man, I know what you mean!

    Those darn stars shine all nite long too, twinkling and getting me so upset I can't sleep.

     

     

    Welcome to the
    Taunton University of
    Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
     where ...
    Excellence is its own reward!

  2. TomW | Jun 29, 2009 02:56pm | #2

    Any appliance in my kitchen that has a clock has a use for it, such as a timer, or time delayed start.

    1. Dave45 | Jun 29, 2009 04:07pm | #4

      Those functions could still be available even if the time display were off. My kitchen has three digital clocks (oven, microwave, and coffee pot) and it would be great if it were possible to turn off two of the time displays. Setting all three twice a year, or after a power outage, gets to be a real hassle.Another light I could do without is the power on light on my new Samsung flat screen monitor. It's a sky blue light that flashes once per second when the monitor is in standby. I have to get up at least a couple of times a week because I didn't turn the monitor off before I hit the sheets.

  3. User avater
    Jeff_Clarke | Jun 29, 2009 03:40pm | #3

    There's a very simple way to deal with this:   

    View Image

    Jeff ;o)

  4. smslaw | Jun 29, 2009 04:32pm | #5

    I read recently that the average microwave uses more power per year keeping the clock and whatever else is always lit up than it does cooking stuff.

    1. junkhound | Jun 29, 2009 10:46pm | #11

      average microwave uses more power per year keeping the clock and whatever else is always lit up than it does cooking stuff

      BTW, most of my clocks at home run on AA batteries, AFTER the flashlight goes dim they last another 6 months running a clock. Saves about $5 year over an electric clock, I'm that cheap.  On-all-of-the-time standby on devices is a big energy waster, no disagreement there!

      Objectively looking at the statement (repeated in the CA state legislature by the way); standby microwave current pulls about 3.5 watts or close to 30 kW-hrs a year., say $3.

      1.2 kW for 25 hours is the same annual consumption.

      60*25/365 = 4.1 minutes per day.  We use a microwave at least 15 min per day, probably 45 min on a winter weekend.

      Thus the conjecture "more power per year....than .. cooking stuff" is political hyperbole.  Not at all to say it is not still a big waste.

      1. User avater
        IMERC | Jun 29, 2009 10:56pm | #12

        self winding analog watch....

        clock on the computer...

        no wall clocks...

        no appliance clocks...

        no alarm clock... got a wind up for just in case...

          

        Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

        WOW!!! What a Ride!

        Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

         

        "Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"

  5. gfretwell | Jun 29, 2009 07:50pm | #6

    I have exactly ONE, the coffee maker and that one gets used to time the coffee.
    I suppose some day I will have to buy a new oven but when I do I am taking the control panel from my old one with me to be sure I can swap out that membrane switch,LED, micro chip lightning target that comes on all new ones.

  6. WayneL5 | Jun 29, 2009 08:26pm | #7

    Wow, I'm not the only one annoyed.  Too many is the answer.  One time I counted for daylight saving time that I had 11 timepieces to change if I changed them all.  I agree that it's annoying that everything seems to come with a clock nowadays.

    1. fingersandtoes | Jun 30, 2009 05:51am | #18

      "I had 11 timepieces to change if I changed them all." 

      It's not just the number. First you have to find some kid who knows how to change the d*mn things

  7. User avater
    IMERC | Jun 29, 2009 08:31pm | #8

    zero digital displays...

    the ones that use to be are no more...

     

    Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

    WOW!!! What a Ride!


    Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

     

    "Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"

  8. oldbeachbum | Jun 29, 2009 09:53pm | #9

    Kitchen..5

    rest of the house...too many

    those little LEDs that aren't clocks.....waaaaay too many

     

    I like it as dark as possible when I sleep and so far there are none of those annoying yard lights nearby...(what good are they?  to show your junk to anyone going by?  you afraid of the dark?), anyway....

    even the smoke alarms light up the night, satellite receiver, 'puter modem.....DW thinks I'm nuts because I have little cut out electrical tape pieces on so many....it's like a planetarium you can't turn off

    OK, I'm nuts....shrug

     

    I'm not flippin' you off.........just counting cubits

  9. User avater
    Luka | Jun 29, 2009 10:28pm | #10

    None.

    Yet somehow, the fridge keeps things cold. The coffee/tea gets made. The food gets cooked...

    ..

    you never know how deep a puddle is from the top......You are always welcome at Quittintime

  10. ted | Jun 29, 2009 10:59pm | #13

    It's become quite the energy issue. So many electronic devices these days that stay plugged in year-round. Might not seem like much but when taken in aggregate can amount to a substantial energy drain. Just think of all the electronics that remain on standby all the time:
    computer, printer, fax, modem, router, telephone, stove and microwave (with digital readout), dvd player, cable box, television, thermostat, etc., etc.
    At my work in order to pinch pennies the bosses have asked everyone to turn off those items that usually remain on standby throughout the day unless they are being used.

    1. junkhound | Jun 29, 2009 11:35pm | #14

      Just recently put a kW-hr meter on all the biggies (well, water heater, heat pump and ac, stove, fridge)

      Usually turn off the water heater when we will be gone a week or more.  Have a box on WH with 4" extra insulation, thermal siphos, etc.  Went away for a week recently and left WH on.  Takes about 80 cents per week to keep the water hot with no flow. 

      Heck, $40 is over 3 cases of beer a year, now if I could just talk DW into just doing without hot water???  

      1. ted | Jun 30, 2009 03:17am | #16

        Heck with your skills you ought to be able to throw something together with poly, garden hose and a few sticks and put together a solar water heater.

  11. PedroTheMule | Jun 30, 2009 01:26am | #15

    Hi edwardh1,

    RANT !!! Appliance manufacturers dont get it - they all put a clock on the device. I wonder when the sink faucet will have a clock? If we are smart enough to make the things- how about a switch to turn the clock off. My kitchen is lit up at night!!! Grrrrrrrrr.

    My BEEF !!! - Got an awesome stove from a manufacturer that's been around....oh about 100 years.....fantastic gas unit with 5 burner range and convection oven......now you'd think they could figure out how to put a little snap panel on it that would allow you to put a backup battery in it so you wouldn't have to reset it everytime the power flickers or even enough room at the back on the floor where you could plug it into a UPS or something.....anything......geeeeeeezzzzzz

    Even better with all the simple little smart chips on the market would be an auto dimming clock that works on ambient lighting and a switch to turn it off altogether and the timer would show up when you turned the timer on.

    Pedro the Mule - Let's see, that would cost about .17 cents in production and I'd pay 'em $10 more for that feature

  12. JTC1 | Jun 30, 2009 04:41am | #17

    Appliance clocks in kitchen = 3.

    Stove, microwave, under cabinet mounted CD player & radio.

    8 day, Regulator wall clock circa 1860 --- no LCD but has an analog face which baffles most kids.........

    Jim

    Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.
    1. edwardh1 | Jun 30, 2009 05:12pm | #19

      the techno police will be by to confiscate the analog clock, as they are low tech and not in keeping with helping the economy, as they last far too long.

      1. brownbagg | Jun 30, 2009 05:15pm | #20

        bad thing, if power goes out and clock blinking, oven wont work till you reset the clock

      2. JTC1 | Jun 30, 2009 09:47pm | #21

        >>as they last far too long.<<

        You are probably right......

        Wunner where my three other clocks in the kitchen will be in 150 years......

        Not much to wunner about there.

        JimNever underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.

        1. barmil | Jul 01, 2009 04:32am | #22

          Wow! This is absolutely one of the best subjects I've read in a while. What about the fact that when you have to reset the various kitchen clocks, they never show the same time afterward. Stove shows 5:10, microwave shows 5:11, phone shows 5:09, radio shows 5:12, and analog wall clock shows 4:46, since the second hand is bent and gets delayed a bit every time it passes over the minute hand. I like the electrical tape idea.

          1. brownbagg | Jul 01, 2009 04:55am | #23

            for xmas party at work, my boss wife gave me this clock radio , it is downright ugly that put out bad sound. It looks like a small cube. bigger than the weather radio cube. But it has a clock that set itself to some type of radio wave. It been nine years, I still have that clock.Its the best darn * sniff sniff* xmas present I ever got..the clock is great.

          2. barmil | Jul 01, 2009 05:09am | #24

            Brownbagg,

            Good post. The technology for accessing the atomic clock is so simple that I can't understand why all LCD clocks don't use it, except that it costs a few cents more for the manufacturer. Multiplied by millions, I can see why $1,400 dual fuel, five burner, convection oven ranges don't have them -- saves a few bucks. How come my cell phone knows when I've entered a new time zone, but my immobile microwave can't set its own time?

          3. MissD | Jul 01, 2009 06:19am | #25

            For the last few years, I unplug my coffee maker when I'm finished with my last cup of coffee.  I do unplug my Microwave as it's not used daily - though I hate resetting it.  I guess I'm lazy.  When I think of it I turn off my computer modem, easy, but I forget sometimes.  I've heard about unplugging the computer, if it's on an electrical strip - afraid of that.  Can't reach the back of the stove to unplug it.  Can I turn off the electrical strip to turn off the TV, DVR, DVD, etc?  Afraid of this also.

            I know I'm not saving a lot of money, though it makes me feel a bit greener.  No, not the Jolly Green Giant. 

            Have 3 clocks that run on batteries.  I do have an atomic bedroom clock.  I love it.  As gifts I gave my two sons the same clock and they like it as much as I do.  Music sound is not perfect, but it doesn't have to be reset twice a year - talk about lazy!

             

             

            Edited 6/30/2009 11:21 pm ET by MissD

          4. brownbagg | Jul 01, 2009 04:42pm | #28

            I got to where I leavve all the liight on at night, leave the doors open with the a/c on, turn on six tv on the same channel and I,m the only one home.Just tired of been green, tired of hearing green, tired of hearing about polar bears. dont care about polar bears, they mean, will eat you up.

            Edited 7/1/2009 9:43 am by brownbagg

          5. barmil | Jul 03, 2009 05:22am | #29

            You might be a redneck if you do the following and misspell most of the words:

            I got to where I leavve all the liight on at night, leave the doors open with the a/c on, turn on six tv on the same channel and I,m the only one home.

          6. brownbagg | Jul 03, 2009 05:33am | #30

            but I do have a nice atomic clock

  13. Scott | Jul 01, 2009 08:23am | #26

    >>>If we are smart enough to make the things- how about a switch to turn the clock off

    Now that idea is GOLD!!!! I've yet to buy an appliance that had a simple option to disable the clock. We've got one or two clocks that we watch...the others can take a hike.....Take that to the bank....

    Scott.

  14. jimAKAblue | Jul 01, 2009 08:30am | #27

    That used to bug me too. I never could get a dark room at night anywere in my house.

    One time, I counted all the clocks I had to reset because of a power outage. It was ridiculous.

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