How to Use an Analog Alarm Clock

-And why you should use one!

In the modern digital world, sometimes there is nothing like a classic. An analog alarm clock may seem like a throwback, but this standby has many great benefits. It won’t fail you during a power outage, you don’t have to worry about pesky blue light, and they are quite reliable. That is, once you learn how to use it correctly. But I promise you, it isn’t that hard!

If you would like to skip directly ahead to how to use your alarm clock, click here.

 

What Is An Analog Alarm Clock?

Mechanical alarm clocks date back to the fifteenth century. The fact that they are still used today is a testament to their advantages.

An analog alarm clock is a bedside clock with a classic clock face and a set of hands. Usually, three of the hands are used to tell the time while the fourth hand is used to specify the time the alarm will go off. Traditional analog alarm clocks had two metal bells mounted on the top with a hammer between them. The hammer would strike the bells, making the alarm sound.

Our alarm clocks replace the abrasive metal bell sound with a gentle beep, making for a smoother transition from asleep to awake. Modern versions typically house the sound feature within the case. Also inside the clock are the mechanical workings.

Mechanical Workings, Is That How an Analog Clock Works?

Yes! These mechanical workings housed inside the analog clock consist of a series of gears and a movement. The gears are typically powered by a battery but can also rely on an electrical outlet. The gears power the hands of the clock and are regulated by an oscillating wheel. This is called the clock’s movement.

While gears and wheels may lead you to believe that analog clocks produce an annoying ticking, that is certainly not the case! Our alarm clocks are silent thanks to our quartz movement.

The movement is what makes the alarm clock “tick”. However, not all of today's clocks “tick”.
Some clocks “sweep” and even those that do tick often do so silently. Our quartz movement is silent and is powered by a battery. Aside from being blissfully silent, quartz movements also have the following benefits:

• Battery-powered: you don’t have to wind them for them to continue telling the time
• Accuracy: these movements are some of the most accurate
• Low maintenance: with fewer parts to take care of and replace, quartz movements have a long lifespan and require minimal maintenance
• Affordable: quartz movements, compared to other movement types, are relatively straightforward to produce, making them more affordable

Other movement types include mechanical and automatic. Automatic movements use the energy from the wearer (typically seen in wristwatches) to drive the timepiece's inner workings. Mechanical movements require manual winding. 

The alternative to analog alarm clocks is digital alarm clocks. Digital alarm clocks display the time digitally instead of using a pointer and a clock face. They can be simple, and only have a time display along with an alarm feature, or more complicated, including radio and other offerings. 

Why Choose Analog?

There are a few reasons why you may want to resort to the classic analog alarm clock instead of digital.

#1 Lights Out

Digital clocks tend to emit light. This light can be dim or bright. Regardless, if you like sleeping in a dark room the glow of the time from a digital alarm clock may disturb your slumber. If you happen to wake up during the night, the light from your digital bedside clock can be an unwelcome intrusion. Perhaps even making it more difficult to fall back asleep.

Another aspect of a digital alarm clock that can negatively affect your sleep is blue light emission. Blue light has quickly become a popular health topic. That is because we now know that this wavelength disrupts our natural sleep cycle by interrupting melatonin production.

Our analog alarm clocks have the best of both worlds. They don’t emit light, blue or otherwise, allowing you to peacefully fall (and stay) asleep. But, should you want to know the time our clock's night light feature gently illuminates the clock face with the push of a button.

# 2 You Can Count On Analog

Analog alarm clocks are known for their reliability. Because they don’t need to be plugged into an electrical circuit these clocks won’t fail to keep time even in the case of a power outage. Fortunately, or maybe, unfortunately, your alarm won’t fail to go off either!

Many analog alarm clocks use dependable and long-lasting batteries. Replace them whenever they run out and your clock will keep on ticking, even during a power outage.

# 3 EMF Radiation

Another consideration with digital clocks (like your cellphone!) is the fact that they may give off EMF radiation. Scientists are just starting to learn more about these low levels of radiation, emitted by digital devices like cell phones and computers, but they believe they may be harmful.

These invisible energy waves can disrupt your sleep. Additionally, some experts believe there may be a link between EMF waves and cancer. To avoid negative outcomes for your sleep, mood, mental, and physical health, it is better just to leave digital devices out of the bedroom.

Thankfully, analog clocks haven’t been found to emit any dangerous waves thanks to their mechanical inner workings.

Analog clocks make a great and healthier alternative to digital alarm clocks!

 

How To Use Your Analog Alarm Clock

What Your Alarm Clock Includes

• Silent Movement
• Snooze Button
• Push Button Light
• 1AA (1.5V) Battery

Set the Time

First, you will want to insert the battery by removing the battery cover on the back. Make sure the polarity is correct, the polarity directions are displayed within the compartment.

On the back of the clock, you will find two knobs. A time-set knob and an alarm-set knob. The alarm-set knob features a small bell image above it. First, set the time. Turn the knob until the hour and minute hands on the clock face display the correct time.

Set the Alarm

Next, set the alarm. You will want to turn the alarm-set knob until the fourth stationary hand on the clock face shows the time at which you want your alarm to sound. Slide the ‘Alarm ON/OFF switch’ to ‘ON’ to activate the alarm. When the alarm sounds, slide the ‘ON/OFF switch’ to ‘OFF’ to deactivate it.

Snooze and Light Feature

You can snooze your alarm by pressing the button on the top of the clock. This button will also activate the light for as long as it is pressed. The alarm will “snooze” for five minutes. It will continue to go off every five minutes until you switch the alarm button to “OFF”.

General Maintenance

Your clock is easy to take care of. Simply wipe the clock with a soft dry cloth and replace the batteries every 9-12 months or when the clock stops!