Wireless Digital Refrigerator

School Clocks – The Advantages of School Clock Systems

In the recent past, school clocks or school clock systems have been utilized for one thing only: telling time.Typically, a master clock will provide the time, either through impulses or sending coded data to all secondary clocks in the system.While this form of time distribution is still widely used, schools are beginning to learn how much more they can accomplish with an advanced clock system; one that does more than just provide a time display throughout classrooms and hallways.

Today's advanced school clock systems are equipped with features that help a school automate daily operations and increase the efficiency of the building.  These features can streamline the flow of work, cut energy costs, and all the while provide an accurate time source for the faculty and students.However, not all clock systems have these features; only certain manufacturers produce school clocks with these capabilities.By choosing a manufacturer that has engineered an advanced system as the one described above, a school has the opportunity to utilize the following features:

1. Controlling Bells

These advanced clock systems have the ability to interface with a schools existing bell system.The master clock simply controls the bell system through relays and switches, sounding the bells at a pre-determined schedule by the user. With this feature, clocks will no longer display a time five or ten minutes earlier than the sound of the bell.When the bells and the clocks are completely synchronized to the same, accurate time, discrepancies of when students should and should not be dismissed are eliminated.

2. Controlling Electrical Appliances

The interfacing capability of master clocks doesn't end at controlling the bells.An advanced school clock system can also control appliances such as refrigeration units, lights, heating & air conditioning, and much more.Similar to its interaction with the bell system, the master clock connects to these appliances through relays and switches, in which the user can also set multiple schedules to designate the time in which the appliances will turn on or off.By automating the control of a school's air conditioner or lighting system, these various appliances begin to run at a more efficient state, causing the school to consume less energy.

3. Digital Clocks with Message Display

With the advancement in development of school clock systems, digital school clocks no longer display just time.With these advanced school clock systems, digital school clocks have the ability to switch from their normal time display to perform a message display in the event of an emergency.For example, during a fire drill or school lockdown, digital school clocks can be programmed to display the words "fire" or "911", extending the effectiveness of the mass notification throughout the building.With functions like these, a school can count on improving the flow of drills and lockdowns.

When implementing an advanced clock system that can perform many other responsibilities other than just tell the time, schools and facilities alike will experience many improvements in efficiency and work flow.  Having a school clock system that can control the bells or turn the lights off at the end of the day can cut costs in energy consumption, as well as streamline the work flow for maintenance workers and the school's faculty and students.

While there are many benefits to these advanced clock systems, it is still important that the right manufacturer is chosen.  There are manufacturers that offer multi-feature master clock systems, however not every manufacturer produces a versatile and robust system as the one mentioned in this article.  If your school is looking obtain the benefits of upgrading to an advanced school clock system, be sure to choose the right manufacturer with the best features for your application.

About the Author

Donald Trey works in the clock system industry and contributes articles on school clocks, master clocks and wireless clocks

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