Intended Use
The purpose of the clock is to decode the DCF radio signal of the caesium atomic clock in Braunschweig
(Germany), to display the time, date, an additional time display and the ambient temperature as well as to
provide an alarm function.
Moreover, the clock time can be projected onto a nearby surface (wall or ceiling).
The device may be used only indoors. Contact with moisture, for example in bathrooms, must be avoided.
The clock is intended only for operation on a battery and via the provided power cord. Do not use any other
power supply. The correct battery type is speci
fi
ed in the “Technical Data” section.
Any use other than that described above is not permitted and can damage the product. In addition, it can lead
to hazards such as short-circuit,
fi
re, etc.
This product complies with the applicable national and European regulations.
All names of companies and products are the trademarks of the respective owners. All rights reserved.
The safety instructions have to be followed without fail.
Safety Instructions
The warranty will be void in the event of damage caused by failure to observe these safety
instructions. We do not assume any liability for any resulting damage.
We shall not accept liability for damage to property or personal injury caused by incorrect
handling or non-compliance with the safety instructions. In such cases, the warranty will
be null and void.
In the operating manual, an exclamation mark inside a triangle indicates important
instructions.
☞
The “hand” symbol indicates special information and advice on operating the device.
• For safety reasons, any unauthorised conversion and/or modi
fi
cation to the product is not permitted.
• Connect the power unit only to a normal wall socket (230 V/50 Hz) of the public mains.
• In order to disconnect the clock completely from the mains, the power cord must be unplugged from the
mains socket.
• Never replace a damaged power cable. If the connecting cable is damaged, the power cable is unusable
and must be disposed of. Do not repair it.
• Do not expose the product to high temperatures, humidity, dripping or sprayed water, strong vibrations or
heavy mechanical loads.
• Never position containers with liquids, such as glasses, buckets, vases or plants, in the direct vicinity of the
product. Liquids may seep into the casing and thus impair the electrical safety of the device. Furthermore,
there is a signi
fi
cant risk of
fi
re or a lethal electric shock! In such an event, isolate the mains socket to which
the product is connected (e.g. switch off the automatic fuse) and unplug the power pack from the mains
socket. Do not use the product afterwards. Take it to a specialized workshop.
• Check the device for damage frequently. If the mains cable or the clock is damaged, do not touch it. First,
switch off the power at the mains socket (e.g. with the corresponding circuit breaker), and then carefully
unplug the power supply unit from the mains socket. Do not use the product afterwards, but take it to a
specialist workshop.
• Devices that operate on the mains voltage must be kept out of the reach of children. For this reason, be
particularly cautious when using the device in the presence of children. There is a life-threatening electric
shock hazard.
• Condensation may form when the product is brought from a cold room into a warm one. Therefore, wait
until it has reached room temperature before using it.
• Do not leave packaging materials unattended. It may become a dangerous plaything for children.
• Also observe any further safety instructions in the individual sections of this operating guide.
• If you have any doubts about the correct operation, or the safety of the product, please consult a specialist.
Inserting/Replacing the batteries
Batteries should be kept out of the reach of children.
Make sure that the polarity is correct when inserting the batteries.
Remove the battery, if you are not going to use the device for a while, to prevent damage
from leaking. Leaking or damaged batteries/rechargeable batteries can cause acid burns
upon contact with the skin. Therefore, you should wear protective gloves when handling
damaged batteries.
Keep them out of the reach of children. Do not leave batteries lying around. There is
the risk that the batteries may be swallowed by children or pets. If they are swallowed,
consult a doctor immediately.
Make sure that batteries are not short-circuited or thrown into a
fi
re. There is a risk of
explosion.
Do not recharge normal, non-rechargeable batteries; there is a risk of explosion! Charge
only rechargeable batteries that are intended for this purpose; use a suitable battery
charger.
The batteries should have the same level of charge and be of the same type. Mixing old
and new batteries or mixing different batteries in the device can lead to battery leakage
and thus to damage to the device.
• Open the battery compartment lid on the bottom of the device.
• Insert two new 1.5V micro-cells (AAA) in the battery compartment, paying attention to the polarity
markings. The correct polarity is indicated in the battery compartment.
• Close the battery compartment.
• The clock now starts searching for the DCF signal and tries to tune in.
• When the display contrast fades or when the display light no longer
fl
ashes, the batteries are
fl
at and need
to be replaced as described above.
• To ensure a long battery life, use only alkaline types.
☞
Rechargeable batteries may be used, but due to the lower voltage output (rechargeable battery
= 1.2V, standard battery = 1.5V) and the lower capacity, the service life is shorter.
Connecting the Power Adapter
Only the enclosed plug-in power unit may be used for the mains connection.
The product is approved for connection only to 230 V/50 Hz alternating voltage. Never try
to operate the device with any other voltage.
Make sure that the connecting cable can not be pinched or damaged by sharp edges
when making the connection.
The mains socket to which the power supply unit is connected must be nearby and easily
accessible, so the device can be quickly isolated from the mains power supply in the
event of a fault.
The power cable is used to supply power to the projection display. This does indeed also function without
the power cable being connected, but only for a few seconds. With long-term projection, the batteries would
otherwise be depleted too quickly. With the power cable connected, it is also possible to project constantly.
• Connect the low-voltage plug of the power supply to the connection DC 3V at the foot of the clock.
• Plug the power supply unit into a wall socket.
DCF Reception
Immediately after the batteries are inserted, the device makes the
fi
rst attempt to receive the DCF signal.
After a successful DCF reception, the clock is automatically set to the current time.
☞
The recognition and interpretation of the DCF signal can take 3-5 minutes. Do not move the
clock, during this time. Do not press any buttons or switches!
Bad reception can occur, for example, by metallised insulated glass, reinforced concrete build-
ings, coated special wallpapers, proximity to electronic devices, or installation in cellars.
If after 10 minutes the clock has not set itself to the current time, change the location of the radio
clock and press the °C/°F / WAVE button for 3 seconds.
This will start a new reception attempt.
The reception attempt for the daily automatic synchronisation with the
1500 km
2000 km
DCF time is done several times a day. One successful reception per
day is suf
fi
cient to keep the deviation to less than one second.
The DCF signal is encoded and transmitted via a DCF transmitter in
Main
fl
ingen (near Frankfurt am Main). Its range is up to 1,500 km and,
under ideal reception conditions, even up to 2,000 km.
Among other things, the DCF signal includes the precise time (theore-
tical deviation of 1 second in a million years!) and the date.
Naturally, this also eliminates the hassle of manually setting summer
and winter time.
Set-up
• Install the clock on a level,
fl
at and stable surface.
• Protect valuable furniture surfaces by using an appropriate underlay; otherwise, it may cause scratches.
DCF Time Adjustment
• After the batteries have been inserted, the clock searches automatically for the DCF signal. This is indi-
cated by the
fl
ashing DCF symbol in the upper right of the display.
• Normally, the synchronisation process is completed within a few minutes.
• As soon as the DCF signal is decoded, the DCF tower icon will appear continuously and the current time
and date are shown in the display.
• In normal operation, the clock makes a reception attempt every hour. If the signal is not received, the DCF
icon disappears.
• To start a manual reception attempt, press the button °C/°F / WAVE for 3 seconds.
☞
If there is interference with the reception of the DCF signal, try to
fi
nd a new location and/or leave
the clock near a window overnight.
At night the reception is better, so the clock is normally synchronized the next morning.
The “S” indicator under the DCF symbol in the display is the symbol indicating summertime.
Setting the Time Manually
If the DCF signal cannot be received (DCF symbol has disappeared), the time must be set manually.
☞
If no keystroke is performed for more than 30 seconds while setting the time, the clock exits the
manual setting mode and returns to the previous screen.
• Press and hold the MODE button for 3 seconds. The year indicator blinks.
• Set the year using the
▼
/
▲
buttons.
• Press the MODE button again. The month display blinks.
• Set the month using the
▼
/
▲
buttons.
• Press the MODE button again and now set the date, the hours and the minutes as described above.
• Press the MODE button again to save the setting.
O P E R A T I N G I N S T R U C T I O N S www.conrad.com
Slim DCF Projection Clock
Item no. 39 88 56
Version 03/13
