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Learning to Use the MicroSet Timer
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How this booklet is organized
The Quick Start section will provide very simplified step-by-step instructions for the basic
operations of the MicroSet Watch Timer to help you get started.
After this, a description of each function with more detail about some of the background
issues will be presented. We strongly recommend that you read this section, at least a
little at a time, to understand the full features of the timer.
Following this a Technical Reference section will explain some of the fine points to
consider if you’re interested.
A short summary of each command will be found inside the back cover. A flow chart of
operations will be found on the back cover.
If you have a question about some aspect of MicroSet, first look to the Table of Contents.
You should also feel free to call or email us at Mumford Micro Systems to ask questions
about issues that are not clear to you.
Phone: (805) 687-5116
Email: [email protected]
Features
The MicroSet Watch Timer incorporates many unique features. These include:
• MicroSet is a small, portable, battery-operated unit that takes up little room on the
workbench and can be easily taken in the field.
• It has a resolution of one part per million which means an accuracy of one second per
week. A temperature compensated timebase (TCXO) is available as an option.
• It will display watch rate as “Beats Per Hour”, “Seconds Per Beat”, or seconds of
error per day and is not limited to a programmed set of train times.
• The most common watch rates are automatically recognized.
• A special Running Average feature will display the total accumulated rate of a watch
for as long as you let it run. This produces rate readings that are remarkably
stable and much more accurate.
• A “Blanking Window” feature allows MicroSet to ignore sounds that occur at intervals
other than the expected beat time. This greatly reduces false readings.
• The Beat Error Mode displays beat error to a tenth of a millisecond..
• The Accutron Mode will measure the rate of tuning fork watches as frequency of
oscillation or error per day (optional sensor required).
• MicroSet will produce paper tape charts of watch performance when used with an
inexpensive label printer (printer is optional).
• An optional interface to personal computers is available for more sophisticated
analysis of watch performance, including balance wheel amplitude. This allows
you to see how a watch rate varies over time, and to evaluate trends in these
fluctuations that can help you diagnose problems and understand erratic behavior.
The software will also simulate a traditional paper tape printer on the computer
screen.
• An optional Balance Wheel Amplitude modification can be added that displays
an oscillogram of each tick on the computer screen and calculates the balance
wheel amplitude much more accurately.
• A variety of optional sensors are available for clocks and watches.
