4M Green Science Potato Clock Manual - Page 7
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D. S E T T I N G
1 .
Setting the clock
When all the metal plates are first inserted into the potatoes, the LED
screen will light up and will show a static display of " 12 :0 0 " .
Press A once, the clock will start working. You will see the two dots in the
middle start flashing.
Press B twice to obtain the set month mode, then press A to adjust to the right m onth. Press B to confirm and the
display will switch to the set day mode.
Press A to adjust to the right day. Press B to confirm and switch to the set hour m ode.
Press A to adjust to the right hour. Press B to confirm and switch to the set m inute mode.
Press A to adjust to the right minute and press B to confirm.
After the m inute is confirmed, press A once. The set time will be displayed.
2 .
Viewing the clock
By default, the clock display shows the current tim e.
To view the Date: Press A once. The clock display will resume showing the current tim e after 2 seconds.
To view the seconds, press A twice. To resume the current tim e, press A ag ain .
E . T R O U B L E S H O O T I N G
If your potato clock produces a weak display, try one of the following:
1 . Give it tim e, the signal is sometimes weak a t the beginning, but gets stronger after a short while.
2. Exam ine the metal plates for rust (oxidization). Use sand paper to remove any rust.
3. Try putting the metal plates closer together (but not touching each other). Conduction will be better if the distance
between the plates is shorter.
4 . If there is no reaction whatsoever, check all the connection points. M ake sure tha t the connection points are
correctly and firmly placed. A lso, check if the polarities are correct - make sure th a t the negative (black wires) and
positive (red wires) terminals are connected properly.
5. Check if the metal plates/wires are touching each other, th is causes short circuits.
F. H O W I T W O R K S
The metal strips and potatoes make a simple battery that creates the electricity to operate the clock. Eac h potato
works as a device called a electrochemical cell. It converts the chemical energy stored in the metal strips into
electrical energy. Two potatoes are needed to make electricity strong enough to run the clock.
A cell works because of the chemical properties of the m etals inside (in th is case the copper and zinc). The different
properties cause tiny particles charged with electricity (called ions) to move between the tw o strips of m etal. This
flow is an electric current. The potato contains the particles tha t allow the current to flow, but it stops the metals
touching. Electric current also flows along the wires between the zinc and copper strips and the clock. This current
makes the clock work.
T H E
C L O C K