MicroSet Accessories

Standard Optical Sensor
This is the standard optical sensor that's included with each MicroSet clock timer. Extra sensors are available if you need them. Includes a 6 foot cable.
$35 each

Premium Optical Sensor
This optical sensor is faster and more accurate than the standard sensor, for critical applications. It has a rise time faster than 100 nanoseconds and uses a Schmitt trigger driver to reduce hysteresis and eliminate jitter when a pendulum is moving very slowly. It will measure the minute hand or a slow Atmos pendulum without error. Includes a 6 foot cable.
$50 each

Premium Right-Angle Optical Sensor
This optical sensor uses the same improved features of the previous sensor, but the cable exits at a right angle, which is parallel to the direction of swing of the pendulum. This makes it easier to close the door of the clock case without interfering with the cable. Includes a 6 foot cable.
$50 each

Standard Acoustic Sensor
This is the standard acoustic sensor that's included with each MicroSet clock timer. Extra sensors are available if you need them. Includes a 6 foot cable.
$25 each

Clamping Optical Sensor
This optical sensor is attached to a clamp and an articulated arm so you can easily measure pendulum clocks in their cases, on the wall, or in a customer's house. It's also available without the sensor if you prefer to use your own. Includes a 6 foot cable.
$75 with sensor, $50 without sensor

Magnetic Sensor
This sensor is included with the Rate Finder option and is used to monitor the motion of the minute hand. It also works in the standard MicroSet input jack to trigger the timer when a magnet comes near, and makes an excellent sensor for Atmos or 400-day clocks. Includes two really tiny neodymium magnets (shown) and a 6 foot cable.
$35 each

Flat Disk Acoustic Sensor
This acoustic sensor works like the one included with MicroSet, but it has no alligator clip. It's a simple, thin, flat disk. It's more sensitive than the clip-on type, and you can usually just slip it in some crevice of the clock case or movement. You can also lay a pocket watch on it easily (see the Watch Sensor listed below). Includes a 6 foot cable.
$40 each

Simple Watch Sensor
This acoustic sensor is extremely sensitive and will trigger on small mechanical wrist watches. It consists of a plastic box with a brass contact point in the center. Simply lay the pocket watch or wrist watch on this metal point to measure the watch.
$50 each

Clamping Watch Sensor
This acoustic sensor is extremely sensitive and will trigger on small mechanical wrist watches. A sliding stop is spring loaded and will hold the watch against the sensing element. You can set this holder down in any of six positions to measure the watch. A new design in 2007 incorporates signal processing circuitry to get much more accurate results with quiet Swiss movements.
$195 each

Inductive Sensor for Accutron and Quartz Watches
This sensor is used to measure electronic watches. It will work with MicroSet 1, 2, or 3 to measure quartz watches or clocks. It can be used with MicroSet 3 to measure Accutron watches. Just set the watch over the center of the plastic box.
$40 each

Laser Optical Sensor
This optical sensor uses a laser beam to measure the clock. The control box plugs into the standard Sensor In jack. The laser is inside the control box. The detector plugs into a jack on the control box, or into an extension cord that plugs into the control box. Power for the laser is derived from the MicroSet timer. The laser beam is arranged to bounce off of some reflecting part of the clock (like a shiny pendulum bob), or be blocked by some moving part of the clock. A toggle switch allows you to select whether the timer triggers on a burst of light or on an interruption in the light. A 1/4-20 female thread in the bottom of the control box allows you to mount it to a small table-top photographic tripod (not included).
$150 each

Hairspring Sensor
This setup allows you to vibrate hairsprings with MicroSet. Included are a small clear plastic platform, a special optical sensor, and a micro clip with which to grab the hairspring. You will have to supply a "3rd hand" to hold the micro clip (or hold the spring with tweezers) and a light source which will cast a shadow from the hairspring wheel spoke onto the optical sensor.
To read about this sensor, CLICK HERE.
$50 each

Temperature Sensor
This sensor allows you to measure the temperature of the clock or watch while you gather rate readings. Installation requires changes to the timer, to add a new jack for the sensor. Actual use requires Windows Interface Software version 2.1 or 3.1 which can plot temperature and rate simultaneously and show you how the timepiece responds to changes in temperature.
To read about this sensor, CLICK HERE.
$50 each

Atmospheric Sensor
This sensor allows you to measure the barometric pressure, temperature, and humidity while you gather rate readings. Installation requires changes to the timer (to add a new jack for the sensor). Actual use requires the Windows Interface Software, which can plot the sensor readings and rate simultaneously and show you how the timepiece responds to changes in the environment.
To read about this sensor, CLICK HERE.
$225 each

Wireless Interface
You can use a "Bluetooth to serial adaptor" to broadcast the serial output from MicroSet to a computer in another room without wires. This is used when the clocks you wish to measure are not close to the computer you want to use. You should use Bluetooth class 1 protocol with a rated maximum range of around 300 feet. We have confirmed that it works reliably for at least 100 feet through walls in our building. We used a Lemos serial to Bluetooth adapter that plugs into MicroSet, and a Linksys USB to Bluetooth receiver that plugs into the computer. Other brands are available. The cost of these components is about $150 and you can order them from mail order houses. You will need an adapter cable that goes from MicroSet to the Lemos adapter, available from us for $15.

USB to serial converter
The Windows Interface Software requires an RS-232 serial port on your computer. Some new computers only come with USB ports. We are currently stocking an FTDI USB to serial converter if your Windows computer does not have a COM port to use with MicroSet.
$20 each

Internal TCXO timebase
This circuit provides MicroSet with an accurate Temperature Compensated Crystal Oscillator (TCXO) for all measurements and operations. It replaces the standard quartz oscillator and makes all measurements accurate to the resolution of the display (one part per million) over a temperature range of 40 degrees to 120 degrees Farenheit. We have tested it in this range because it covers the temperaturesat which you will be using MicroSet. However, the timebase may achieve this accuracy over an even wider temperature range. The manufacturer's specification is +/- 2.5 ppm from -30 to 75 degrees Centigrade. The TCXO timebase allows you to make reliable measurements of precision timepieces and especially to analyze the effect of temperature on them. May be installed in any current MicroSet 2 or MicroSet 3. Timer must be returned for installation.
$125 each.

GPS Reference Receiver
This GPS receiver with built-in MicroSet interface allows you to measure absolute drift in precision clocks over weeks or months at a time. An optical detector for a seconds beating clock plugs into a jack on the reciever and a microprocessor compares the clock beat with a precision seconds pulse from the GPS satellites. LEDs indicate which signal is active at any instant. MicroSet then measures the OFFSET of the clock beat from the reference pulse. New readings are taken every ten seconds and are accurate to a few microseconds over any interval of time. This allows you to measure temperaure, barometric pressure, and gravitational effects on precision pendulums with confidence. The Windows Interface software version 2 and 3 have commands to manage the offset data and convert it to rate. A special Windows program is included that allows you to monitor the performance of the GPS receiver and evaluate reception quality. A toggle switch allows you to feed the precison GPS seconds directly to MicroSet for calibration of the timer itself. For more details, CLICK HERE.
To see a GPS interface in action, CLICK HERE.
Includes GPS antenna and AC adaptor. Allow two weeks for assembly.
$195 each.