Maximum Cronus User Manual

CRONUS

INSTALLATION & OPERATION

INSTRUCTIONS

INSTALLATION

Feed the AC adapters’ cord through the wall to where the clock is going to be located. Connect the wires
from the AC adapter to the clock. The polarity of the wires does not matter. (Do NOT adjust the nuts that
are already on the clock).

Mount the clock directly over the cable feed-thru-hole to avoid crimping the wire under the lip. We
recommend mounting the clock on one of our pre-drilled and centered panels.
Plug the power supply into a 110 VAC power outlet.

When Cronus starts up, it checks the tide time stored in the battery backed up memory. If it finds that the
tide in memory is prior to the current time, it advances the tide time to the next tide in the future. Normally
you will be unaware of this action however, if the tide needs to advance a long way, you will see the
words “HI” and “LO” appear alternately on the display. It takes about 4 seconds to advance the tide one
year. Next, it will perform a brief self-test. All the LED’s will light for two seconds and then all the LED’s
will turn off for two seconds. Finally, Cronus will go to the "Time" display mode.

OPERATION

Pushing the switch to the right “Select/Auto” and allowing it to return to the middle will toggle Cronus
between time and date. This will be indicated by the illuminated function light (AM, PM, 24Hr or, Date).

Pushing the switch to the right “Select/Auto” and holding it for at least three seconds will put Cronus into
its auto-sequencing mode. Cronus will alternate between the time and date display automatically. Each
function is displayed for approximately five seconds.
To stop Cronus from auto-sequencing simply move the switch to “Select/Auto” and release it.
During power outages, the display will turn off but the clock will continue to run on its internal batteries.
The internal batteries will run the clock for up to 10 years in the absence of AC power.

SETTING VALUES AND OPTIONS

Cronus uses the same basic setting method for all values. The value being set will be flashing. Pressing
the switch to “Select” will select different items to set. Pressing the switch to the left, “Set”, will change
the flashing value. When no values are flashing, pressing the switch to “Set” will end the setting
operation. The next sections describe the setting operations in detail.

Note: When you change the date or time settings, if the new settings make the currently set tide time
invalid, Cronus will automatically calculate the new tide time for you.

INC.

30 Samuel Barnet Boulevard

New Bedford, Massachusetts 02745

[phone] www.maximum-inc.com

TIME

1. Make sure Cronus is displaying time.

2. Push the switch to “Set” and hold it for about three seconds to start the time setting mode.
The hours digits will be blinking to indicate that they can be set.

3. To set the hour, push the switch to “Set” and let it return to the middle. The hour will advance
by one, if the hour is 11:00PM (23:00) it will advance to 12:00AM (0:00).

4. Push the switch to “Select” to move to the minutes tens digit.

5. Push the switch to “Set” to change the number.

6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for the minutes ones digit.

7. Push the switch to “Select” and the final digit will stop flashing.

- If you need to change any of the values, simply push the switch to “Select” and move

through the digits again.

- If you are done setting the time, push the switch to “Set”. Cronus will exit the time setting

mode and resume the normal time display.

DATE

1. Make sure Cronus is displaying date.

2. Push the switch to “Set” and hold it for about three seconds to start the date setting mode.
The tens digit of the month, will be blinking to indicate that it can be set.

3. To set the tens digit, push the switch to “Set” and let it return to the middle. The number will
advance by one; if the number is nine then it will advance to zero.

4. Push the switch to “Select” to move to the months ones digit.

5. Push the switch to “Set” to change the number.

6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for the date tens and ones digits.

7. Push the switch to “Select” and the final digit will stop flashing.

- If you need to change any of the values, simply push the switch to “Select” and move
through the digits again.

- If you are done setting the date, push the switch to “Set”. Cronus will exit the date setting
mode and resume the normal date display.

TIDE

You need to set Cronus to the next tide that will occur at your location.

1. Push the switch to “Set” and hold it for about six seconds to start the tide setting mode. After
about three seconds the date or time setting mode will start, DO NOT release the switch.
Once the tide setting mode has been started, the high or low tide LED, will be blinking to
indicate that it can be set.

2. First you must tell Cronus whether the next tide is a high or low. To set the tide LED, push the
switch to “Set” and let it return to the middle. The other LED will light.

3. Push the switch to “Select” to move to the hours digits.

4. Push the switch to “Set” to change the number.

5. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for the minutes tens and ones digits.

6. Push the switch to “Select” and the final digit will stop flashing.

- If you need to change any of the values, simply push the switch to “Select” and move
through the digits again.

- If you are done setting the time of the next tide, push the switch to “Set”. Cronus will exit the
tide setting mode and resume the normal display.

INC.

30 Samuel Barnet Boulevard

New Bedford, Massachusetts 02745

[phone] www.maximum-inc.com

OPTIONS AND OTHER SETTINGS

Cronus contains a number of settings that are changed infrequently. These settings are Year, AM/PM or
24Hour and, Automatic Daylight Saving enable. These can only be set by starting the set everything
mode. To start the set everything mode, simply press and release the switch mounted on the back of the
instrument. Cronus will start the set everything mode which consists of the following items in the order
they are presented.

1. Year setting: Cronus can be set for any year from 2001 through 2099. The setting procedure

is like the procedure used for setting time, date or, tide time as described above.

2. Date setting: see above.

3. Automatic Daylight Saving Time enable: The display shows “UdS” for Use daylight Saving,
followed by a flashing “0” or, “1”. “0” indicates that the feature is turned off, “1” indicates the
feature is turned on. Use the “Set” switch to change the setting. When finished, press “Select”

followed by “Set”, like the other setting functions, to go to the next function. Note: the daylight

saving changes follow the North American standard. Time is advanced one hour at 2:00AM
on the second Sunday of March and, set back one hour at 2:00AM on the first Sunday of
November.

4. AM/PM or 24Hour display mode: Use the “Set” switch to alternate between the two modes.
The small function lights will blink and the main display will show “24” or, “AP” to indicate
which mode is selected. To finish press “Select” and then “Set” as with the other settings.

5. Time setting: see above.

6. Tide setting: see above.

HOW A TIDE CLOCK WORKS

It has been known for centuries that up and down the east coast, tides occur approximately 50 minutes
later each day than they did the day before. The primary reason for this daily lag can be traced to the
moon. It takes the earth 24 hours to make one complete rotation in relation to the sun. This rotation is
called a “solar day”. It takes the moon 24 hours and 50 minutes to make one complete rotation around
the earth. This rotation is called a “lunar day”. It is the moon’s close proximity to us and the relatively
strong gravitational effect it has on the earth that causes the tides to follow the moon’s lunar schedule of
24 hours and 50 minutes per cycle.

While this lunar cycle is the primary force behind the workings of the tide, it is not the only force. On a
daily basis the average tidal cycle of 24 hours and 50 minutes can be affected by such cosmic variables
as the relative position of the earth to the sun and the specific elliptical pattern of the moon around the
earth. Localized variables affecting daily tides also exist. These would include strong winds, changes in
atmospheric pressure, distant storms and an infinite number of other atmospheric conditions. The total
affect of all these different factors cause tides to vary around the average point of 24 hours and 50
minutes. These variations can cause the reading of your tide clock to be either fast or slow in relation to
actual tides, by as much as one hour or more on any given day. However, the rhythmic 24 hour and 50
minute cycle will prevail over any given 28 day lunar period. Basically what all this means, is that on any
give day the clock may read fast or slow, but over a 28-day period it will average itself out to be correct.

For most purposes, high and/or low tide is not really a point in time, but a condition that exists over a
period of time. If for some reason you require exact tide information you should always refer to a current

INC.

30 Samuel Barnet Boulevard

New Bedford, Massachusetts 02745

[phone] www.maximum-inc.com

tide table. The purpose of a tide clock is not to be exact, but to tell us the best approximate time to go
swimming, fishing, boating, etc. For these functions a tide clock works just fine.

TROUBLESHOOTING

Latch Up

Power Line disturbances, improper powering up or an error in wiring may cause a blank or improper
display reading. If Cronus is "latched up" in this way, proceed as follows:

1. Unplug the AC adapter from the 110 VAC power outlet.

2. Wait 15 seconds.

3. Plug the AC adapter in to the 110 VAC power outlet.

INC.

30 Samuel Barnet Boulevard

New Bedford, Massachusetts 02745

[phone] www.maximum-inc.com

INFORMATION FOR THE CRONUS USER

WARNING: Changes or modifications to this unit not expressly approved by the party responsible for
compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device,
pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection
against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate
radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause
harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not
occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television
reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to
correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

z Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
z Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

z Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is
connected.

z Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

INC.

30 Samuel Barnet Boulevard

New Bedford, Massachusetts 02745

[phone] www.maximum-inc.com

Electrical Damage – Common Causes & Recommended Prevention

Electrical damage can be caused by many different factors. Below are some of the more common causes and
some suggested methods of minimizing potential problems.

Common Causes:

 Storm Activity – lightening in your area can do damage to your instruments in different ways. The obvious

way is due to a direct or nearby strike. In addition, lightening storms, dust storms, dry snowstorms and
strong dry winds can all cause static electricity to build up on and around your external sensors. Regardless
of the cause, this built up electricity can discharge itself through the cable connecting the external sensors to
the instrument.

 Power Surges – A surge may come from the electric company’s switching generators or power grids, from

local industries or after power interruption when accumulated power suddenly surges back through AC lines.
Even the on-and-off switching of large electrical appliances, such as refrigerators or clothes dryers can
create damaging fluctuations. This is especially true with sensitive weather recording devices.

 Yourself – Are you constantly giving and/or receiving a shock every time you touch a doorknob or another

person? If so, you have a great deal of static electricity in your environment. Depending on where you live,
static electricity may be a year round problem or only a seasonal problem. In either case, it is possible for a
person to carry enough of a charge to damage an instrument.

Recommended Prevention:

 Use Surge Protectors – For the AC adapter, a UL 1449 rated surge protector with EMI/RFI filtering is

recommended. This rating will be clearly listed on the packaging of all good quality surge protector.

 Discharge Yourself – If the instruments are located in an environment where static electricity is a proble m ,

make sure that you discharge yourself before touching the instrument(s). The shock that you get from
touching a doorknob or another person can often be sufficient to damage an instrument.

30 SAMUEL BARNET BOULEVARD  NEW BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS 02745 U.S.A.

TEL. [phone]  WWW.MAXIMUM-INC.COM  FAX [phone]