How does a clock that has been disconnected from power for any length of time know what time it is when it is reconnected to electricity?

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Just your average alarm clock with no connection to the outside world; just it by its lonesome. i recently had a power outage for an hour and the clock powered back on and had the time exactly right…and had me very confused. Thanks everyone!

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Anonymous 0 Comments

Most clocks made since electronics were modernized with transistors instead of tubes have capacitors, they’re like simple batteries that hold a charge for a while that can take a very long time to dissipate. That’s why it’s extremely dangerous to take apart large complex electronics like old cathode ray tvs, or big old radios, even if they’re unplugged and have been sitting on a shelf for decades. The capacitors can still hold a deadly charge that could electrocute you, even to the point of death. This means they can also be used to keep an internal clock keeping track of the time without using the display, which would suck up energy fast from the capacitors.

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