Chronos Clocks

Do many people still have the problem of the ribbon coming loose and some of the LCD display not lighting?  Was this more of a problem with the older chronos clocks and not of the newer ones? Could it be more of a problem with the mechanical button model vs. the sensor touch because of the slamming down of the clock?  Just doing consumer research.  

Please keep discussion about the Chronos as I know the other digital models do not have that problem, at least no one is complaining about that problem with the V-Tek or the Z Smart Pro.

Thank you in advance for your opinion. 

I own 3 Chronos II "Touch Switch" version clocks, one of each color (White, Black, Blue).  I have owned the white one the longest (10 years), and the other 2 at least 5 years or so.  I have never had a problem of any kind (other than batteries needing replacement) on any of those clocks.  Rock solid.  I do not know if this is typical or not, I've read about a lot of problems people have had with these clocks, and problems getting them repaired.

I love mine, though... best clocks available in my opinion.

Touch switch is the sensor touch?  I just was looking on you tube about how to replace batteries and  I came across  the video where he replaces the battery and secures the ribbon once again but seems to be a temporary fix as it comes loose again according to the person.

I was thinking it may happen because of the slamming of the push buttons vs, the sensor touch.

Yes... touch switch is the sensor version, just a metal piece you touch with no mechanical switch or "click" feedback.  I bought the touch switch version because I was tired of people using the base of a captured piece to press the switch on a typical chess clock... you can't do that with the sensor touch version!

I currently own 4 Chronos clocks, all button models.

Back in 2000, a friend of mine and I decided to paint my Chronos.  We took the clock apart.  We then sanded it and applied 3 coats of black paint.  We did this over the Labor Day weekend, allowing coats to dry for a day or so.

In 2001 I had the opportunity to buy another Chronos.  Once again, on Labor Day weekend, we took this clock apart and sanded then painted it.  While we  were at it, we put another coat on the first clock from the previous year as it had some chips in the black paint and the beige was  showing through.

Well, I had the ribbon problem you describe with the first clock but never the second one.  I sent that broken one to the manufacturer and it was fixed fine.

SInce then I have sold or given away my older clocks except for one that I bought in 2002 and simply sanded to the aluminum finish, which is the same today, 14 years later.  I use this clock for blitz and skittles so it takes a lot of slamming of the buttons.  It's still going with no problems.

I also currently own a Chronos II button clock that is about 5 years old.  I have used that clock for tournament games only, so it has no problems.  I also own 2 Chronos GX clocks that are under 1 year old.  I use one of the GX for a smaller, casual clock and it has seen some hard play.  The other lives with my Dubrovnik II Walnut set and BCE wood, magnetic board and it is happy there.

I am the equipment guy for our area.  If someone wants to buy a clock they usually come to me for suggestions on product, price and where to get that best price.  They also come to me to set the clocks for time controls.  And when they have problems, the clock ends up in my hands to fix or otherwise handle.  I have seen one Chronos II simply die.  It was old, 1998ish, and I think the circuit board just quit.  It wasn't worth trying to salvage.  Other than that, I have seen no problems with any of the other, roughly, 14 Chronos clocks in the area.

Can you tell me, besides the smaller display and the smaller frame, the differences between the Chronos ll and the Chronos GX.  Also do you prefer the push button or the sensor touch?

The Chronos GX is programmed better for Chess play.  It has a total of only 14 Time control options, compared to the long list of the Chronos II.

The GX gives you the option of Delay, Increment or Bronstein Delay on each and every time control.  And of course you can setup and modify any time control and save it in the user presets.

It has 4 "F" time controls which are all Blitz.

There are 4 "TC" controls which are tournament modes with a move counter.

And there are 4 "TN" controls which are tournament modes without a move counter.

Both of the tournament modes show different time control numbers from one to unlimited.

And there are 2 "Go" time controls for the game of Go.

With the smaller display on the GX, the delay time countdown is in a small numeral which appears in the bottom corner of each display.

I prefer the button models myself.  I did own a touch sensor model and there are 2 guys in our club that own the touch sensor model.  One says he will definitely not do that again and the other doesn't care one way or the other about it.

There are also a few younger kids that own a ZMF-II clock, which obviously only has the touch sensors.  But in a tournament game it doesn't matter.  It's usually the faster times where it is a problem with clock activation feedback and only being able to activate it by touching the sensor with a finger.

Im on my 2nd Chronos, and have never had a problem.  

My conclusion from this short thread is maybe they had a problem with the older ones but nothing in the past couple years.  Also it seems people prefer the manual push button to the sensor touch.  Seems the smaller display is also widely more accepted.  

9 months after the V-Tek 300 was first available as a beta test and using it along with both the Chronos II and Chronos GX, and after seeing the ZMF Pro, I have come to the following conclusions:

1. The Chronos GX has all the programming functionality for Chess play as the Chronos II or any other clock on the market.

2. The Chronos II is longer and is preferable with larger boards including most of the 2.25" wood boards with wood border.  The GX is indeed smaller and simply calls for a bit more of a reach when playing and using it.  I keep my 14 year old Chronos II with my Liberty Series Rosewood set and a silicone board.

3. The Chronos GX is great for smaller footprint setups, including 2.0" boards and other 2.25" yet still smaller boards.  I keep a GX with my Ultimate Rosewood set and a gbutter Walnut board.

4. The V-Tek 300 does have a lot of newer technology things like better and easier programming and the multi=colored LED's.  However in my opinion it is not worth the extra cost compared to the Chronos II.  I am glad I kept my Chronos II, black, button model clock as I still use it.

5. I have a wood grain finished V-Tek that does look sharp with most of my wood setups.  I will use that clock with those wood setups during our slower rated games.

6. I also have a standard black V-Tek that I most likely will be selling since I really don't use it.

7. The Chronos GX very well would work fine as the only clock someone owns and uses.  If I were only able to own one clock though, it would be a Chronos II.

I prefer the sensor touch.  It just seems way cooler...

Eyechess,

You did a very excellent job of summarizing the differences between the various Chronos and V-Tek models.   I agree with most of your observations and conclusions.  While I have never owned a V-Tek, I have owned all Chronos models available and I agree with you about choosing the Chronos II over the GX if you can only have one.  In fact, I believe this with such conviction that I no longer own a GX, I sold mine and eventually plan on buying a fourth(!)  Chronos II - maybe this time I'll pick up a button model instead of another touch sensor version like the 3 I have already.

For me, the larger display and "longer" footprint of the Chronos II make it a winning clock for just about every conceivable situation.  The difference in "bulk" and carryability between the two clocks is minimal, and even on tight table surfaces with a smaller board, the Chronos II is a workable size that is shorter than my smallest portable board.  I just don't personally see any real advantage of the GX that would offset the negative of the smaller display, but that's just me... for some players the smaller size will be enough of a benefit to offset that.

As for the touch switch verses button model, that is even more of a subjective "personal" matter, with fans of each button type having their own reasons for preferring one over the other.   They both work, very well, with the main difference being that you cannot activate the touch switch version with the base of a captured piece.  For me, this is a positive feature, but for some players it will be a big negative.   Tactile feedback is the other difference, some players want a satisfying "Click!" when pressing their clock button, while others like me are kind of "meh..." about it and are fine with a beep and light switching to the other player's side of the clock (a programmable feature of Chronos clocks, and one that I highly recommend!).

I'm personally just glad we have so many options...

Bawker, this is getting repetitive, us agreeing and agreeing and...

Seriously, I used to own a touch sensor Chronos II but found myself not using it.  I always set the tone off for the activation beep.  Maybe if I would have set a low toned beep for that, I would have used and kept that clock.

One of the guys in our Chess club has had a Chronos II touch sensor as his only clock for almost 10 years.  When I have used it, it really isn't a problem at all.  I guess that most of us just have gotten into the habit of the button variety and aren't so motivated to switch, but vive la difference.

I now own 2 Chronos II clocks and 2 Chronos GX versions.

I have found the GX versions to be cute and small.  Here's a picture of one of mine next to a smaller board and set.  It's a 1.75" folding linen board from HoS and a Library Reykjavik set on it.

Off thread question , is the beep allowed in tournament play? 

RCK, any chess dealer can give you the address to send your Chronos GX back to.

My Chronos is 11 years old. Still runs like a charm. Best clock ever made.

I believe they have a flat rate you would include with the clock. Yes they are still in business. Time to fix varies as I have read on other threads. 

I read on a thread but can't locate it about the ribbon coming loose and a couple people went in and taped it back up. Maybe they have something on you tube about it?  But I might be mistaking and have no idea on electrical workings. How much is the fee to fix I do not know off hand either.

I'm dealing with a Chronos GX which, now, I wish I'd never bought.  My  ZMF-II performs all the functions I have needed so far, has a much more intuitive interface, is sturdy enough, and costs 1/3 what a Chronos costs.

I simply can't begin to complain enough about the Chronos GX instructions ... which really aren't in any way sufficient.  Not to mention almost unreadable.

It doesn't matter how good a clock is if it sits unused ... and unusable.

P.S.  With a good deal of help, much appreciated, I finally was able to program two time controls into my clock.  I anticipate that the two controls will function well.

My opinion of the GX, now, is that it is a pricey, sturdy clock, which will operate well in games, but I'll only be able to sue about 35% of its capability.  And which has the worst user manual I've ever experienced.

I am currently attempting to repair my own Chronos GX button model. The LCD ribbon cable is ripped from being dropped. I need the datasheet for the LCD so i can get one made with a custom PCB, that way I can hardwire it to the motherboard. 

Anyone know where I could find the datasheet? Online research isn't coming up with much but i found a company that can make custom LCD modules.