Recommendations for inexpensive chess clock

A bit over a year ago, all my chess clocks (five of them) were destroyed in a flood.  For that and other reasons, I decided to let my USCF membership lapse, and I haven't played over the board chess since then.

Well, I have the bug to start playing again, and I was going to replace my favorite clock - the Saitek Competition II.  Except that I went to the sites I knew about, and it wasn't available, nor were any Saiteks.  Did they get out of the chess clock business?

And that leaves me looking for an inexpensive digital clock.  I suppose the DGT models look like they best will fit the ticket.  For me, cost is more important than quality, but it has to have the basics.  It has to have a few different settings.  It has to have delay.  Increment would be nice, but not absolutely critical.  It can be cheap, but it shouldn't fall apart with very low use, or after one game of blitz.

Beyond that, I don't have any significant requirements.  I won't spend more than fifty bucks, and I would prefer to spend less.  Any specific recommendations?

Just saying: I use those good free Android chess clock program in my mobile phone...

Electronic device not allowed !!

DGT North American is the go to.  Does everything you need, well built, and can be had for under fifty off of Amazon.

That's correct.  I'm looking for a USCF tournament-legal clock.

I'll second the DGT NA clock.  Pretty easy to set too. A couple of guys at my club have the Zmart Fun ZMF II clocks and seem to like them. 

DGT North American is what you're looking for. Has everything you need at a reasonable price.

I have recently looked for the least expensive Chess clock that works for USCF tournaments.  We just bought 12 for a local school's chess club.

I agree that the DGT NA is the best clock for the cheapest price.

On Amazon it is $41.95 with free shipping.  When doing a Google search and looking at Google Shopping there is a place call Pampered Home selling the clock for just a little over $38, but I didn't go far enough there to see what the shipping would be.

I'm sorry but I must disagree about the ZMF-II being better than the DGT NA.

I have owned and used both as a player and tournament director.

The DGT NA is the clock we are getting and using for club and tournament play for our scholastic clubs as well as suggesting adults would want this clock.  If it were that hard to set and use, we would not get it for these purposes.

The problem with the ZMF-II is primarily with the display.  It is an LED not LCD display which often is distracting during a Chess game. 

Also, the delay countdown on this clock has the numbers flashing during the countdown.  This also is very distracting during play.

In the under $50 price range, the DGT NA is currently the best clock out there.

DGT NA is the best cheap options, in my opinion.  It's a sturdy clock that works very well.  Besides, clock buttons just feel better than a touchscreen.

Eyechess, the new ZMF clocks have different setting options to display the delay. Also, they are a lot easier to set than the NA, and the kids love the display colors.

Fish-Killer, from what I understand it is the ZMF Pro that has some different setting options to display the delay.  The ZMF Pro also has an LCD display and is in the $100 range.

Another characteristic about both ZMF clocks is they only have a touch sensor, no buttons.  And for many, the buttons are preferable.  I still own a Chronos with touch sensors and use it about 2 times a year when we have a very slow time control tournament where there is relatively no chance of any type of time concern/trouble.

As I said I owned a ZMF-II and sold it last year about this time.  The different colors of the body and display certainly can be fun.  However, the functionality of the LED in a tournament is less than desirable for most, especially adults.  In all honesty, the combination of the display not showing the delay count down at the same time as the remaining time is displayed, the fact that some people do not like the LED displays (they don't bother me), and the touch sensor not giving the tactile feedback during play, convinced me to sell the thing.

I know 3 people that still own and use a ZMF-II clock as their only chess clock.  Two of them are kids.  The one adult has the blue on blue version and actually emailed me about a week and a half ago asking what clock I thought he should buy because he realizes the ZMF isn't the best for tournament play. 

Also, I have talked with people that own or manage Chess retail operations,  4 of them, and they all have told me that the ZMF Pro is not selling well because the display does not show the delay countdown simultaneous to the remaining time.  At the $100 price range some are going with the DGT 3000 but most are getting either the Chronos II or GX.  But this is not the price range we are talking about.

Those same retailers, when I talked with them about clocks for our scholastic chess club in the last week, all mentioned only the DGT NA as a real option having the best value for the dollar spent.  And 3 of those 4 do sell a lot of the ZMF-II clocks.  I specifically talked with one about the ZMF-II as a possible clock and he told me it would not do well for our club compared to the DGT NA.

Also, Meadmaker said price was a major concern for him.  The DGT NA is less expensive than the ZMF-II by $8.  And that's roughly 16% cheaper.

Meadmaker, yes Saitek got out of the chess clock making business, so there are none available that are new.  With the Excalibur GameTime II no longer being made and the Saiteks gone, there is a definite void in inexpensive Chess clocks that are decent.

You might want to look at places that sell used stuff for either an Excalibur or Saitek.

While I recently bought 12 clocks for a school in our area, I still have about 20 clocks I use in my own school club that are either Saitek or Excalibur branded clocks.  Those were great, but they're gone.

No, the ZMF-II also has the delay options.

Calm down and take it easy.  There is no reason to get angry or antagonistic to each other about this. 

I did not say the ZMF was not suitable for tournament play.  I said it was not the best or always preferable in this lower price range.

The opening poster, Meadmaker, said he wanted a clock that cost the least possible, first and foremost.  He then said he wanted the clock to be used for USCF tournament Chess.

By the way a bureaucrat would always prefer to waste money, not save it.  So you are talking more like a bureaucrat in this.

Fair enough my friend.

I have known Meadmaker for a good number of years on Chess discussion forums.  I paid particular attention to his request for the cheapest price possible.  Because of that I suggest the DGT NA for him.

If you play any time scramble or concerned Chess, you must admit the buttons give a more firm and better feedback when activated.  Also, the touch sensor must be touched with the skin and not anything that would not transmit the electrical connection like a chess piece or pen or pencil.  This makes it just a bit less desirable for a lot of these chess timing situations. 

There is one guy in our club that has had a Chronos touch sensor clock for years and it's the only clock he uses.  In fact he has used it so much that the paint is wearing off.  A few weeks ago I was talking with a guy in our club that has played skittle or casual chess with him at least once or twice a week for many years.  I mentioned to him that our friend was pretty much the only guy in our club and area that has a touch sensor clock that he uses as his only chess clock.  Well this fellow told me that even though he has played a lot using that clock, he doesn't like it and thinks the buttons are a lot better.

So, in the final analysis and considering what the majority of adult players prefer, the DGT NA beats out the ZMF-II, if only by a bit.

You know, if they still made the Excalibur GameTime II or Saitek Competition Pro we wouldn't be having all this disagreement about the best and cheapest clock.

I like the touch sensor buttons myself, but I know the tactile and aural satisfaction of punching a mechanical button. (I love computer keboards with real mechanical switches BTW.)

I bought a ZMF II after my Chronos died. It's built like a tank and is acceptable, but I never warmed to it. I don't like the LED read-out and for tournament play having the On/Off switch on top is a recipe for disaster. I could see it as a good clock for boisterous kids to play blitz on.

The DGT NA looks like a good clock with full tournament features at a good price, but I've not used one.

Meadmaker, if you read this before 11 Monday, Central Time, there are currently 2 auctions on eBay with Saitek clocks that would give you just what you are looking for.

Actually the best choice would be one that ends on Tuesday afternoon.  It is the black and silver Saitek Competition Pro.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MEPHISTO-From-Saitek-COMPETITION-PRO-Game-Clock-Works-Great-/231778174347?hash=item35f70e458b:g:AFcAAOSwwE5WZ1mP

This is the one ending on Monday, mid-day.  It is the blue Saitek that was designed mostly for scholastic chess.  But it still works.  Plus this one is selling a set, board and bag along with the clock.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Saitek-Maphisto-Competition-Time-Clock-with-Chess-Set-Bag-Digital-Professional-/121834701955?hash=item1c5dea0483:g:9yMAAOSwHQ9WX1Di

I searched for Excalibur Chess clocks on eBay and there was only one, but it is listed at $99!

Personally, I would go for the Saitek Competition Pro.  That clock is great, and the current bid is under $20.

And I used to own a Competition Pro that had one of the LED lights in the button burn out, so I gave it to a fellow that still uses his, for a backup.

I also have the blue Saitek clocks and Excalibur GameTime II clocks in the ones I own and use for the school chess club I run.

All these clocks work great.

Cheapest clock I got is a Leap 9903. Got it off eBay. It's equivalent to the DGT 2010 at half the price. I only have one clock and my father has one. Played roughly a hundred games with them and haven't had any problems, but that can't compare to the thousand of games the DGT 2010 clocks at the club has been through.

The build quality seems to be excellent. If the DGT 2010 or 3000 is out of your price range, its a good options. The drawback is that if you get a clock with a problem, you'll have no real return options or guaranty other than a chinese ebay seller. 

I started this thread four years ago, but I never got back into tournament chess, and I never got a clock.

I just put in my order for a DGT North American.  I found myself wanting a clock even for some casual play.  I'm thinking about going to a tournament in January, though.

It's just that....Hmm...40 dollars USCF membership.

15 dollars Michigan Chess Association membership.

25 dollar entry fee.

Eighty dollars to play chess for a day.

Seems a bit pricey...…..but I'll think about it.  At least I'll have a clock.

If this four year old thread shows up on anyone's radar, thanks for the recommendations.  The DGT NA was still available, and even though it was a little bit more expensive than the Leap clocks, it just looked a little better.  Those Leap buttons looked awfully small, and I was planning on using it for blitz.