On 06/25/2011 03:29 PM, HeyBub wrote:
harry wrote:

I think you will find that most timers are crystal controlled/
electronic these days with battery backup. Electro mechanical devices
are disappearing.
In the event of mains failure, the correct time is maintained.

If you want an accurate clock in Europe, you get one that responds to
a daily correction signal broadcast from various sources.

There are a LOT of things that depend on 60Hz. Since forever 60Hz has been a
standard piped into every establishment in the country. The article
mentioned traffic lights, security systems, and computers, but thousands of
other devices depend on a stable line frequency.

To let the frequency meander all over the place would be similar to letting
the National Bureau of Standards allowing the official meter to vary by one
or two millimeters per day.

On the other hand, this change will open a new business opportunity to
provide standard frequency power.


20 minutes in a year isn't exactly "meander[ing] all over the place."
And frequency stability is different from long-term time accuracy.