which is the best device for the clock.....

[Charlie Crackle]

(moved because off topic from software forum)

Which is the best device for the clock.....

Newer PC interface, Output Unit.. (Minder....!!) touch screen.. device with newest firmware or does not matter.....

Is it better to have this unit at the end or some where in the middle.

Is the burden better in the same unit as the clock or some distance from the clock.

How does the clock "Election" Process happen at power on if all units powered on at same time and all have clock enabled.

Charles

[Newman]

Which is the best device for the clock..... Newer PC interface, Output Unit.. (Minder....!!) touch screen.. device with newest firmware or does not matter.....
In general it is good practice to have the clock generator on newer devices rather than old ones due to minor updates in curcuitry but it doesn't matter too much.

Is it better to have this unit at the end or some where in the middle.
Makes no difference.

Is the burden better in the same unit as the clock or some distance from the clock.
Only from the point of view that it makes it easier to keep track of which unit is acting as the network burden. Makes no difference electrically where the burden is. Standard output units must be unit address $01 to enable the burden and the clock generator must be enabled.

How does the clock "Election" Process happen at power on if all units powered on at same time and all have clock enabled.
The magic clock fairy comes around and waves her magic wand and one of the units turns into Cinderella.

[Phil.H]

In general it is good practice to have the clock generator on newer devices rather than old ones due to minor updates in curcuitry but it doesn't matter too much.


Makes no difference.


Only from the point of view that it makes it easier to keep track of which unit is acting as the network burden. Makes no difference electrically where the burden is. Standard output units must be unit address $01 to enable the burden and the clock generator must be enabled.


The magic clock fairy comes around and waves her magic wand and one of the units turns into Cinderella.

It is worth mentioning that you should not enable too many clocks in units on any one C-Bus network. 3 or 4 clocks per network will usually suffice. This is so we do not give the magic clock fairy too many choices and confuse the issue.

[Newman]

Yep, good point Phil, the CIS recommendation is to enable the clock generator feature on 3 devices on the network.
If there are lots of units on the network with the clock feature enabled things will still work but the clock fairy has more work to do and it can take her a while before choosing her glass-slippered girl.