I currently have three Duel Timer digital chess clocks that need repair. Those are older models (2000-2002) which do not have either delay or bonus. Back than there were two models : regular and travel, so I have one travel and two regular. One regular and one travel won’t even power on. The second regular powers on, but it has an issue with plungers, one side works OK, the other side you need to hit the plunger really hard to make it work.
I am trying to figure out if any of those can be repaired. I tried to call and e-mail Duel Timer but got no response.
If you have experience fixing those clocks or know (can recommend) a repair shop/person, I would appreciate that.
This appear to assume that all I have are those three defective clocks. Nothing can be more wrong than that.
I actually own enough delay/bonus clocks to supply for a medium size CCA tournament.
Now, I like duel timer clocks, they are cool looking, easy to set, compliment my wooden chess set nicely.
And I see nothing wrong with me wanting to bring those three clocks to life. If anybody can help, that will be nice, but I am getting really annoyed with some folks just having the urge to share their 2 cents.
Aesthetic considerations aside, clocks with neither delay nor increment capability are less preferred equipment when the time control includes either delay or increment (that is, all but a very few events). An opponent who has a delay or increment capable clock does have the right to insist on use of that clock. A late arriving opponent does have the right to substitute his clock for a non-delay or -increment capable clock before making the first move. (Of course, the opponent must adjust the time on the clock correctly to reflect the elapsed time.)
I have 2 Duel Timer Champions, an older walnut one with round buttons, and a newer ebony stained ash wood one,with square buttons. I love them both and practically stole them on eBay for a total of less than the price of one Saitek or Excaliber. Both have delay and increment. The only difference, other than wood type or button shape, is that the new one has 4 Supersets, or user preference memory storage, the older only has only one. I too, have owned had experience with many other clocks b/c I am a scholastic club sponsor. Our club has Excaliburs, Saiteks, and DGT NA’s. And the DTC’s are easier to set and than any of these.
I got the older one used for just 7 bucks and the new ash wood one for only $29.00 of course I had to pay S&H charges. One issue that I’ve seen complained about in online forums and blogs, is that they don’t have a way to indicate who is on move from behind the clock. This isn’t a real big issue for me as I usually use it for quick chess G15 - G25 type games, so we rarely leave the board. If it ever was a problem it could be solved by a gentleman’s agreement to place a captured piece or extra queen on top of the clock if the opponent was on move and away from the board.
Enough about me, let’s talk about your problem. When my $7 used DTC first arrived, about 4 years ago now, it didn’t work. That’s why it was just 7 bucks. I replaced the battery and it came on, but wouldn’t turn off. When I would press stop/clear (a.k.a on/off) it would only cycle through the time and preset mode but not turn off. I called DTC and spoke with the gentleman who makes them. He could not have been nicer or more friendly. He told me that he could repair it for $10 if I send it in, and he could even change the round buttons to the square ones if I wanted. He indicated that the square ones are more durable. However he told me it probably didn’t need repair just cleaning, he asked me to wipe around the buttons with cotton swab soaked in rubbing alcohol (I used the 91%). This cleared up the problem and my 7 buck clock has worked flawlessly ever since. I was so impressed with the guy that I corresponded with him via email to thank him and purchased a flannel bag from him for the used clock.
I got the impression that he made each clock by hand. Which means that each DTC is more of a handy craft item or piece of folk art made as hobby rather than a mass produced item from a large factory. He also told me in our phone conversations that hes was glad the DTC was not more popular b/c he struggles to keep up with demand as it is. This seems true, b/c most online retailers have the DTC listed as out of stock.
Try a new battery, try cleaning it, and keep trying to get in touch with the fellow via phone or email.
Yet, when someone new to tournament chess goes to uscfsales.com to buy their first clock, the first 5 clocks in the “digital clocks” section do not have delay or increment. The 6th clock does have them, but only allows single period time controls.
It is only when you get to the 7th clock on the page that you get a clock that is preferred for all time controls you are likely to find in USCF rated tournaments.
Then the page backslides, with the 8th clock lacking increment modes, and the 9th clock only supporting single period time controls. The rest of the clocks listed are fine.
I don’t mind if they offer them, but I do think if those clocks are going to be sold under the USCF flag, they should carry a warning they’re not preferred equipment at most USCF rated tournaments, might not meet tournament requirements, or something to that effect. I’d hate for a newbie to unwittingly make the investment, proudly bring his/her new equipment to his/her first “real” tournament, and only then find out it isn’t quite standard after all.
Whether it’s directly under our control or not, I don’t think that would give them that warm and fuzzy feeling about USCF we’d like them to have as they start their (rated) chess career. Perhaps something to consider in the next contract negotiation.
I quite agree. I understand very well that USCF does not control “USCF Sales.” But would a newcomer understand this? Unfortunately, it is all too easy to imagine this situation producing a feeling of ill will toward USCF on the part of a newcomer.
Have you gotten in touch with the fellow at Duel Timer (Sensienite Inc.) yet? As a said in my earlier post, he was real helpful to me on the phone. He seemed like a good stand up guy. Most online retailers are out of stock of the Duel Timers. I hope he has not gone out of business, or something worse like ill health or even passed away. Let us know if you hear something.
Yes, he replied, but news are not very good for me.
For my models he doesn’t carry any spare parts.
I have sent him an e-mail describing my issues and awaiting a reply from him. It took him over two weeks to reply for my initial request so I guess I need to be patient.
I will let everyone know if this got resolved one way or another.
That’s good he is still a live and hopefully still in business. B/c Duel Timers are so easy to use they are my favorite digital chess clock. Maybe they are out of stock b/c he is updating the models with a way to indicate who is on move from the reverse side of the clock. Hopefully not with the old toggle buttons from 10+ years ago.
The one that you have to hit hard could be a dirty switch that just needs cleaning, or replacing. It may be as simple as using a can of compressed air to blow out some dirt, or cleaning some contacts. Or a switch may need replacing.
For the ones that do not even power up, there could be bad contacts on the battery holder, especially if the clocks were left sitting a long time with batteries in them. (I have one of the circa 1996 model DGT FIDE Clocks, and forgot to take out the batteries when I went on a 15 year break from chess…and had to scrape a heck of a lot of junk off the contacts to get it to work again).
If there is a local general electronics repair place, they can probably fix the one with the plunger problem, and fairly quickly determine whether the other two are seriously broken (e.g., something complicated like the LCD panel or the processor died) or just need a minor repair.
If you know any electronics hobbyists, they could probably diagnose the problems for you.