[time-nuts] Can a quartz crystal go off by 2% ?

[Dr. David Kirkby]

Bob Camp wrote:
> Hi
> 
> Even with a tuning fork crystal, anything past about 0.2% is a very large changel. That's true for tuning and also true for normal aging.
> 
> I suspect that something mechanical has happened. 
> 
> 1) A cracked crystal - unlikely
> 2).An electro magnet in the driving circuit no longer firing fully.
> 	a) Due to a bad magnet
> 	b) Due to low power
> 	c) Due to a dying chip 
> 3) A worn escarpment.

Thank you Bob.

> Time to get it replaced ....

No, I'm quite happy to get cheap electric during the day some times! It's more 
useful than having it in the middle of the night. So I'm not concerned over 
this, but just interested what might be the problem with it.

> 
> Bob

Dave