We see it all the time: folks powering vintage self winding clocks with (sometimes rather creative) arrangements of alkaline D batteries. We also see them trying to power impulse-wound clocks with them. Bottom line, it is problematic. It’s always the same–very short lifetime, leaky batteries, ruined or stained clocks, etc. As time has gone on, quite a bit has been learned about effectiveness and issues associated with the alkaline battery for powering vintage self-winding electric clocks. Some things were predictable, others were a bit of a surprise. Technical data sheets for alkaline batteries can confound one’s ability to predict aging, what characteristics matter, etc. when powering vintage clocks. Yes, performance graphs and curves do provide some insights. Unfortunately, these curves can be confusing when evaluating battery performance in vintage clocks. Much of what we have learned has come from experience–which has helped us evaluate the battery curves and our data differently.
This article will hopefully help you understand what we have learned about alkaline batteries and their downsides to powering self winding clocks: