Electric clocks use synchronized motors that run on 60 Hz AC. The power company provides AC power with a precisely regulated frequency of 60 Hz. That means that the voltage jumps back and forth (positive to negative) 60 times per second. Your generator would do the same thing if it could run at precisely 3600 rpm (that's rev's per minute) - but it can't, because the engine is not that precisely controlled. In your case it tends to run (on average) a little fast. I hope you found this helpful. By the way, in Europe 50 Hz is the norm. If you run a clock designed for 50 Hz on 60 Hz power, it will run 20% too fast! Al K
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