# Non UTC database with TimeZone support? (Rails 2.3.4)

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/non-utc-database-with-timezone-support-rails-2-3-4/176300>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [September 28, 2009, 8:12pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/non-utc-database-with-timezone-support-rails-2-3-4/176300 "2009-09-28T20:12:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Javan\_Makhmali](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@Javan\_Makhmali](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Javan_Makhmali)\
**Post date:** [September 28, 2009, 8:12pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/non-utc-database-with-timezone-support-rails-2-3-4/176300/1 "2009-09-28T20:12:55Z")

</div>

I have an existing database where all dates/times are in PST and I’m  
interested in adding time zone support for our users.

My setup:

# environment.rb

config.active\_record.default\_timezone = :local  
config.time\_zone = ‘Pacific Time (US & Canada)’

With a before\_filter to set each user’s time zone.

All the documentation I’ve founds says your database needs to be in  
UTC for this to work, but this seems to be working fine, including  
adjusting times for daylight savings time. Am I missing something?  
Will it implode during certain dates/times?

Thanks,

Javan