Help with a Litronix...

[Fin]

Hey everyone! I'm new to this forum (obviously) but not to the wonders of old electronic watches. I have a small collection of retro rubbish and cheap tat, most of which have doubled in value by adding a battery! Most of them I repair/clean myself (I'm an electronics engineer) however, I having issues with a Litronix.

Basically, the watch sat without cells for about 6 months. When I replaced the cells, two of the function buttons seem to have swapped. This is the basic module that just shows time with 2 set buttons at 3 and 9 o'clock, and the display button at about 2. It now seems that the set button at 9 displays the time and the real display button changes the hours.

I've had the module apart completely and checked the board and tracks for damage, also checked the contacts for the buttons aren't shorting. Also, it's only been opened whilst using a static strap.

Just wondering if anyone has had or heard of a similar problem?

Thanks, Fin

[retroleds]

Fin - welcome! Load your watch up and go thru all the setting functions, you may be surprised to find it flip flops back to normal function. Many of the Litronix modules were set up to not run until you went thru the setting functions and actually incremented some of the settings ahead. This allowed them to ship with batteries in, without worrying they would die on the shelf. A portion of Texas Instruments(And a few others) were set up that way too. It's sadly ironic when you get a non-worker off ebay, that really just needed a little prodding to wake up and show some digits.

Curious? What kind of electroincs are you involved in at the day job?

[Fin]

I did think that might have been the case, however even after setting the time and leaving it working for a few days, the 9 o'clock set button views the time and the display button changes the hours. I'e had this watch for a few years now but previous battery changes were done were done quickly and before they totally ran out.

I'm wondering if there is a combination of button presses to swap these buttons? Oh, I also just noticed the name 'Prospect' on the strap which may or may not help!

[Old Tom]

This sounds like the Litronix module where you have to press both set buttons simultaneously to turn on/reset the watch and enter the set mode. Anyway can't do any harm to try this!

[retroleds]

Last thought - be sure that the grounding contact of the module is touching the case. Without proper feedback thru that contact, your buttons will be feeling a bit separated from the brain. Giving weird results. The grounding contact would be at 12 or 6, generally. LItronix made an awful lot of different modules...shame they weren't constructed a little better(the contacts specifically). And the odd Statek brand crystal is a bit of a boondoggle too.

[Planet-LED]

Also, it's only been opened whilst using a static strap.

How many people wear a grounding strap while working on their watches? I used to a few years ago, but have gotten away from it.

[Fin]

Also, it's only been opened whilst using a static strap.

How many people wear a grounding strap while working on their watches? I used to a few years ago, but have gotten away from it.

Yeah... To be honest, I know it's not really necessary, but I have one on my bench, so I use it. Besides, it's one less thing to blame if a watch suddenly starts behaving strangely, like this one that I still can't figure out!

Tried all the suggestions, combinations of held buttons etc... Also everything on the watch seems intact. None of the buttons are accidentally shorting on the case, the earth link is good, and the batteries aren't shorting onto the case. Battery contacts are fine, I've even made sure I'm using Silver Oxide ones. I haven't tried threatening it with violence or an open window/garden yet! Are old watches compatible with the shouty-anger method, or is it just PCs?

[Led-Time]

Don't laugh I've done this plenty times with good results.

Put the watch in the fridge for 30mins to cool right through and see what happens, if it doesn't work do the same but put it on a hot radiator. It may need a few cooling/heating cycles to bring it back.

Worth a try…

[Fin]

I have some news!




I have sorted it!




All the buttons work properly!




It keeps perfect time!



What I did was... Went and bought a watch that wasn't a Litronix! :) Yeah, so OK, it's not fixed at all, but it saves my sanity. The new one looks like the old one and is NOS so there isn't a mark on it. Infact, thinking about it, I should get another for when I damage this one!

If your interested check out Fleabay item number 250344981250, this one is from the same guy. I shall of course be adding the Litronix to the Round Tuit pile, and giving it some more attention when I can be bothered.

Thanks for all the replies! :)

[bruce wegmann]

Is it my imagination, or would this module also fit in a Wittnauer? Display looks identical, and the button positions look the same, too...

[Fin]

Is it my imagination, or would this module also fit in a Wittnauer? Display looks identical, and the button positions look the same, too...

Just incase you want them...

RH command button is at 8 mins past. LH command button looks to be somwhere around 43 mins past, set button is 15.

Outer dimensions (no way am I taking the back of this, until it stops working that is!) :-

W x 37mm, H x 40mm, D x 12mm. (Look at me measuring in modern and everything, only cos I have a paper trimmer to hand!) :)

The case is fantastic, Swiss apparently. The strap is rubbish, very 80's HK rubbish. The module seems fine. It does time obviously, seconds and date too, only thing that lets it down is the characters aren't scorchingly bright like my poor Litronix. Booooo!

[retroleds]

Bruce - it apparently has a Hughes module, so yes, it would fit a Wittnauer with that button pattern perfectly. I bought a dozen of those cases when Barbie9(Mike Barbaro) was selling them - nice cases, thick real glass screen,a medium size piece. That's darn near a fire sale price, IMO. Hard to glean modules out of ugly cases at that price.

Bruce- the Pulsar guy has a Witt?:-P Wittnauers are nice watches, nothing wrong with that!

Fin, that will put your Litronix to shame.

[Fin]

Fin, that will put your Litronix to shame.

Well, yes it would... It's in the state of probably working at the moment!

[Led-Time]

Fin,

I knew I had a Litronix instruction booklet somewhere.

Keep clicking for the large image.

[Fin]

Fin,

I knew I had a Litronix instruction booklet somewhere.

Ah, nice one! Much appreciated, that will come in handy! And, I've just found another problem with the watch, that could be why the buttons aren't working properly. Just made some coffee, came back to the computer and noticed that the display is occasionally flickering on it's own.

I know its not one of the buttons touching the case, but it could well be a loose connection in the module. I'll go get my hammer...

[Led-Time]

Flickering display, that's pointing to the quartz being the problem. You mentioned you work with electronics using a frequency counter you can check to see if the quartz is running OK it should read 32768hz, but the fact its flickering I'd say its needing a new one. If I remember correctly the quartz fitted to Litronix modules has three connections I've never tried to replace them with the more common can type with two connectors perhaps it can be done...

[bucko170]

Is this the watch you refer to -



I have previously purchased the exact same watch from the same seller and I think any potential buyers should be aware that the module inside this 'Microsonic' watch is made by COMMODORE it has been converted to fit and works using conductive copper tape to make the connection to the command buttons.

The module is the one used in this watch.



As you can see the Commodore only uses one command button, press once for hours, hold for seconds, press twice for date and month. Both the 'Microsonic' buttons have been converted to work using the conductive copper tape but obviously they do not operate independent functions.

I would think it highly unlikely that the watch would of been originally manufactured in this manner, I suspect that the sellers have got a hold off a batch of 'Microsonic' cases and retro fitted them with Commodore modules in order to sell them.

[Led-Time]

Here's a picture from the Ebay auction number Fin posted showing the date/month.



The line between the numbers is a tell tale give away of a Hughes module which is the original module for this watch I know for a fact Commodore modules don't have this feature (I also adapt Commodore modules to fit Hughes cases) so it looks like Fin has got a bit of a bargain for his £45.

Mick I'd be very interested to see the inside of the watch you mentioned out of curiosity to see what kind of job the seller did adapting the Commodore module to fit.

[bucko170]

Sorry I sold the watch on - with an accurate description that is, I do still have the photo's I took of the exterior of the watch, looking at the photo's the display is different on the one I had - no line between numbers, and the magnifiers over the digits are visible - see photo's.

Maybe I just got a rouge watch that was sent out in error, did the watch that Fin receive have the Hughes module as pictured in the listing or is it fitted with Commodore module instead?

[bucko170]

Having a little trouble getting the pictures on - here's a bigger picture of the watch, showing the Commodore magnifiers.

[Led-Time]

As you say maybe you were unlucky but I'd be amazed if the seller has dozens of Hughes modules to fit in these watches rather than put them in something of more value.

A while back on Ebay someone was selling off a load of NOS Commodore modules in packs of ten I along with a good few others bought some and then NOS Microsonic watch cases from Barbie9 adapted the Commodore modules to fit and you have a nice LED watch to sell, a bit naughty not disclosing whats really inside but again he's not forcing anyone to click on the buy it now icon. He's making very good profit getting £45 for each Commodore moduled watch by the way...

[bucko170]

It was still a nice watch despite having the retrofit Commodore module - Although like you say it would of been nice if it had been disclosed.
Shame really as things like that put me off making any additional purchases from the seller.