An easy to build LED watch tester

[SASM]

About 2 years ago I made this LED watch tester, mainly for Pulsar, Hamilton, Omega and Frontier modules. It´s doing such a good job that I don´t want to live without it anymore

...And it´s really easy to build: But why do you need such a tester?
Because you can tell within a second if it makes sense to start a repair attempt on a module simply by checking the current flow. That saves a lot of time and annoying battery in - battery out module tests inside your watch case.

What do you need to build such a tester?

1 enclosure
1 on/off switch
2 AA batteries (LR6)
2 AA battery holders
1 pair of measuring tips
3 bushings (2 red and 1 black)
1 amperemeter 0..100mA
1 amperemeter 0..30uA
1 soldering equipment and standard tools
1 some wire
6 knurled head screws (I used brass which I cannot recommend - take stainless steel screws)
1 push button (with 1 normally closed and one normally open contact)
1 120R resistor
1 red LED (or take green to build a super rare tester )
1 100€ to buy quality components


Here I would like to thank the British forces. I removed a few parts for this tester from their base in Dortmund before it was demolished a while back. I spent a whole day there and shot plenty of pictures. On the tester I added an extra 1,5V bushing which I connected between the two AA batteries to test the buttons of Frontier movements.

Hanno.

[BENRUS]

Nice!
I built one recently out of a block of wood, brass flat-top wood screws, and wire. The 3v tester I made from a battery compartment holder that uses two AA batteries from a store display that had a blinking LED light.

[Kasper]

ok i don't know nothing about electonics but for me....the first one looks world war II stuff and the last one Prehistoric. but still better then mine...i don't have one.

damn i think about it...i have to build one myself 2 now

[Ade51]

What a good idea - another way to build one and other tips are at the link below

http://ledwatch.net/_wsn/page5.html

[Old Tom]

My two LED testers are somewhat different;-



Both have built in 32Khz oscillator chips for checking for oscillator failure. The small one with the two side by side AAA cells was specifically made for testing Nat Semi modules where there are clip on points for everything! The black box one is more general purpose and offers either clips or the two spring terminals for power connection. The red & black sockets on the side are for your multimeter (on a current range) to plug into and also serves as an on/off switch for the oscillator circuit (I use the SG-3030JF chip in the 32Khz version). Both have a centre tap for testing buttons (the green lead).

[SASM]

It´s fun to see the different versions and ideas of your testers. And I am sure the 1€ wooden block with two screws works pretty well :)

Moreover I like the idea of the oscillator so much that I will add one.

[Ade51]

Having an Oscillator built in is quite handy. Are there any commercially available (cheap!) testers out there that would do the same job?