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Question about a TimeBand watch

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Triton

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Question about a TimeBand watch

Post21 Jul 2007, 03:07

I bought a TimeBand LED at a yard sale for $3. Looks really good, came with case and instructions - but it doesn't work. I replaced both batteries. Display is dead. It's a model 345131. Any ideas as to whether or not I just need a new module? I really don't want to throw it out. I am not a collector, but it seems like a cool watch.
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Planet-LED

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: Question about a TimeBand watch

Post21 Jul 2007, 03:27

Triton,

Was there any evidence of acid corrosion from the batteries that were in it? It would show a white powdery substance on the module. If there is evidence of powder, it is likely that the module is beyond repair.
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Re: : Question about a TimeBand watch

Post21 Jul 2007, 14:41

HDLED wrote:Triton,

Was there any evidence of acid corrosion from the batteries that were in it? It would show a white powdery substance on the module. If there is evidence of powder, it is likely that the module is beyond repair.
No - but the batteries did leak, because when I opened the watch, it stank. No evidence of corrosion - but it probably occured

I am looking into buying a new module. I would hate to throw it away.
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notonly1

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: Question about a TimeBand watch

Post21 Jul 2007, 15:12

Most Timeband models have a module where both the batteries go in negative side down like a Litronix. It can be identified by 4 black plastic pins melted over to hold the module together. Timeband also used a Fairchild module that has the polarity marked in each battery port. Check that the batteries are in the correct way for the type of module you have. :)
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Triton

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Re: : Question about a TimeBand watch

Post21 Jul 2007, 17:51

notonly1 wrote:Most Timeband models have a module where both the batteries go in negative side down like a Litronix. It can be identified by 4 black plastic pins melted over to hold the module together. Timeband also used a Fairchild module that has the polarity marked in each battery port. Check that the batteries are in the correct way for the type of module you have. :)
Yes, negative side down in this one - still DOA.
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Planet-LED

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: Question about a TimeBand watch

Post21 Jul 2007, 20:15

Triton,

It doesn't sound good for the module. These are a fairly comon watch that show up on ebay. Look under "LED watch". Look for one that uses the same module as yours but is in poor cosmetic condition.
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Majestyk

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: Question about a TimeBand watch

Post21 Jul 2007, 23:58

I believe nontonly1 is talking about the plastic Timebands. If you have a metal case, and it has module with a narrow contact over the batteries and two screws holding it in, then it's probably dead. :)

Maybe you can take a photo of the module.


M
Last edited by Majestyk on 22 Jul 2007, 01:45, edited 1 time in total.
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richard_uk

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: Question about a TimeBand watch

Post22 Jul 2007, 01:44

Probably a stupid question but did you clean the battery contacts?
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Re: : Question about a TimeBand watch

Post22 Jul 2007, 01:48

richard_uk wrote:Probably a stupid question but did you clean the battery contacts?
No - they appear clean. One strange thing: one of the holes for a battery has a little contact - but the other one doesn't. There may be more wrong with this thang then I thought.

I think I will take a pic of it later and show you...
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Led-Time

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: Question about a TimeBand watch

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notonly1

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Re: : Question about a TimeBand watch

Post22 Jul 2007, 16:00

Triton wrote:One strange thing: one of the holes for a battery has a little contact - but the other one doesn't. There may be more wrong with this thang then I thought.



With this module there should be one of those contacts in each battery port. These are the positive battery contacts. If one is missing that is undoubtedly the reason it's not working. When you post your picture we'll be able to tell for sure if this is the case.

With respect to Majestyk, some metal case Timbands also used this module as shown in this picture. http://www.ledwatches.net/photo-pages/timeband8.htm
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: Question about a TimeBand watch

Post22 Jul 2007, 16:14

With respect to Majestyk, some metal case Timbands also used this module as shown in this picture. http://www.ledwatches.net/photo-pages/timeband8.htm


Duly noted. I usually stay away from these watches, so I'm no authority on it. I did sell a Timband not long ago with the module, in the link you posted, and I held it back 6 months before selling it to make sure it worked ok (put in a new QC as well). Also, if I'm not mistaken those particular modules do not come out...Someone correct me if I'm wrong, as I'm sure you will. If I'm correct, it's even worse repairing these and you can't replace them. When I put the new QC in the module, I did it while it was still in the case.

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notonly1

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: Question about a TimeBand watch

Post22 Jul 2007, 16:28

Actually they do come out which would make it easy for Triton to use a donor module, if necessary, to repair his watch.
:)
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: Question about a TimeBand watch

Post22 Jul 2007, 16:57

Interesting, because the module in the black plastic one that I replaced the QC would not come out...At least not without a fight. I started hearing cracking noises when trying to take it out and that was enough for me to do the operation within the case. I think I'm going to have to get another one of these just to play around with it. :) I can see the ones in the metal cases coming out but is it possible Timeband bonded the modules in some of the plastic cases?


Jeff
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notonly1

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: Question about a TimeBand watch

Post22 Jul 2007, 20:05

These are the only 2 plastic Timeband watches that I own.
http://www.ledwatches.net/photo-pages/timeband1.htm
http://www.ledwatches.net/photo-pages/timeband2.htm
I checked both of them and the modules come out with little effort. I suppose that Timeband may have bonded some of them in as Majestyk suggested, but with any luck Triton will have one that comes out easily.

Triton:
I'm afraid I wasn't as clear as I should have been about the battery contacts.
The paddle-like contacts at the bottom of the battery ports are the negative contacts and the small contacts on the side are the positive. Again, we'll be able to tell more with a picture.
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: Question about a TimeBand watch

Post23 Jul 2007, 00:20

Yeah the one I recently had was in your first photo. There's no way that sucker would come out without damaging it, and I've never had issues taking out modules.
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: Question about a TimeBand watch

Post08 Aug 2007, 02:09

I worked on two of those Timebands recently that I picked up on ebay...I know what Jeff is talking about, them being stuck in there. Well, really they are not - there are four plastic blobs on the circuit board, each of them is the top of a plastic post that has been melted to hold the module down. Scape the plastic off at those points with a sharp knife point/razor and the module lifts off. The battery contacts are seperate bent pieces of metal that lay in some slots and touch the underside of the circuit board at four points. Totally unsoldered from the board, those battery contacts AND the button contacts. Very poor contact. :cry: A job for blobs of silver epoxy on the board/contact points and regular epoxy and a light clamp to hold the module together when you try to trap it all back in position. :x

Biggest problem with the "Timeband" marked watches is that most have a 29mm module, with the buttons at a very wide angle of spread - the command button is at approx. 1 oclock position, the setting button is down at approx. 5 oclock. Other brands with that type of spread between buttons are about 20% closer together. Leaves you a bit unfulfilled - I know I have too many Timeband cases that are beautiful but never to be filled. :-?
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: Question about a TimeBand watch

Post08 Aug 2007, 07:28

Ah! So they "sort of" are stuck in there but with Ed's patent Timeband module removing system, you can now have a removable Timeband module. :)

Thanks for the heads up! It was still easy to replace the quartz with the module in the case (not something I've ever done before) but it's good to know for future, although if it's just a quartz related problem, I still won't bother taking it out unless the module is already loose.

Jeff
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: Question about a TimeBand watch

Post08 Aug 2007, 15:49

Jeff is right, the quartz is right on top, sort of laying on it's side. The module is a weird one in many ways,,,,a short piece of flat, ribbon cable connects the display to the circuit board. You can actually swing the display completely to one side of the board and lay it flat.

Oh heck...I've reached into the trash bin and taken some shots.
Image

Image

Image

Note how the holes for the hold-down posts come right up through a contact area. Two on one side are the battery, the other two are for the command/set contacts.

I don't think the modules are really that stuck, they just happen to flare out and jam in there since because the exterior circle isn't used structuarally like in many other modules....the four posts and the front plastic make up most of the support structure for the module. :-?
http://www.retroleds.com - Sales of vintage LED, LCD, analog watches, parts and gadgets - repair tutorials & tips
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: Question about a TimeBand watch

Post09 Aug 2007, 00:48

in a similar Texas Instruments plastic watch the module is glued into the case. removable in most cases with slight rotation.
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