BENRUS BATTERY HELP.

[BENRUS]

I recently bought this watch at an antique mall, and wanted to get batteries for it so I could use it as my everyday watch. The problem is, I don't know what size to get. The watch came without batteries installed (Which I thought was good...Clean compartment), But there is not any battery info anywhere on the case. If anyone has a good suggestion as to what size I should be looking for...
THANKS (IMAGES ARE CLICKABLE TO ENLARGE)

[bucko170]

Welcome to the forum

I am pretty sure the battery size you will need is 357 (LR44, AG13) or silver oxide size SR44, the other possibility would be 386 (LR43, AG12) or silver oxide size SR43.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_battery_sizes

You can buy these cheaply on eBay but avoid the ones from the East as they are unreliable and it is better to stick to big name brands Maxell, Duracell, Energiser, Rayovac etc.

BTW: Nice watch.

[LEDluvr]

Welcome BERNUS, you can also buy those batteries at a drug store like Rite-Aid, CVS, etc. but they are very over priced. A watch shop or even K-Mart/Wal-mart will have them on hand and you don't have to wait for shipping from buying on-line. A plus if you are itching to get it working!

BTW - you can give the crystal a nice polish by gently rubbing Brasso on it. But be sure to rub perpendicular to the scrathces. It will take off what's left of the 'Bernus' lettering on the crystal, but it will leave a great shine.

[BENRUS]

Thank you!
Finding a battery chart wasn't my biggest problem, It was needing to know the common sizes for these watches as a starting point.
One thread I viewed mention that there are 3 common battery sizes amongst these watches, but after viewing a few more posts I realized there may be more. Thanks very much for narrowing it down to 2, I will definitely buy a name brand battery for this one.
Thanks again for your help,
B.

[BENRUS]

Welcome BERNUS, you can also buy those batteries at a drug store like Rite-Aid, CVS, etc. but they are very over priced. A watch shop or even K-Mart/Wal-mart will have them on hand and you don't have to wait for shipping from buying on-line. A plus if you are itching to get it working!

BTW - you can give the crystal a nice polish by gently rubbing Brasso on it. But be sure to rub perpendicular to the scratches. It will take off what's left of the 'Bernus' lettering on the crystal, but it will leave a great shine.

I thought about fixing the scratches, but even though the Benrus logo is wearing off, I though maybe keeping whats left on for awhile...That's the only identifying part to this watch saying its a Benrus.
I want the watch to look nice and new, but at the same time I don't want to ruin any vintage class this still has.
Thanks for the help, I'm on my way to Wal-Mart now
I'll post new pictures later! (of it hopefully working...LOL)

[rewolf]

Basically any 1.5V battery that fits will be ok.
So you can measure the battery compartment and decide according to the battery sizes given in the chart mentioned above.

Take the biggest battery that fits - the bigger it is the longer it will last.
For LED watches Silver Oxide is preferred over Alkaline, but rather hard to get in stores (and expensive there).
I'd try with a cheap-and-easy-to-get Alkaline and replace it with a Silver Oxide of same size when it's empty.

We have tons of battery info in this forum
http://dwf.nu/viewtopic.php?t=2714&high ... lver+oxide
http://dwf.nu/viewtopic.php?t=3078&high ... lver+oxide
http://dwf.nu/viewtopic.php?t=2619&high ... lver+oxide
http://dwf.nu/viewtopic.php?t=2220&high ... lver+oxide

[retroleds]

My vote is #357 for correct size...buy silver oxides.

[BENRUS]

After seeing the 357 size battery today, I had concern about if it would be too large depth wise. If the battery is set in place and then screw backs tightened...Could there be a possibility of cracking the board? They wouldn't let me try the battery out at Wal-mart, and I have the 386 energizers coming from an eBay order for an old 500 series Texas Instruments LED watch I have. I have 5 of the 386 size coming, but those seem like they might be too shallow of a fit depth wise. I will wait a few days for my 386 batteries to arrive to see if those will work first, but if anyone knows if I should be concerned about the 357 depth size being a damaging problem...Please let me know.
Thanks again everyone for welcoming to the board, and again thanks for your help,
B.

(There will be a small wait on any new pictures...I'm anxious, But cautious!)

[rewolf]

After seeing the 357 size battery today, I had concern about if it would be too large depth wise. If the battery is set in place and then screw backs tightened...Could there be a possibility of cracking the board?

Yes - if the batteries are too thick and you apply too much force. 386 are the next thinner size, try these first if you are concerned about thickness. if they don't rattle in the compartment, that is have contact, they will also work.

[BENRUS]

#357 did the trick
Thanks again everyone for your help with this, I am enjoying this watch very much!


Thanks again,
B.

[bucko170]

Nice to see you got the watch working, great photographs

Do you have the Benrus pop-up, as in your avatar - now that is a seriously cool watch

[BENRUS]

Thanks!
The pop-up is on my WANT list (If I can afford, or find one).

[BENRUS]

Does anyone know how to remove this module from its case? The module is stuck into the case very tightly. It only shows up a "0" in the next to last digit area when the twist dial for setting time is actually pressed in while lined up with the "H" for hour setting (If that makes any sense). I'm sure I will not have any luck myself in fixing this module, and am in the need of a replacement (I think), but I don't think I will get far with a swap if I can't remove the old.
Thanks again for any help, and sorry for the NOOB questions

[Led-Time]

Are the points arrowed screws...



Usually if a module is showing a single digit it needs a new quartz crystal which is a nice easy job if you can use a fine point soldering iron...

[richard_uk]

Just a little tip.. if you want to polish the crystal but not lose the logo, stick a piece of tape over the logo polish what is uncovered, then stick the tape across the other way and polish again, in other words move the tape around to polish the 4 sides around the logo, if that makes sense

[BENRUS]

Are the points arrowed screws...

YES...I thought those needed to be removed, but I couldn't find a micro screw driver small enough (I'll have to get one). Where can I buy new Quartz Crystals suitable for the job?
Thanks for your help!

[BENRUS]

Just a little tip.. if you want to polish the crystal but not lose the logo, stick a piece of tape over the logo polish what is uncovered, then stick the tape across the other way and polish again, in other words move the tape around to polish the 4 sides around the logo, if that makes sense

THANKS FOR THE IDEA!...I have since worn this logo off very quickly in the weeks worth of wearing the watch. I wish this watch had the inlay logo on the crystal like my gold one I have pictured.
Thanks again for your help,
B.

[bucko170]

If the logo is inlaid and not just printed onto the crystal you can get good results sprucing up the logo by using a gold leafing pen.

Use the pen to 'fill in' the logo, wait for it to dry and then lightly polish off the excess.

The pens can are available in various colours gold, silver, copper etc. I have had good results using these pens and they are cheap enough to buy,


http://cgi.ebay.com/Krylon-18kt-Gold-Le ... .m20.l1116

[Led-Time]

Benrus,

Where are you in the world.

[retroleds]

Benrus:
Your second "Benrus" has a Texas Instrument's module - those ARE screws holding it in. But go back to the setting procedure - many TIs have a quirk in which they only show a "0" until set. And the setting screw has to be held in contact for a few seconds for it to start moving forward. Those are really cool modules, but the setting screw frequently is not in proper alignment with the internal contacts, due to slipping of the contacts on the screw shaft. That watch is the model that immediately followed the "Wells"(Benrus) 100. A very rare module.

[BENRUS]

Thanks bucko170 for the idea with the gold leaf pen, I will give that idea a try with the silver pen on my non-Inlay model...Maybe I could make myself a stencil to use, and when it wears off, I could just redo it .
Klippie , I am located in the U.S.

That watch is the model that immediately followed the "Wells"(Benrus) 100. A very rare module.

Thanks for the response retroleds! Are you saying the "Wells" 100 is the very rare module, or the module that is in my Benrus? Either way, I thought this watch might be something when I found it on the Bay the other day, but was very disappointed that the person who packaged this watch decided to place packing tape right across the whole watch to hold it in its original case, therefor taking off the gold plating on the original watch band! (I think the chemical make-up of the sticky part of tape dissolved the coating somehow...Oh well, nobodies perfect! I got this watch for a steal anyways, so getting it to work without too much effort would really sweeten the deal. Thanks for telling me about the "0" thing, I'll have to try again with setting time.
Thanks for your response,
B.

[BENRUS]

I was able to remove the module with ease after removing the screws...LOL!
I lost the retainer clip that hold the stem in while trying to clean around it a bit It doesn't do anything but display that "0" as pictured when I press the time set screw on the back in while lined up with the "H" position...It does nothing when the side button is pressed, and does nothing in the minute ("M") time set position at all (even when pressed in). I tried holding the setting buttons in for more than a few seconds with no success.
I don't know if there is much hope for me fixing this, I'm just leaving nice tool marks on the case, and loosing parts!
If you notice where the sticker is placed on the module, you can see that there is a sticker on top of a sticker, is this normal, or should I be tempted to remove the top sticker?
Thanks everyone for trying to help me again,
B.