Strange Pulsar displays

[Led-Time]

A while back I bought a dead P2 its module had seen bit of surgery the original display and electronics were changed but instead of tracks for the circuits it had actual bits of wire connecting everything up. Now recently I've seen two other Pulsars up for sale (which should have dot displays) with the same style of displays as the P2 I bought.

Here's links to the Pulsars I've found, check out the auction pictures...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230394539507&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:GB:1123

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180425034399&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Does anyone have an idea on this...

[LEDluvr]

It seems to me that the dislany is not only 'not dot-matrix' but it also looks to be on the small side. Could it be that the display was grafted on from a ladies P4 generation module?
The module in the gold watch says "Omega" - I'm sure you noticed that. This one is Franeknsteined all over...

[retroleds]

I thought the Omega is not a bad looking Frankenstein...what were you expecting, straight little lines on a circuit board? A lot of things are directional different between a P2/P3 circuit board, and the later Sanyo built boards. So it takes a little bit of wire to get from here to there.

[Led-Time]

Here's another one...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170399177516&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

It surely can't be a coincidence that three watches show up from three different sellers with the same type of Frankied modules...

[retroleds]

Well, at least two people have made and sold a lot of hybrids over the years(not I). But that particular watch, what makes you think it is frankenstiened by the same person? There are four possibilities on what is being used for the underlying module and display, you can't hardly tell from looking through the glass. And again, a rebuilder is fairly limited on how he can build his different from someone else - same connections have to be made, to the same points. I've done some where I tried to get all fancy and go under the board with everything, now I am not so proud and go "across land" like the other guys. Easier to change things up later or see where you are going astray.

[smokefrog]

hello

I bought a non-working P2 a few years ago working; when I went to replace the batteries I found a surprise... this module worked for years with its Frankenstein movement but a month ago it stopped and only shows a 0.

later

gus

[smokefrog]

Hello

here is a pic of my Frankenstein

http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/7773/frank.jpg

later

gus

[retroleds]

Gus: Looks like they used the original quartz oscillator crystal, so you or someone else should swap that with a new one. Probably nothing wrong with your module. Those hybrids potentially have some advantages over the originals: circuitry is better sealed/protected against battery leakage and the marginally looser contact between the circuit board and battery holder reduces the possibility of damage to the circuit due to flexing of the battery holder from temperature changes or some unforseen "monkeying around" by a less than mechanically inclined owner.

Commentary on the construction technique: although not positioned the same, by mounting the quartz crystal at a closer proximity to the contacts on the board, better timing will be achieved, as those lengths of wire have a certain amount of capacitance to them. Or so the manufacturers of PIMS(programmable IC chips) claim. Member Rewolf, you're an electrical engineer, what do you think of that concept?

[bruce wegmann]

Electronics look to be Ladies' Pulsar, almost certainly...that's why the smaller digits. Dress model guts would be a better choice [more similar to the P2/3 digit height], but you use what you have available...

[Led-Time]

what makes you think it is frankenstiened by the same person?

It just seemed to look the same thats all, I found it strange that three Frankied watches appeared within days of each other.

Electronics look to be Ladies' Pulsar, almost certainly...that's why the smaller digits

I take its quite easy to remove the display/electronics from those ladies modules Bruce, looks like a major wire-up job though.

[bruce wegmann]

I don't think it's all that easy...it's definitely not without risk. Then, there's all the labor involved in the re-wiring. It's still tearing apart a working Ladies' watch to revive a non-working mens' watch [which, because of the now-non-original module, will be worth only marginally more than the donor watch]. To me, it seems like a lot of work for comparatively little gain...

[ckracing]

I have a P2, why is the 3rd column of LEDs dimmer than the other columns?
thanks
Charles

[bruce wegmann]

Could you post a pic of the display; would make diagnosis much easier. Most likely problem...failing driver transistor. If that's it, it's definitely repairable.