Is this module repairable?

[dabbler]

Hi, I picked up an old CBM digital watch. I didnt have any batterys so foolishly I restored the strap, case and screen (which now look like new). However, I picked up a battery for the module today and when powered up it looks like:



Im just getting into repairing old digital watches, so using this watch to test techniques ive picked up while reading this board. I assumed that with no power, you would be able to tell if the LCD was broken, this damage only appears when powered.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated, if I cannot repair the module - does anyone know where I could obtain one?

Many thanks in advance & a happy new year to all

[Seiko&Casio Lcd's]

WOW, i have never seen this, but i'm afraid that this is not repairable imho
The lcd panel has leaked somehow inside, but when you remove the battery the screen is not black?, strange.
Maybe others have seen this before?

[retrowrist]

Usually, usually when an LCD leaks, it is visible at all times, not when powered up with a battery. Very strange, I have never seen this, and have had several leakers in my time.

- Patrick

Leakers that are visible all the time are air leaks. The OP module has intra-matrix leakage (leakage between segments that shouldn't be there) so it is basically shorting and lighting up areas that shouldn't be part of the characters. Someone probably pushed it really hard but didn't crack the glass. POssibly baking in the sun could do that but if it was hot enough to get the liquid crystals to blow out it probably would have created a vacuum upon colling,dragging some air in which would show all the time. It is a very rare defect.

http://www.retroleds.com probably has a spare module for you.

[dabbler]

Thanks for your comments and advise, had a feeling it may not be repairable Shame as the watch housing and strap look very nice. Ill try at retroled's.

FYI here is a pic of the module with no power.

[Old Tom]

What you have there is decay in the organic insulating layer in the LCD, it is a very common fault in pre 1980 CBM displays! Curiously if you leave the watch powered up the layer seems to heal itself and the display returns to normal (not always, but four out of six I have had have recovered). Be aware that the process is slow- think 6-9 months (but then the initial decay took 30 years!).