It is currently 28 Mar 2024, 17:46


Good sources for replacement quartz crystals? (oscillators)

For electronic related stuff like module repair, silver epoxy fixes etc.
  • Author
  • Message
Offline
User avatar

bitfiend

Techie

Techie

  • Posts: 118
  • Joined: 17 May 2004, 23:13
  • Location: United States

Good sources for replacement quartz crystals? (oscillators)

Post04 Jun 2004, 08:07

Anybody have a line on replacement quartz oscillators for Pulsar modules?
Also, what is the correct procedure to adjust the watch after replacement?
Offline
User avatar

fronzelneekburm

Guru

Guru

  • Posts: 1616
  • Joined: 05 Jan 2004, 15:15
  • Location: Kerpen, Germany

Re: Good sources for replacement quartz crystals? (oscillato

Post04 Jun 2004, 09:31

I thought you could use about every Quartz, as far as I know the only difference is the size and look of the quartz. Or does someone know more? :oops:
Offline

embelton

Techno Mage

Techno Mage

  • Posts: 693
  • Joined: 02 Jan 2004, 11:20
  • Location: Stockholm/Sweden

Re: Good sources for replacement quartz crystals? (oscillato

Post10 Jun 2004, 23:27

fronzelneekburm wrote:I thought you could use about every Quartz, as far as I know the only difference is the size and look of the quartz. Or does someone know more? :oops:


NOT!!! :evil:
Today I discovered that Hughes used quarts with 3 "contacts" but Benrus only had 2 so that won?t work :evil: :evil: :evil:
Why can?t it ever be easy????
Gonna start collecting beercans instead!!!!!
Offline
User avatar

fronzelneekburm

Guru

Guru

  • Posts: 1616
  • Joined: 05 Jan 2004, 15:15
  • Location: Kerpen, Germany

Re: Good sources for replacement quartz crystals? (oscillato

Post11 Jun 2004, 09:48

3 contacts???

Well that just goes to show that you can never know everything... :?
Offline

robc

Member

Member

  • Posts: 24
  • Joined: 24 Mar 2004, 17:22

Re: Good sources for replacement quartz crystals? (oscillato

Post15 Jun 2004, 14:57

embelton wrote:
fronzelneekburm wrote:I thought you could use about every Quartz, as far as I know the only difference is the size and look of the quartz. Or does someone know more? :oops:


NOT!!! :evil:
Today I discovered that Hughes used quarts with 3 "contacts" but Benrus only had 2 so that won?t work :evil: :evil: :evil:
Why can?t it ever be easy????
Gonna start collecting beercans instead!!!!!


It's possible that one of the three leads is simply a ground connection to the case of the crystal. I'm not aware of any crystals having three leads that do anything, unlike ceramic resonators, which come in two and three lead versions. (but wouldn't be used in a watch) Did you try putting in a 2 contact crystal to see if it would work? (and if it was easy, everyone would do it!)
Offline

Majestyk

Guru

Guru

  • Posts: 836
  • Joined: 18 Mar 2004, 07:21

Re: Good sources for replacement quartz crystals? (oscillato

Post16 Jun 2004, 12:59

Yes Hughes quartz crystals are completely different and have three connectors. The frequency is different as well so they are completely incompatible with other QC's. I might add that they also keep the best time and I rarely have to adjust the trimmer on Hughes modules.

MJ
Offline

monttyle

Member

Member

  • Posts: 7
  • Joined: 14 Aug 2004, 23:11

Re: Good sources for replacement quartz crystals? (oscillato

Post27 Aug 2004, 15:16

MJ wrote:Yes Hughes quartz crystals are completely different and have three connectors. The frequency is different as well so they are completely incompatible with other QC's.
What frequency do they use? If there aren't vintage parts available, it might be possible to find a modern equivalent.
Offline

Majestyk

Guru

Guru

  • Posts: 836
  • Joined: 18 Mar 2004, 07:21

Re: Good sources for replacement quartz crystals? (oscillato

Post27 Aug 2004, 22:10

The frequency the Hughes QC's use are 786,432 Hz. All the other QC's back then used 32,768 Hz.

MJ
Offline

embelton

Techno Mage

Techno Mage

  • Posts: 693
  • Joined: 02 Jan 2004, 11:20
  • Location: Stockholm/Sweden

Re: Good sources for replacement quartz crystals? (oscillato

Post28 Aug 2004, 00:14

MJ wrote:The frequency the Hughes QC's use are 786,432 Hz. All the other QC's back then used 32,768 Hz.

MJ


Is that Hughes frequenzy common these days?
I?m losing my edge!
Offline
User avatar

fronzelneekburm

Guru

Guru

  • Posts: 1616
  • Joined: 05 Jan 2004, 15:15
  • Location: Kerpen, Germany

Re: Good sources for replacement quartz crystals? (oscillato

Post28 Aug 2004, 00:17

Hmmm, I know one collector who once mentioned he has the usual 32000 Hz Quartz crystals that work for nearly all watches. And I also remember he said he also had some of the "older" Hughes Crystals with a higher frequency.

I didn?t ask any further, but now I?m sure he meant the 786000 Hz crystals.

I?m sure he called them the "old hughes" crystals, so if I assume right, then Hughes later maybe also used the 32000 Hz Crystals and the 786000 Hz are pretty rare?


I remember The Omega Mega Quartz watches, these also had much higher frequency crystals. I wonder if crystals can be bought somewhere, they?re also used in electronics or computers I think.
Offline
User avatar

richard_uk

Guru

Guru

  • Posts: 1075
  • Joined: 12 Jul 2004, 16:18

Re: Good sources for replacement quartz crystals? (oscillato

Post28 Aug 2004, 00:30

32.768Hz crystal oscilators can be bought from Maplin stores, in the UK anyway not sure if Maplin exsist in other countries? they cost about 50p each.
Offline
User avatar

fronzelneekburm

Guru

Guru

  • Posts: 1616
  • Joined: 05 Jan 2004, 15:15
  • Location: Kerpen, Germany

Re: Good sources for replacement quartz crystals? (oscillato

Post28 Aug 2004, 00:55

And all other frequencies?


I remember I needed to buy one for my RC airplane, but that one had a few Megahertz if I remember right...
Offline
User avatar

richard_uk

Guru

Guru

  • Posts: 1075
  • Joined: 12 Jul 2004, 16:18

Re: Good sources for replacement quartz crystals? (oscillato

Post28 Aug 2004, 01:30

sorry dunno, but they're catalogue is like a telephone book, so they've gotta be worth a try :)

http://www.maplin.co.uk/
Offline
User avatar

bruce wegmann

Pulsar Moderator

Pulsar Moderator

  • Posts: 1287
  • Joined: 02 Aug 2004, 02:13
  • Location: San Diego, CA

Re: Good sources for replacement quartz crystals? (oscillato

Post28 Aug 2004, 11:03

I have a few vintage replacements salvaged from otherwise unservicible modules. There are no current sources for the original style parts. Motorola [the original manufacturer] stopped making this type of crystal in the early 80s. The much smaller, cylindrical 32.768KHz crystals will work [as they are the correct frequency], but the adjustment trimmer may have restricted range because the smaller crystals have a different circuit capacitance [in the interest of keeping the watch as original as possible, I prefer to use a vintage replacement part]. This is not a complex repair. Crystal only, tested good, $25. Installed, with timing adjustment [guaranteed to meet or exceed the original 60sec/year tolerance], $40, + round-trip postage [typically $8, Priority Mail].

Bruce Wegmann 619 280-2204
Offline

Majestyk

Guru

Guru

  • Posts: 836
  • Joined: 18 Mar 2004, 07:21

Re: Good sources for replacement quartz crystals? (oscillato

Post28 Aug 2004, 13:09

I have an interesting Hughes module that has a QC with 2 contacts. (And no it's not missing one). It does not have one in the middle. However, the module does have the standard three holes for the contacts. Also, the QC has an 11.78 sticker on it which is odd, because this particular module, for Bulova Accuquartz watches, was not manufactured past 1975. So they must have done a repair job on it and were using different QC's at the time. I don't think Huges were even making LED watches just before 1979. I haven't tried it on my quartz timer to see what Hz it's at, but I'm sure it's their standard 786 KHz.
Offline
User avatar

fronzelneekburm

Guru

Guru

  • Posts: 1616
  • Joined: 05 Jan 2004, 15:15
  • Location: Kerpen, Germany

Re: Good sources for replacement quartz crystals? (oscillato

Post28 Aug 2004, 13:26

I don?t know if hughes ever made watches on their own brand, if yes then at least not many.

But they DEFINITELY built modules and parts before 1979... :D
Offline

embelton

Techno Mage

Techno Mage

  • Posts: 693
  • Joined: 02 Jan 2004, 11:20
  • Location: Stockholm/Sweden

Re: Good sources for replacement quartz crystals? (oscillato

Post28 Aug 2004, 13:30

fronzelneekburm wrote:I don?t know if hughes ever made watches on their own brand, if yes then at least not many.

But they DEFINITELY built modules and parts before 1979... :D


Didnt Hughes have a message watch with their name on it?
I?m losing my edge!
Offline
User avatar

fronzelneekburm

Guru

Guru

  • Posts: 1616
  • Joined: 05 Jan 2004, 15:15
  • Location: Kerpen, Germany

Re: Good sources for replacement quartz crystals? (oscillato

Post28 Aug 2004, 14:18

Yeah, I think they even had a few watches with their name on it, but I think these weren?t meant for mass market. Probably rather for the employees.
Offline

Majestyk

Guru

Guru

  • Posts: 836
  • Joined: 18 Mar 2004, 07:21

Re: Good sources for replacement quartz crystals? (oscillato

Post28 Aug 2004, 22:26

Um...I guess I didn't explain that right. What I meant is I don't think Hughes were making LED watch modules going into 1979 or the months leading up to it, which is why it was interesting to see one dated so late. They did make those LCD/LED modules in early to mid '78.

And yes, they did come out with a few watches of their own.

http://www.ledwatches.net/photo-pages/hughes2.htm
Offline

Ron

Newbie

Newbie

  • Posts: 1
  • Joined: 15 May 2005, 17:34
  • Location: AZ

Re: Good sources for replacement quartz crystals? (oscillato

Post30 May 2005, 23:58

Call Mike at Zantech. I have purchased 32KHZ crystals from him a few months ago. They were about $1.50 ea plus postage.
His # 800.441.7569
Ron 8)
Offline
User avatar

Higgie

Site Sponsor

Site Sponsor

  • Posts: 149
  • Joined: 02 Feb 2004, 00:14
  • Location: Netherlands

Re: Good sources for replacement quartz crystals? (oscillato

Offline
User avatar

rewolf

Guru

Guru

  • Posts: 1863
  • Joined: 11 Jul 2004, 15:32
  • Location: Ravensburg, Southern Germany

Re: Good sources for replacement quartz crystals? (oscillato

Post31 May 2005, 22:24


$12 for 75pcs is a good price. However, if you don't need so many, get one at Farnell, RS, Digikey,... - any elctronics supplier has them for max $1 single or small quantities.
Standard load capacitance is 12.5pF, don't know if this was so in the 70s. +/-20ppm tolerance is also standard, be aware that this is 1.7 sec per day. This is tolerance at 25?C, plus deviation due to temperature.
Next

Return to Electronical

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 36 guests