CompuChron acting funny...

[Bad Juju]

... and not in a "haha" way, either. I bouth this NOS CompuChron earlier this summer. When I got it it was working just fine. Now, when I press the button to turn on the time and change to date or seconds, it sometimes freezes with one or two digits showing. I have to remove the back, take the batteries out and then put them back in. After I do this I can reset everything but it freezes after a push or two of the button.

It occurred to me that perhaps the batteries are getting old and running down. However, when the display freezes it still keeps the same intensity as when it is working correctly. Is this a possible symptom of old batteries or is this a sign of a dying module?

My watch is the same as this watch. In fact I bought it from the same guy.

I hesitate to spend money on batteries if the module is just old and dying. (Wow just like Obama care! ) Hopefully someone with experience with CompuChrons can help.

Thanks!

[J Thomas]

[retroleds]

... and not in a "haha" way, either. I bouth this NOS CompuChron earlier this summer. When I got it it was working just fine. Now, when I press the button to turn on the time and change to date or seconds, it sometimes freezes with one or two digits showing. I have to remove the back, take the batteries out and then put them back in. After I do this I can reset everything but it freezes after a push or two of the button.

It occurred to me that perhaps the batteries are getting old and running down. However, when the display freezes it still keeps the same intensity as when it is working correctly. Is this a possible symptom of old batteries or is this a sign of a dying module?

My watch is the same as this watch. In fact I bought it from the same guy.

I hesitate to spend money on batteries if the module is just old and dying. (Wow just like Obama care! ) Hopefully someone with experience with CompuChrons can help.

Thanks!

Shaun:
Check your batteries - I bought some off that seller(nice guy)_, but he is using cheaper batteries. And you understand that the one battery that is facing negative(nipple) down has a contact in the side of the battery well, as that battery is under constant drain to maintain the clock. The other battery kicks in when you actually need display. I suspect you have one that is fairly strong and one that is almost flat(clock side), which will give you what you are getting. A small cheap battery tester can really save your sanity.
I personally like this style of tester and have several laying about so one is always handy. http://cgi.ebay.com/Universal-9V-AA-AAA ... 4802wt_804

[Bad Juju]

Ed,

Thanks! That was it. I stopped at Fry's the other day and now it works great again.

One thing... one time when I went through the setting routine, I got flashing seconds at the end. This is so the display button can be pressed to zero the seconds when synchronizing with a time source (Casio Atomic Pathfinder in my case). However, I can't get the watch to do that again. Any idea how to get it back into synchronizing mode when setting it?

[retroleds]

If your's had a synchronization feature, that usually is only activated when you change minute settings. Pretty much any brand. Make sense?

[rewolf]

One thing... one time when I went through the setting routine, I got flashing seconds at the end. This is so the display button can be pressed to zero the seconds when synchronizing with a time source (Casio Atomic Pathfinder in my case). However, I can't get the watch to do that again. Any idea how to get it back into synchronizing mode when setting it?

I don't know the Compuchron, but many watches enter the "zero seconds" mode only when you adjust the minutes - a bit annoying if your watch runs fast because you always have to go through a full 60min setting cycle if you want to adjust the seonds.


Regarding batteries: buy batteries only where they are sold in high volume. For button cells, this rules out any local store - ususlly they have benn collecting dust for many years on the shelf. Exception: expiry date printed on battery or packaging: must be at least 3 years in the future; 5-7 years for Lithium batteries.
Personally, I buy batteries only online, and only from sellers that guarantee either production or expiry date. Button cells only from Varta, Renata, Panasonic, Sony, Maxell. NEVER had a dodgy battery yet (buying ~100 per year as I'm the "coin and Lithium battery supplier" for all my friends and colleagues )

Edit: Ok, Ed was faster (again)

[Bad Juju]

If your's had a synchronization feature, that usually is only activated when you change minute settings. Pretty much any brand. Make sense?

I don't know the Compuchron, but many watches enter the "zero seconds" mode only when you adjust the minutes - a bit annoying if your watch runs fast because you always have to go through a full 60min setting cycle if you want to adjust the seconds.

I understand and that all makes sense... but I SWEAR it only goes into synch mode every once in a while. Usually, when I press the recessed setting button after setting the minutes it goes back into the standard mode. I have only had it go into second synch mode a few times. Oh well... I suppose it isn't a big deal for a ~35 year old watch.