Pulsar P3 - Date Not Working?

[seikoric]

Hi all, I just received a Pulsar P3, the time works fine but the date does not display

What could be the problem here? obviously the module isn't dead, is this a common problem and if so is it an easy fix? the auction I won it from showed the date was in proper working order

Any help would be much appreciated

Cheers! Ric

[fronzelneekburm]

Maybe its just the button...

But even if just the date is broken - this can happen, too.
I had a green Pulsar Dress and everything was working fine, it just didnt show the seconds. Weird things happen.

[richard_uk]

First thing to try is hover a magnet around the date button and see if it lights, then you know the problem is with the button (or faulty reed switch), if that doesn't work the next thing to check is the reed switch, if it doesn't light when you short the reed switch contacts I guess you're buggered......

[seikoric]

Hey thanks for the fast replies!

Well hovering the magnet did not show up the date and i dont want to open it just yet as i really wouldn't know what i would be doing!

- If you spent £150 on an advertised working Pulsar (pictures showed fully functional) and it turned up non-functional or semi-functional rather what would you do? Obviously as the watch is 30 years old, what do you think I should expect from the seller if I tell him of the situation?

Cheers, Ric

[Planet-LED]

It sounds like it is most likely a non-functioning reed switch. As for how to proceed, I would definitely contact the seller. You could get into a sticky bind if the seller wrote something like: "watch fully functioning when packed. Sold as-is, no refunds." But I would still contact the seller and note that the picture showed the watch fully functioning and the watch arrived with the date not working. It is important that you stick to the facts, and don't make any threats. There is a good chance he will be willing to work with you as far as getting the matter resolved.

[seikoric]

Good suggestion HDLED,

infact i just did that and got a response saying - It worked perfectly when it left and would appear that there was some damage in shipping.

unfortunately it doesnt seem so far he is willing to further the matter, a sorry to hear that would have nice although, rather than a blunt response without even signing the mail

i have sold many watches myself and fortunately have never been contacted by a buyer telling me the watch no longer works but im trying to put myself in that place, what would i do? hmm - is it worth trying to get any reperation for this would you think?

Anyway point two - how easy is it to mend a reed swith if that is the problem?

Cheers! Ric

[digibloke]

Awwww. That sucks!

I hate that "worked fine when I shipped it not my problem now" get out. It's open to misinterpretation and it's very unhelpful. Does the seller do a lot of trade in leds? If so then email him again politely asking if he can do anything about the fault (chances are that if he shifts a lot of Pulsars then he can change a reed switch).

If you bought it from someone that doesn't specialise in led watches then all you can do is take it on the nose (If you leave a negative feedback you'll probably get one right back).

So far as the reed switch is concerned all you can do is make sure it's broken (bridge the circuit over the switch with some tweezers and see if the date comes on) and if it is broken, change it. If you're not sure about this then give retroleds.com a try. It'll save you the hassle of sourcing a new switch etc.

Hope you get your watch working properly soon.

[leddwatch]

Hi Ric

There is a solution here, the only way you will ever know if it is a fault or reed switch is to run the module on a 3volt supply out of the case and short out the reed switch on the date side.

If its a faulty reed then its an easy repair. If the module is faulty then I will swap you a P2 case and strap, I have boxes full of them, just snip out the extra reedswitch and put the P3 module in there and youve got a great working P2, no-one will ever know and it retains its value.

Phil

[seikoric]

Hi digibloke, well the seller is 0l_stuff, you've probably seen him on the Bay, he's the guy with loads of Pulsars left to him by a deceased relative and he says in his auctions that he himself has no idea about the watches themselves and is selling them all as the money would be of more use

If you bought it from someone that doesn't specialise in led watches then all you can do is take it on the nose (If you leave a negative feedback you'll probably get one right back).

Looks like thats gonna have to be it :( , i dont think i would leave negative feedback

As for the reed switch, thanks for the tip, and also the website, i'm gonna do a bit of research on the ol' Pulsar module (read through some threads on this site for starters) so i get an idea of how it functions


Phil hi, i have opened many LCD watches but never an LED so i am a bit wary but as i say im gonna do some reading up and see if im up to it!

As for the swap, im a bit unsure as to what you mean and what we would exchange exactly but i am intrigued :)

Cheers! Ric

[Planet-LED]

I bought a watch from him and it was much worse than described. I left positive feedback because I didn't want negative feedback left in return.

I doubt you will get far with him. If you've not taken apart an LED watch before, this probably isn't the time to learn--you need to be grounded, know how to solder, etc. I would favor sending it to www.retroleds.com for repair. Granted it will cost you more to get a working LED watch than originally anticipated, but at least this way you will be getting what you paid for.

[leddwatch]

As for the swap, im a bit unsure as to what you mean and what we would exchange exactly but i am intrigued :)

Cheers! Ric

Hi Ric, if it turns out that you have a date fault on your P3, then put your module into a P2 case and you've got a fully working P2, my offer would be that if you send me your case and band then I would send you a P2 case and band as a swap. Put in your P3 module with the reed switch cut out and theres no fault....

[seikoric]

HDLED, i haven't left feedback yet and i might just not leave any at all unless he requests it and then i'll think about it,

- not that hes done anything wrong its just he has done nothing to right the situation, i believe a sale isn't over once the item has been shipped - it is over when the customer is satisfied that he or she has received what was promised to them and what they paid for

Anyway i may contact www.retroleds.com for a quote

Cheers

leddwatch - Ahh now i get it! - i see obviously so the date button doesnt exist on the P2, well thats an interesting offer! When i bought this P3 my idea was to also find a P2 and decide which i liked the most and keep just one of them, or if i really liked them equally i would keep them both,

i dont know at this point whther i would prefer a P2 case as i have never held one in my hands - I will have to think about this :)

Cheers! Ric

[Clive]

This seller is getting away with selling watches that don't work, everyone needs to leave bad feedback, I have!!

[seikoric]

This seller is getting away with selling watches that don't work, everyone needs to leave bad feedback, I have!!

Hi Clive, does the one you received look exactly like the one in the auction? and also did you let him know it was dead before giving him neg feedback and what was his response?


Cheers, Ric

[Led007]

Hi,
It's sad because I had the same problem with this guy... Over a year ago I bought a P3 Date II supposely in perfect working condition, and neither reed switch worked correctly... It looked like the wrong P3 module was put in the case that wasn't compatible with the magentic buttons..... Plus when I opened the watch up there was silicon on a broken reed switch.... Someone tried to fix a broken reed switch...... Duhhhh not possible, it has to be replaced!!!! Also, he told me that the watch was fully working when shipped out, and that it was damaged in shipping....... Not possible the box was in perfect condition.... He wanted me to make an insurance claim......... On what!!!! the watch was fine it was internally damaged and butchered by someone...... I left him a neutral, and he left me a very nasty feedback... I lost money on this watch, and to this day it still doesn't work..... But, since then I bought 4 near perfect mint Pulsar's on Ebay... that work perfecty, and I also bought a mint Pulsar GF dress from retroleds.com........ED..... Hey nice watch Seikoric that is one my favorite worldtime LCD watches made by Seiko... That watch is so unique and cool..... I don't own one, plus they are very hard to find in mint condition!!

Thanks,
Mike

[bruce wegmann]

Bit confused here; what did you buy...a Date/II or a P3. They're not the same watch; only the Date/Command is properly referred to as a P3. The Date/II is still a P2, just with the date function added. They both use exactly the same electronics, so it isn't possible to put in the "wrong" P3 module. That aside, I think the guy is pretty up-front about his level of knowledge and intent ["I know NOTHING about these watches, and I just want the money"]. He's certainly one of those sellers where it's VITAL to pay close attention to every detail the pictures show, and if there's doubt in your mind, you should pass on the item [after all, the final choice to bid is yours, and the instant you hit that "confirm" button, you are assuming some risk]. That doesn't give a seller a license to commit deliberate fraud, but I can't think of anyplace in the world to which the phrase "buyer beware' could be better applied, than the realm of online auctions. I've been "imposed upon" twice in three years; buying watches whose defects were certainly concealed by the seller [displays lit up to show the watch was working, but showing numbers that did not require bad segments to be lit...a convincing illusion]. I got the last laugh; I was able to repair both watches. In one case I let it go, in the other, I filed a claim with PayPal, and was able to demonstrate that a fraud had been perpetrated. Six days later, I was credited with not only my purchase price, but the shipping as well, and was not required to return the watch. So, I basically got a free Date/Command, and a dishonest seller got a serious lesson. If you think you've been cheated, don't ever be afraid to assert your rights.