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Seiko QC 951 Quartz chronometer

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767Geoff

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Seiko QC 951 Quartz chronometer

Post22 Oct 2016, 01:18

Hello

Just acquired a Seiko 951 Quartz portable chronometer:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/78440/me ... ny+pics%29

I have a manual excerpt but no where does it mention the button cell type. The cells that were installed (non factory solder job :cry: ) for backup are two AG13. I am wondering if the original cells were rechargeable or strictly alkaline. It does not appear to be a charging circuit.

Any ideas?

Geoff

Hohohoho! :Prost: got it working. Now for a complete disassembly, cleaning the circuits and boards and cleaning the movement. Gorgeous movement: nineteen jewels. The plates are flash guilded against corrosion. Will post pictures as I restore it including the case.
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dutchsiberia

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Re: Seiko QC 951 Quartz chronometer

Post22 Oct 2016, 14:14

Super cool!
I've quickly read the manual on the link you provided, no mention at all about the type of secondary cell used! If it's supposed to be charged, you can measure the connections while the clock is running on the D batteries, there should be a charging current? No current means no rechargeable cells :)
And it's always wise to ask it on thewatchsite.com :)
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Old Tom

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Re: Seiko QC 951 Quartz chronometer

Post22 Oct 2016, 19:16

They must have been small rechargeable NiCd cells as they could only supply back up power for one day and the clock was shipped with an insulating board between the cells in the battery compartment (and shipping was guaranteed to be longer than one day").
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Re: Seiko QC 951 Quartz chronometer

Post22 Oct 2016, 19:40

Hi and thanks,

I was thinking the same way dutchsiberia is. Will measure for current today. However, even if they have no current I was thinking that a soldered connection for alkaline batteries which would need to be changed after a few years is a design flaw. Even soldered nicads instead of a pop in receptacle. This clock cost 800USd in 1963, that's around 4-5 thousand today!

Back to the clock, Old Tom, the batteries were alkaline AG 13 and poorly soldered, bulging and leaked, probably are replacement. Fortunately in a sealed plastic compartment. The D cells are encased in a sealed plastic tube to prevent leakage into the clock. Lots of leakage protection.

The clock ran without the backup batteries all night and is spot on the WWV display on my HeathKit GC1000 after 12 hours so backups not need for anything other then backup when changing D cells.

So next will be pictures and restoration process for case and cleaning and lube for the 19 jewellled movement.

Till next post, Geoff
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767Geoff

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Re: Seiko QC 951 Quartz chronometer

Post27 Oct 2016, 21:58

Hello:

For a history on the clock check out the following links. This was a very important step in Quartz technology and is the predecessor of the Astron:

http://global.epson.com/company/corporate_history/milestone_products/02_qc-951.html

http://global.epson.com/company/corporate_history/milestone_products/pdf/02_qc-951.pdf

http://forum.tz-uk.com/showthread.php?201397-Marine-Chronometers-Seiko-QM-10-and-Seiko-951-II

The clock arrived in non-working 'untested condition'. We all know what 'untested means ! It was mentioned that corrosion existed due to battery leakage of the main D cells. As it turned out, even if the D cells were installed this unit was a non-worker!

After researching the web and Watchuseek I found a user manual (the service manual is out there somewhere and is 200 pages!) and a few articles describing the history and some mechanical/electronic aspects of the clock. So armed with a tool kit and some rudimentary electronic testing I opened it up and found that someone had attempted repairs, lost screws and replaced the standby battery cells with alkaline AG13 with a poor solder job. Corrosion from the D cells had crept along the ground wire oxidizing it. The battery tube internal contact was corroded to a non conductive state. Two red wires were weakened by clumsy hands during a repair. Many weakened solder joints due to oxidation. This clock came from a ship salvage.

I played around, testing the continuity of the clock and managed to get it working with jumpers to the installed power supply circuit. However, to fully test and repair I knew I had to remove everything from the case. That led to a surprise, later on that.

1) here we see the entire circuit and clock removed from the top and bottom shell. The power is supplied by two AA cells and attached directly to the -ve and +ve wires. The blue sections are the sockets that receive the various circuit boards.

Image

2) these photos are useful as a colour coded guide to resoldering broken wires. As the wires oxidize they become fragile as seen in photos 3 and 4. Remember, photos are your friend.

Image

3a) the -ve or ground wire which attaches to the standby battery switching selector was severely oxidized and fell away from its solder joint.

Image

3b) you can see the clip end of the black wire in the lower right. It too was severely oxidized and needed mechanical and acid wash to receive solder and a new wire to complete the circuit.

Image

4) this is the start/stop push button and two wires separated from their respective solder points. All the wires that separated due to oxidation were replaced, three in all.

Image

5a) the standby batteries with the bad solder job. Were these originally NiCd on a trickle charge circuit? I still have to test the circuit to see if there is current supplied to the standby battery circuit board. If no current then these should be standard silver oxide (alkalines in the day).

Image

5b) the obverse view. I removed the batteries and cleaned up the circuit board so that new cells could be soldered in. Will do that when I am sure of which type they should be.

Image

6a) next we move on to D cell plastic tube. The tube is required due to the length the internal/external contact adds to the overall length of the two D cells and contact. The batteries when inserted in the tube and then into the case receptacle pushes the standby battery selector switch open causing the power to be drawn from the D cells. When the cells are removed a spring at the base of the battery receptacle inside the cabinet closes the circuit transferring the power supply to the internal button backup cells. Here is what the battery cover and tube looked like prior to cleaning.

Image

6b). The contact at the base of the tube inside was black with a thick layer of non conducting corrosion. Night in acid did not remove it. I had to physically remove it from the base of the plastic tube. Then grind away the corrosion to expose the brass contact. Then reinstall it back into the tube base.

Image

6c). External contact.

Image

6d). Tube ready for action.

Image

7a). The top bezel is brass or pot steel plated in chrome? Mine was very pitted and I may send it out for plating in the future. However a cleaning and a few coats of silver paint sufficed. The engraved script will be filled in with a black paint to emulate the original finish. Unfortunately my unit only came with one corrector button. I will fabricated one to match. The bottom shell was sanded and feathered at the paint chips and nicks then painted flat black.

Image

7b)

Image

7c)

Image

And here is the surprise, the initial testing involved the clock circuits in situ in the case. All connectors attached with new screws replacing the missing ones. The clock functioned perfectly! I then removed the entire clock circuitry from the case (figure 1). New wires installed and soldering work completed. I then disassembled th 19 jewel movement, then cleaned and lubricated and reassembled the movement. I then rigged it externally as seen in figure one. Then I went about cleaning the top and bottom shells, glass and seals.

I returned to the clock which was functioning only to find it was running 4 seconds fast per minute! Well I was stumped. Did I mess the movement up when I disassembled it? Did the lube affect it? What a disappointment. I disassembled the movement again and reassembled, no change, 4 seconds per minute fast!!! :no:

I decided, while waiting for some idea to come to me, to reassemble the clock inside the case while I pondered the predicament. To my surprise the clocks rate was perfect again. Removing it from the case caused it to repeat the fast rate. Reinstalling it caused the rate to return to normal. I can only suggest that there is a circuit that relies on a contact via the blue sockets (which one?) and it's securing screw to the chassis to help regulate the movement. The chassis is a positive chassis as the D cell positive end is contacted directly to the chassis (bottom shell). All the blue sockets are attached to the bottom shell via metal washers and screws.

It would be interesting to find an actual service manual to track down the electronics behind this. Suffice to say, don't time the circuit outside the chassis!

I have some finishing work on the case, new corrector push button to fabricate or secure and the clock will be done!

hope you enjoyed this, I will post some more pictures when fully completed.

Geoff

Running for three days now and spot on to my HeathKit GC-1000.

Image

Picture borrowed from: http://www.nixie.dk/~jthomas/gc1000.html
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Re: Seiko QC 951 Quartz chronometer

Post01 Nov 2016, 23:56

767Geoff wrote:Hello

Just acquired a Seiko 951 Quartz portable chronometer:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/78440/me ... ny+pics%29

I have a manual excerpt but no where does it mention the button cell type. The cells that were installed (non factory solder job :cry: ) for backup are two AG13. I am wondering if the original cells were rechargeable or strictly alkaline. It does not appear to be a charging circuit.

Any ideas?

Geoff

Hohohoho! :Prost: got it working. Now for a complete disassembly, cleaning the circuits and boards and cleaning the movement. Gorgeous movement: nineteen jewels. The plates are flash guilded against corrosion. Will post pictures as I restore it including the case.

The link showing a watch from the Swedish army? They must have used it something? The backinstructions are in Swedish?
Maybe if you search the M number you will find out more?
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767Geoff

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Re: Seiko QC 951 Quartz chronometer

Post10 Dec 2016, 21:07

Hi rogart,

Swedish army searches only lead me back to the link. The original poster has not responded but; I now have Shapeways printing me some test buttons in metalized plastic.

Spent time with tinkercad.com designing the buttons from my measurements:

Image

Image

I then sent that file to Shapeways and they have approved the design a structurally sound (rather simple design in the scheme of things):

Image

The clock is awaiting the new buttons! Of course I will need to sand the corners and drill my own hole in the centre of the button spindle to accept the switch arbor. That hole would be too small for Shapeways to create and allows me to hand drill with a pin vice. I also have to shave a little height off the spindle to match the original. I will change thatheight in deign mark two before it is released to the public:

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Re: Seiko QC 951 Quartz chronometer

Post17 Dec 2016, 13:17

super duper ... why do i always look for the difficult option....damn fool i am, just design the piece and let it 3d print..c'est si simple que dire bonjour :-D

:dwf:
Hey you all...this board is FREE and without ADS, so at least post something every now and then to show your appreciation.


Get the latest active topics of the board here.
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- Kasper -
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767Geoff

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Re: Seiko QC 951 Quartz chronometer

Post18 Dec 2016, 00:02

Ha!

Yep, 3D printing is neat stuff. Never done it before but thought I would try. I can actually have them printed in scintillated aluminum which is heated to form a solid block. Once I check fit and finish of the plastic ones I may just do that.

Never expected to get this running and now that it is it has not drifted from initial setting in two months. Also, replaced the back up cells after cleaning up the small PCB of corrosion and solder. Created a new battery installation diagram for the D cell battery tube also.

Will post pictures of the finished product.

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