It is currently 28 Mar 2024, 17:33


Citizen Multi Alarm World digital ca 1983 resurrection!

Owners of VINTAGE DSM and LCD watches post their topics over here
  • Author
  • Message
Offline
User avatar

767Geoff

Techno Mage

Techno Mage

  • Posts: 564
  • Joined: 05 Feb 2007, 17:58
  • Location: VANCOUVER, B.C.

Citizen Multi Alarm World digital ca 1983 resurrection!

Post01 Sep 2018, 21:34

update:

looking at the manual the calendar goes from 1901 to 2100. Dates from 1901 to 1999 show as a four digit date. Years from 2000 to 2100 appear as a two digit number:

Ex). 1901 = 1901; 1999 = 1999; 2018 = 18

Still my paragraph on equivalent years is applicable for watches like the Seiko M154 who’s calendar only go to 2017)



I love this watch, a Citizen Multi Alarm (2) World (3 letter code cities) with stop watch and countdown timer on original bracelet circa 1983. Case and module number:

4-099222 TA
41-5014

Picked up two junked and very sad looking cases with modules. Some blue copper sulphate on all circuit boards. One case with missing stem and stem case tube. Another with smashed crystal (will get one cut).

Stripped down both modules and selected the best of each. Nothing discarded as another module/case is on its way. I am hoping to get at least two running from what was 3 junked watches.

For more on the watch see digital watch library (incredible source including manual):

http://www.digitalwatchlibrary.com/DWL/1work/citizen-41-5014

Quite a few mechanical levers and contacts attached to the stem. The stem is a push, neutral and pull three position. Two push buttons for setting while the stem is for mode changes and setting within mode changes. See manual as this watch packs two push buttons and a three position stem into one package to allow the following:

1). Time
2). Calendar with memo function
3). Alarm one
4). Alarm two
5). World time with three letter city codes: ex) LON, DEN, CHI (London, Denver, Chicago)
6). Count up stopwatch
7). Count down timer.

The LCD panel is dual layer for time functions and calendar/memo display. The date year selection goes up to 1999 and stops. There is no way to set the day of week except by finding the equivalent calendar year prior to 1999. For example 1990 calendar is equivalent to the 2018 calandra. So while setting the watch I selected 1990 in the year section. This correctly set the day of week. Here is a site that will give equivalent calendars:

https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/repeating.html

So if your digital watch requires the year for correct operation and the memory was too limited to include dates to 2100 then check out the above web site.

Both modules had major failures and there are two separate circuit panels per module. The circuit panels are connected vertical via 6 tiny springs. I had to cut and use springs from watch strap spring bars. My stock had perfectly sized spring diameters in a gold colour like the missing originals (someone had been inside and obviously lost them). As well there are two springs which contact the case back and piezo that were missing.

One module had corrosion badly on the stem setting mechanisms and levers. One had broken setting/contact lever due to the corrosion. Also missing was a contact mechanism which allows the push mode selection to function. The second module had a defective alarm circuit which I am trouble shooting.

So the following pictures are of a watch containing parts from both donor modules. This watch functions and looks perfect (in my eyes). So from two defective non working donors here is the result including:

1). functioning push mode selection.
2). Functioning alarm.
3). All lcd segments functional (initially they weren’t).
4). All three sections (tripartite) of the case cleaned, derusted, polished and brushed to original factory standard.

Page one of the display: Local time display

Image

Calendar showing month and correct day association because I have selected year 1990 while setting the watch, also you will notice the 1 is not showing, it flashes to indicate the current date and the photo caught it between the flash.

Image

Here is the calendar with two memos set, one for the 5th and one for the 6th of September. These digits cycle on and off to indicate a memo is occurring on that date. You will notice the 1 is also blank but that is because it flashes (photo taken on Saturday the 1st) at twice the frequency as the memo 5th and 6th to indicate today’s date.

Image

Alarm one followed by alarm two:

Image

Image

World time selectable to 27 zones and 22 cities. Zulu or UTC is not labelled but selectable as “- - -“ hence more zones then cities. Here you see LON selected:

Image

Stopwatch to 11:59:

Image

Timer from 11:59 to 0:00

Image


Only downside is the timer and stopwatch can not be run simultaneously. Probably due to the limited ROM available to control the functions.

All in all a pretty impressive amount of functions packed into one watch!

Cheers, Geoff

If anyone has a spare crystal or knowledge about a source along with the case crystal gasket and upper beagle to case gasket I would appreciate a line. Also any dead modules hanging around? :grin:

Cheers, Geoff
Offline
User avatar

767Geoff

Techno Mage

Techno Mage

  • Posts: 564
  • Joined: 05 Feb 2007, 17:58
  • Location: VANCOUVER, B.C.

Re: Citizen Multi Alarm World digital ca 1983 resurrection!

Post02 Sep 2018, 19:23

Here is a shot of the remaining parts left over from the combination to get one functional good looking watch.

Image

1). Case part module holder missing case tube (centre piece).

2). Case back with sound holes for alarm.

3). Vibrating plate and piezo segment (chipped).

4). Top bezel for crystal (removed) and containing crystal gasket.

5). Internal dial.

6). Main plate with setting levers/contacts removed (13 & 16).

7). Large PCA with LCD connection points.

8). Frame for LCD panel, reflector, light bulb projection lens and zebra strips.

9). Clamps and zebra strips for LCD panel.

10). LCD reflector.

11). LCD lightbulb projection lens.

12). LCD panel working ;)

13). Some springs made from spring bar springs. Needed 8 to replace missing set.

14). Second circuit board containing Quartz crystal, alarm beeper and controlling IC along with RAM.

15). Battery and final circuit cover.

16). Some of the setting levers/contacts.

Missing: a corroded and broken setting lever, a broken and missing piece to the push mode selection mechanism, stem, stem case tube, crystal. Hopefully next module will help out sourcing these items. I hope to get another running.

Circuit board #16 above has defective alarm circuit. Note the six tiny springs which contact the #7 circuit board. Had to cut thes from a spring bar spring, see #13. Also cut two longer ones to replace missing alarm contact springs.

Close ups:

Image

Image

Cheers
Offline

elceedee

Wizard

Wizard

  • Posts: 347
  • Joined: 10 Aug 2012, 06:01

Re: Citizen Multi Alarm World digital ca 1983 resurrection!

Post22 Sep 2018, 14:25

Hi Geof,
Thats whats called the Grail amongst Citizen digital watches, as far as Im concerned.
I have two versions of this model, one with a dark dial and one with a white dial.
For the one with the white dial Im looking for a good display and a good stem/crown. I know (considering the nature of your thread) this is a bit the other way around..
But maybe you can help me out

Meanwhile, goodluck with your project! It took me a few years and several donor's to get one complete and the other allmost complete. These models do come by, so Im positive you will succeed!

Edit: Aaaah, sorry I misread: you DID succeed! Very nice!
Offline
User avatar

767Geoff

Techno Mage

Techno Mage

  • Posts: 564
  • Joined: 05 Feb 2007, 17:58
  • Location: VANCOUVER, B.C.

Re: Citizen Multi Alarm World digital ca 1983 resurrection!

Post22 Sep 2018, 20:27

Hello elceedee

Yes success, minor problems. I used two to create one. The functioning watch has a very low volume beep and I am hoping it is due to the cracked piezo buzzer. Both rear cases had broken or cracked buzzers. The second problem is the display is dark. Typical of the two layered lcd panel. But this one has aged darker. It is an even patina, not a netonian ring or decomposition of the polarizer.

The second LCD panel is brighter but has three dead segments in Volvo get the dark squares which cover the day symbols and a third segment on the digital display. Initially I thought this was a bad zebra strip cont8nuity but a clean8ng, swapping and testing resulted in no change to the same missing segments so I am sure it is the contact points on the LCD panel itself and not a zebra or PCA fault. That is the LCD panel that works, does so on both PCBs.

I have a third parts module and case coming and hope that it will supply replacements for the broken switching lever, bad LCD, bad peizos and the scratched crystal will supply a template for a crystal replacement as the crystals are no longer available.

I can always improvise on the peizos by cutting a correct shaped one from my spares.

Best regards, Geoff


And yes this is the holy grail of citizens. I am amazed at its functionality for 83.

So hopefully

Return to Vintage DSM and LCD Watches

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 41 guests