I've got a few hummers and was wondering what type of battery life people are getting?
I've got a couple of Cone Seamasters and a Geneve and one of the Seamaster batteries has gone after 3 months.
Also what batteries are the best battery brand to use?
One last thing, is their a battery number guide for F300hz watches anywhere, can't find one.

Thanks in advance for your help.

T

 

Hey Tristan,

I'm getting around a year from new batteries in freshly serviced F300's - these were supplied as part of the service by Electric Watches, so not 100% sure on the brand.

He has mentioned on his facebook pages that bad batches do crop up, with some being DOA, and others lasting just a couple of months.

Cheers

Chris

 

Thanks Chris, I thought 3 months was a bit juicy!
I'll get in contact with Electronic Watches and try and get some info or a service.

 

the f300 takes a renata 344 , and i find it lasts around a year

 

Yep typically around 12 months is common for my three f300s too.

 

Thanks for the info. The last time I got the battery changed in my hummer it seemed to last hardly any time at all. Could be a bum battery or might need a service, but I think I’ll make sure it’s the correct battery first.

 

Around a year here too. There was a battery guide on Paul's (electric watches) last I checked.

Check your battery first but Paul is also very reasonably priced for a service too if required

 

Thanks

 

Likely the battery IMO. I have had Renata 344s last anything up to 18 months in hummers but it isn't a bad idea to hack them when not in use for long periods to save battery life and of course to stop the mosquito like whine! Renata do have a mixed reputation for quality recently, I have seen suggestions that Seiko, Sony or Maxell cells are better quality but have no idea if they do a 344 size as I tend to get my watch cells in person from Walsh who mostly stock Renata. Always check the use by date on watch cells, an ebay one may be out of date even before fitting and therefore not optimal.

 

You can always test the battery voltage to see where it's at before you install it.

Renata has a pretty bad reputation with most watchmakers I know of. I avoid them personally - use Maxell and have not been disappointed.

Cheers, Al

 

Hi Al,
Renata 344 is 1.5V
F300 hummer (cal. 1250) should be powered by 1.35V
Am I correct?
Thanks,

 

Omega calls for a 344...1.55 V.

 

It won’t matter on an F300, they work fine with 344s. It can matter on the rather different Accutron hummers but those can be adjusted (rephased?) to work and most will already have been done or will be using an appropriate cell.

 

Thank you.

 

Thanks for everyone's advice.
So I've been running mine on 350 since this post.
I found some interesting info from this battery company and it seems the 350 is the same voltage, but more powerful, so should last longer.
Have a look at the attached for more info.

 

Looks like the 350 is the high drain version but has the same capacity so should last the same time

 

Reviving an old thread, these don't run with anything other than 344/350?

I ordered a 344 1.5 months ago but it didn't arrive and I've now hoarded 3 of these watches that I'm just longing to try

From the chart @GarethS shared, it seems Renata 390 could work fine too - and it's widely available here

 

The 390 is slightly shallower and has a much reduced capacity so it will likely fit (and be cheaper) but probably struggle to last 6 months. Stick to the 344.

 

I would if I could honestly, but while 390 is wildly available, 344 is a unicorn here

 

Well in that case buy a batch of 390s and hack your hummers when not in use to save a few months of use. You may need to finesse the battery clamps to get a good contact as the 390 is thinner as noted above.