Watch Battery blew open

lillatroll · Dec 10, 2019

The watch battery in my Omega TC1 blew open and now the module is damaged. It still shows the seconds and all the lines are working but it doesn’t work properly. No surprises there. Any idea how common a problem an exploding battery is and what might have caused it?

Secondly does any one have an idea of repair possibility and who might be able to fix it? I am based in Romania but from the UK.

Archer · Dec 10, 2019

Please show a photo of this "exploded" battery.

Batteries often leak, in particular when they are low on voltage or dead, but in all my years in watch repair and servicing I've never seen one "explode"...

Canuck · Dec 10, 2019

I have only know of one to explode. I accumulate dead batteries until there are enough for the re-cycler. One day, I was sitting at my bench, working away, and “plink”! A battery exploded, and blew an adjacent one out of the container. This is probably a rare occurrence, but it can happen.

Archer · Dec 10, 2019

Canuck
I have only know of one to explode. I accumulate dead batteries until there are enough for the re-cycler. One day, I was sitting at my bench, working away, and “plink”! A battery exploded, and blew an adjacent one out of the container. This is probably a rare occurrence, but it can happen.

Yes, this is certainly a risk if you dump them, all into one container, and they still have some life left in them - comes from being shorted.

Never seen this happen inside a watch though...

lillatroll · Dec 10, 2019

Here you go. I suppose popped is a better word than exploded, which might sound dramatic. But 30 people in staff briefing jumped simultaneously in their chairs as the pop was quite loud and quite unexpected.

Archer · Dec 10, 2019

Okay - quite possible this battery is shorted. Out of curiosity, what brand is it?

Definitely an unusual thing to happen inside a watch.

Walrus · Dec 10, 2019

https://pulsarledtime.com/

I talked to these gentleman about one they are very helpful. They are in the UK but you can at least get info I’m in the US and they worked with me.

Canuck · Dec 10, 2019

It would be interesting how the cell in an operating watch could explode, the result of a “short”. 😁

Dan S · Dec 10, 2019

lillatroll
Here you go. I suppose popped is a better word than exploded, which might sound dramatic. But 30 people in staff briefing jumped simultaneously in their chairs as the pop was quite loud and quite unexpected.

I'm going to give you "exploded" on this one. 😲

I don't suppose there was any water infiltration or other foreign matter inside the watch.

Utheman · Dec 10, 2019

Only possible in James Bond movies... 😀

Archer · Dec 10, 2019

Canuck
It would be interesting how the cell in an operating watch could explode, the result of a “short”. 😁

A short internal to the battery.

Professor · Dec 10, 2019

Not uncommon for similar but larger mini flashlight and laser pointer batteries.
Whatever the cause it would be a matter of a gas being generated. I'd expect it to be caused by a chemical contamination during the manufacturing process. One in a million perhaps but these are slopped out in the hundreds of millions.
With the higher profile battery explosions, and resulting fires, involving lithium Polymer batteries other lesser capacity types get little notice.

Foo2rama · Dec 10, 2019

Utheman
Only possible in James Bond movies... 😀

Are you watching the Watchman?

03Hemi · Dec 10, 2019

Archer
A short internal to the battery.

Archer we’re told here in the US there’s a decearnable difference between Swiss batteries and Japanese? Is this true or BS? Thanks

Utheman · Dec 10, 2019

Foo2rama
Are you watching the Watchman?

No, is it good?

Foo2rama · Dec 10, 2019

Utheman
No, is it good?

Yes and it’s a plot point on exploding batteries.

lillatroll · Dec 10, 2019

Archer
Okay - quite possible this battery is shorted. Out of curiosity, what brand is it?

Definitely an unusual thing to happen inside a watch.

It is a renata 357 battery. I purchased them in October of this year. I have only used the watch once in rotation previous to yesterday.

JimInOz · Dec 11, 2019

03Hemi
Archer we’re told here in the US there’s a decearnable difference between Swiss batteries and Japanese? Is this true or BS? Thanks

lillatroll
It is a renata 357 battery. I purchased them in October of this year. I have only used the watch once in rotation previous to yesterday.

I've never had one explode, but have had two or three Renata batteries leak.
I use Japanese Maxell or Seizaken (Seiko) batteries and never had problems.

lillatroll · Dec 11, 2019

Dan S
I'm going to give you "exploded" on this one. 😲

I don't suppose there was any water infiltration or other foreign matter inside the watch.

Definitely not water but I can't be sure there were no small particles in there. My guess is I was just unlucky with a faulty battery. I am sure the chances are 0.0000000000000001% or less of it happening.
I sent a mail to the company, more to make them aware of the issue as opposed to them doing something. I am sure they would want to know about this issue.

dx009 · Dec 11, 2019

Batteries have an expiration date, believe it or not, so maybe it was an older battery or something. Sad that it has happened.

Also, always be sure to use good quality batteries.

Watch Battery blew open

lillatroll

Archer

Canuck

Archer

lillatroll

Archer

Walrus

Canuck

Dan S

Utheman

Archer

Professor

Foo2rama

03Hemi

Utheman

Foo2rama

lillatroll

JimInOz

lillatroll

dx009

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