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.

 

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"...

 

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...

 

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.

 

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

Definitely an unusual thing to happen inside a watch.

 

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.

 

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

 

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.

 

Only possible in James Bond movies...

 

A short internal to the battery.

 

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.

 

Are you watching the Watchman?

 

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

 

No, is it good?

 

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.