Community Stories

X-33 not working when new battery installed. Any ideas?

Northernman
Posts
4,437
Likes
18,236
dragoman dragoman
A month ago I found my F300 stopped, so I took it to my watchmaker for a change of batteries (I know better than opening one of'em fork things), and I was scared sockless when he told me that it did not work...

We had been talking about the old mercury based 1.35 batteries, and he told me he still had some somewhere around his shop, but that the F300 did not need those old batteries. He kept the watch, I went home worried, because I quite like my Geneve F300, but I am not ready to buy another one, and I didn't know where to take it (my watchmaker had already told me he wouldn't touch a F300 with a barge pole, "been there, bought the microscope and got fed up to the teeth" were his words, only in Spanish we are way more vernacularly colourful, not Aussy colourful, but getting there).

When I got back the next day, he was as puzzled as me. He had put one of those old 1,35 batteries in the thing, and it went buzzing like there was no tomorrow. I hope he has more of those next time.

Batteries are a thing of the devil.

Hi!
No need to go the 1.35V way. All of my f300hz watches are running on modern cells, and doing it well.
The Bulova 21x calibers seem more sensitive to the voltage than the ETA/ESA (f300) ones.
If you need to service it I would strongly recommend to ship it to this guy in the UK. He will put it right at reasonable money:
http://www.electric-watches.co.uk/omega-f300-repair-accutron-repair.php

BTW: Here is the Omega official bulletin regarding changing to modern (1.55V) batteries on the f300 and other calibers:
SB Batteries1.jpg SB Batteries2.jpg
 
Littleroger
Posts
384
Likes
260
The unconverted Accutron 214s do require the 1.35 v but the 218s work fine on the 1.55v. My f300hz has no trouble with a 1.55v. There is a fantastic repair guy I have used many times called ludmil in Bulgaria. Highly recommended.
 
Northernman
Posts
4,437
Likes
18,236
Littleroger Littleroger
The unconverted Accutron 214s do require the 1.35 v but the 218s work fine on the 1.55v. My f300hz has no trouble with a 1.55v. There is a fantastic repair guy I have used many times called ludmil in Bulgaria. Highly recommended.
Must be this guy? http://accutronexpert.com/p/62/repair-service
Looks like a good enthusiast! 👍
 
gmkelm
Posts
42
Likes
181
The X-33 is fussy about batteries and I understand it has something to do with the bevel of the battery case. I have had issues with Panasonic batteries, so now I make sure that I install Renata only. It is also wise to voltage check the new battery to make sure it is at full voltage, another thing that the X-33 is fussy about.

Mark
 
CTS-V
Posts
786
Likes
7,281
Northernman Northernman
Hi!
No need to go the 1.35V way. All of my f300hz watches are running on modern cells, and doing it well.
The Bulova 21x calibers seem more sensitive to the voltage than the ETA/ESA (f300) ones.
If you need to service it I would strongly recommend to ship it to this guy in the UK. He will put it right at reasonable money:
http://www.electric-watches.co.uk/omega-f300-repair-accutron-repair.php

BTW: Here is the Omega official bulletin regarding changing to modern (1.55V) batteries on the f300 and other calibers:
SB Batteries1.jpg SB Batteries2.jpg

The damn hippies are taking our batteries....THOSE bastards!
 
jcmartinez98
Posts
722
Likes
952
Northernman Northernman
Or ESA9156. Most silly complication ever made?
Biorythms......
image.jpg
What does that one do? Tell you when your wife is ovulating?
 
dsio
Posts
31,173
Likes
36,538
jcmartinez98 jcmartinez98
What does that one do? Tell you when your wife is ovulating?
Indeed, and then to let you know the alarm beeps out the theme song from Rocky

 
J
Posts
34
Likes
77
You might try sending it to this guy. The turnaround isn't fast, and I bet shipping is expensive, but he appears to know what he's doing.

 
CTS-V
Posts
786
Likes
7,281
J josephvman
You might try sending it to this guy. The turnaround isn't fast, and I bet shipping is expensive, but he appears to know what he's doing.


Hmmm....the button fell off and the crown broke? Wow.....is that common w/the X-33?

I get it...they are in space and getting bang around a lot....but still...seems rather poorly constructed? Thoughts....?
 
cicindela
Posts
15,048
Likes
24,029
CTS-V CTS-V
Hmmm....the button fell off and the crown broke? Wow.....is that common w/the X-33?

I get it...they are in space and getting bang around a lot....but still...seems rather poorly constructed? Thoughts....?
No, they are very tough.
 
Sign up or log in to reply...