Speaking from a vintage digital restorer point of view, it is such a great feeling when digital watches come back to life. 😉 ..and you did a great job, my friend! 🤙🏼
Weirdly I find repairing digitals harder than mechanicals. I love how you use these videos as both an assembly guide and a "captains journal' of your findings! Those white nylon parts looks like the material they use for shock absorption. Maybe it just needed a thorough cleaning and reassembly to make sure everything had contact. Those tiny orange free floating connectors does not seem very durable. Well done on the tear down and reassembly! It seems to have done the trick! Oddly I have never owned a Timex. They are priced rather highly here in South Africa and I just end up getting another Casio.... Some swear by them though so I might just pick one up some time or another. Hope you have a great weekend Mike!
Thanks Johan! You make lots of interesting points... Timex's here in USA are relatively inexpensive - or at least they used to be! Timex has really upped their game with their analog (quartz & automatic) watches, but I have heard they've had some quality control issues lately. Lol, Captains Journal indeed! I like that way of putting it! 😁
@@WatchWithMike Thank you kindly! Then maybe I should give them a skip for now haha! Yeah its neat! It like a guide for us as well as for yourself! Hope you have a good one Mike!
Stick to Casio, boet! 😄 Yes I am from South Africa too. As a hobby, I restore and repair vintage digital watches. Not sure if you have noticed, but vintage digtial watches are not easy to find locally. My prized restoration was a Casio CA-901 that I bought at a flea market in Johannesburg for R50. Now worth considerably more because everything working and looking as new with a NOS crystal, case, top pushers and pusher plate.
Hi, the connector between the display and board (the foam) is called a zebra connector. The white sheet was the backlight panel as you thought. Often gold connectors can be cleaned using a pencil eraser (thin one in this case). IPA may also work and is good at removing grease etc.. Contacts over time will oxidise and just need a little clean (normally).
Fun video Mike! I definitely don't have that much interest in repairing digital watches generally, but it was fun to follow along with you as you repaired this one. More curious about your camera setup though! How many you're using, how you're getting them into computer (transfer files from cameras or record via HDMI capture cards), lenses, etc. The quality of the channel is really great!!
Hi AWD, even though the digital watches aren't my priority either, this one was very fun to work on! Thanks for the compliments on the footage! I've been working hard on perfecting my technique. I'm usually using 3 cameras to shoot 4k, and then editing down to 1080HD so I can really zoom in to show detail. My latest setup is 2 Sony FX30s and a Nikon Z6, plus the digital microscope. I generally shoot with 2 macro lenses (+/-90mm) and a medium range zoom (28-135mm), but I change things up and go wider if it's a bigger subject, like my staking set unboxing. Workflow is basic but effective - I'm recording to memory cards in each camera (and the microscope) and then transferring all the files from a computer in my workshop/studio to my server. I edit in another office using Premiere and the Adobe suite. I love talking photography and video production, so feel free to ask more! 😁
@@WatchWithMike That's awesome! And great, because I got plenty of questions! 😂 1. The FX-30 is a great video camera, I can't quite decide if I want to go with a used one, or another ZV-E10 for another camera angle. The new Sony sensor in the FX30/A6700 looks amazing, but the A6700 is definitely a no-go since it looks like it's very prone to overheat. I don't suppose you miss the photo features with the FX30 since you've also got the Nikon. Also, you don't mind shooting on a mix of full frame and APS-C? You'd need an adapter to share glass between the cameras anyway I guess. 2. How is focus on the microscope camera? I cannot seem to get mine to parfocal with the eyepieces no matter how I play with it, pretty sure something isn't right in the trinocular port. Do you find yourself needing to refocus the camera port adapter after playing with zoom levels? 3. Do you have any interest in live streaming? The workflow with memory cards is easy, but that's one thing that's making me consider the HDMI capture route instead, it'll let me stream too. 4. What lenses are you using? I just got the Laowa 65mm for the ZV-E10 and it's amazing! I assume you're at ~90mm after the APS-C 1.5x crop, so also shooting on around a 60-65? 5. I'd love to see a video on how you're mounting all the cameras. This is legitimately my biggest issue, as mounting anything to my sit stand desk requires serious bracing as to not wobble while I'm working at the desk, and I HATE having tripod legs all over my workbench in the way. So, I am always interested in how watch UA-camrs have their setup configured. 6. Last one for you! Are you doing any color grading, or applying any LUTs, and what gamma curve are you using (S-Log 3, HLG3, etc)?
@@AWDTurboPOWAH great questions! And boy, do I have answers… And I'll bet you already know what some of them are going to be! Would you like to take the conversation over to email or Instagram chat?
Fascinating! You are not only a skilled watchmaker but an excellent teacher as well! I recently picked up a vintage Hamilton LCD LED?? (Red lit numbers!) waiting for the new batteries to arrive and then I’m going to attempt a good cleaning and reassembly. The Sharing of your knowledge is greatly appreciated! Thank you.
Hi Eleanor! Those 'screws' are plastic dummies. The case might come apart further, but I can't tell by looking at it. I recently took apart a Casio G-Shock and the screws were real - and it was a double-shelled case, so I get why you're asking!
@@WatchWithMike Hey mIke, thanks so much for the reply, really helpful! Althought a pity they're dummied. I've got an Ironman Timex where the black, front part of the case is a bit worse for wear and I'd love to be able to just lift it off and replace it with another keeping the rest of that watch!
Nice! Used to wear these things. Very cool to see the insides. Didn't realize there were so many discrete components and two blob chips. Your fingers store a charge like a capacitor and that's what makes the screen light up. Doesn't take much charge at all to drive those things, it's really just a voltage and next to no current. The strip of contacts for the screen is called a zebra strip.
I would take apart as much of the movement as I could and clean all of the contacts. That didn't work then it's possible the processor is fried, which would be beyond my skill set to fix!
Hey thanks for the video I have a similar sports watch different model put in a new battery and it failed to turn on although the LCD did seem to flash briefly for a second but I couldn't get it to do that again I tried holding down the AC reset button and connecting the AC reset button to the watch battery with a paperclip but it doesn't seem to do anything after watching your video I took apart the little Contraptions I couldn't see any corrosion I have been swimming in the sea with the watch for a few years. I'm surprised it held up as long as it did even though it is waterproof to 5 ATMs the old battery didn't look like it was leaking and as far as I could see the internals on the circuit board I didn't see anything that looked like water had gotten in there I was kind of expecting it just to turn back on when I put in the new battery but unfortunately it seems like that was not the case I know a guy who repairs cell phones and he has the microscope equipment but he doesn't work on watches I actually have a spare watch that I can use for my swimming but it's just a little frustrating that I was able to get it open and exchange the battery and then it's still dead I don't know what else I can do and it's probably not economically feasible to have anyone attempt to repair it do you have any suggestions or idea what might have happened I guess it could have shorted out but I noticed the LCD gradually dimming over a period of about 12 hours and then it finally stopped working and it only was about a day or so before I put in the new battery anyway I appreciate your video it was very detailed I didn't try to clean it with isopropyl because it looks pretty clean but maybe if I dig some out I'll try that
I think alcohol would be a good next step, especially since the watch has been in salt water. Good luck, and please check back to let us know if you were successful!
I have a different version of the Ironman Triathlon with 18mm lug width, and the leather straps Vario makes for the Casio AE-1200 fit nicely on my Timex.
Sorry for jumping in, but I have to agree. Take the Casio Pulsecheck JP-100W and the Timex Pulse Watch. They look exactly the same minus the branding. 🤔
The little springs between layers of the movement and the movement and the back case are to prevent the buildup of static electricity, which could fry the electronics.
Thanks - that makes sense! I'll bet it also helps with shock absorption... I was amazed how well built this relatively affordable watch really is! And I can't fault the watch for not working - I'm sure it was human error on the last battery change that was the cause. 😃
hmm. This looks really involved. I have this exact model. I bought it at Kohls around 15 years ago for 35 or so. I recently wore it on a rainy day and it shut off entirely for 2 days. Then maybe it dried out(?) and started working again, but the time is wrong. And none of the buttons work. I guess I'll tinker with it a bit, but take it apart entirely. I don't have a repair kit and I don't have repair skills in this realm.
It sounds like you have nothing to lose by trying to fix it… Worst case scenario is you have to replace it, and it looks like these watches are still available and affordable. Good luck! 😁
@@ElderPinto254 when I was doing video production full-time, every piece of equipment ran on 9 V batteries. You better believe we did the tongue test in the field. I got so good I could tell the taste difference between Energizer and Duracell!
@@ElderPinto254 There's no doubt it releases serotonin in the body. Years from now, it will be considered a common health practice. We are ahead of our time! 👍🏼😁😳
That sticker on the inside of the caseback isn't an insulator- it's the piezo speaker. Those springs contact it and transmit power from the pcb to make the beeps! It's offset to line up with them.
I find it unbelevable the amount of platinum capacitors in this wath. By my count 12. Gold connectors wow. That watch couldn't have been cheep when it was new. Im not into e watches becaus of the shortige of knowledge but i can apreciate the watch, looking at you taking it down.
Excellent! I didn't know how much fun it would be until I started taking it apart. Platinum? I'm going to have to go back and see - I didn't know that!
Wow, the energy from your fingers lit up the screen. Cool.:) I think that little spring is what makes the beep sound.
As a kid I was always being grounded. 😂
@@WatchWithMike 🤔😂🤣😂🤣
Speaking from a vintage digital restorer point of view, it is such a great feeling when digital watches come back to life. 😉 ..and you did a great job, my friend! 🤙🏼
Thank you and agreed! It's like some kind of dark magic is activated when a digital watch comes to life!
Weirdly I find repairing digitals harder than mechanicals. I love how you use these videos as both an assembly guide and a "captains journal' of your findings! Those white nylon parts looks like the material they use for shock absorption. Maybe it just needed a thorough cleaning and reassembly to make sure everything had contact. Those tiny orange free floating connectors does not seem very durable. Well done on the tear down and reassembly! It seems to have done the trick! Oddly I have never owned a Timex. They are priced rather highly here in South Africa and I just end up getting another Casio.... Some swear by them though so I might just pick one up some time or another. Hope you have a great weekend Mike!
Thanks Johan! You make lots of interesting points... Timex's here in USA are relatively inexpensive - or at least they used to be! Timex has really upped their game with their analog (quartz & automatic) watches, but I have heard they've had some quality control issues lately. Lol, Captains Journal indeed! I like that way of putting it! 😁
@@WatchWithMike Thank you kindly! Then maybe I should give them a skip for now haha! Yeah its neat! It like a guide for us as well as for yourself! Hope you have a good one Mike!
Stick to Casio, boet! 😄 Yes I am from South Africa too. As a hobby, I restore and repair vintage digital watches. Not sure if you have noticed, but vintage digtial watches are not easy to find locally. My prized restoration was a Casio CA-901 that I bought at a flea market in Johannesburg for R50. Now worth considerably more because everything working and looking as new with a NOS crystal, case, top pushers and pusher plate.
@@Daud76 Ive never seen one like that before! That is super nice!
@@johanvandersandt8904Thank you so much. 🤙🏼
Hi, the connector between the display and board (the foam) is called a zebra connector. The white sheet was the backlight panel as you thought. Often gold connectors can be cleaned using a pencil eraser (thin one in this case). IPA may also work and is good at removing grease etc.. Contacts over time will oxidise and just need a little clean (normally).
@@rogercox6020 Thank you, excellent advice!😁
Very pleased with your presentation,Mike.Thank you.
Thanks Angel! I didn't know what to expect when I opened it up, but it turned out very well! 😁
Fun video Mike! I definitely don't have that much interest in repairing digital watches generally, but it was fun to follow along with you as you repaired this one. More curious about your camera setup though! How many you're using, how you're getting them into computer (transfer files from cameras or record via HDMI capture cards), lenses, etc. The quality of the channel is really great!!
Hi AWD, even though the digital watches aren't my priority either, this one was very fun to work on!
Thanks for the compliments on the footage! I've been working hard on perfecting my technique. I'm usually using 3 cameras to shoot 4k, and then editing down to 1080HD so I can really zoom in to show detail. My latest setup is 2 Sony FX30s and a Nikon Z6, plus the digital microscope. I generally shoot with 2 macro lenses (+/-90mm) and a medium range zoom (28-135mm), but I change things up and go wider if it's a bigger subject, like my staking set unboxing. Workflow is basic but effective - I'm recording to memory cards in each camera (and the microscope) and then transferring all the files from a computer in my workshop/studio to my server. I edit in another office using Premiere and the Adobe suite. I love talking photography and video production, so feel free to ask more! 😁
@@WatchWithMike That's awesome! And great, because I got plenty of questions! 😂
1. The FX-30 is a great video camera, I can't quite decide if I want to go with a used one, or another ZV-E10 for another camera angle. The new Sony sensor in the FX30/A6700 looks amazing, but the A6700 is definitely a no-go since it looks like it's very prone to overheat. I don't suppose you miss the photo features with the FX30 since you've also got the Nikon. Also, you don't mind shooting on a mix of full frame and APS-C? You'd need an adapter to share glass between the cameras anyway I guess.
2. How is focus on the microscope camera? I cannot seem to get mine to parfocal with the eyepieces no matter how I play with it, pretty sure something isn't right in the trinocular port. Do you find yourself needing to refocus the camera port adapter after playing with zoom levels?
3. Do you have any interest in live streaming? The workflow with memory cards is easy, but that's one thing that's making me consider the HDMI capture route instead, it'll let me stream too.
4. What lenses are you using? I just got the Laowa 65mm for the ZV-E10 and it's amazing! I assume you're at ~90mm after the APS-C 1.5x crop, so also shooting on around a 60-65?
5. I'd love to see a video on how you're mounting all the cameras. This is legitimately my biggest issue, as mounting anything to my sit stand desk requires serious bracing as to not wobble while I'm working at the desk, and I HATE having tripod legs all over my workbench in the way. So, I am always interested in how watch UA-camrs have their setup configured.
6. Last one for you! Are you doing any color grading, or applying any LUTs, and what gamma curve are you using (S-Log 3, HLG3, etc)?
@@AWDTurboPOWAH great questions! And boy, do I have answers… And I'll bet you already know what some of them are going to be! Would you like to take the conversation over to email or Instagram chat?
Fascinating! You are not only a skilled watchmaker but an excellent teacher as well! I recently picked up a vintage Hamilton LCD LED?? (Red lit numbers!) waiting for the new batteries to arrive and then I’m going to attempt a good cleaning and reassembly. The Sharing of your knowledge is greatly appreciated! Thank you.
Thanks for the kind words! I am slow to respond, so hopefully by now you got it working. 😀
Hey Mike, great video! Any idea if the four screws on the case are real or not? Is it possible to take apart the case even more? Cheers!
Hi Eleanor! Those 'screws' are plastic dummies. The case might come apart further, but I can't tell by looking at it. I recently took apart a Casio G-Shock and the screws were real - and it was a double-shelled case, so I get why you're asking!
@@WatchWithMike Hey mIke, thanks so much for the reply, really helpful! Althought a pity they're dummied. I've got an Ironman Timex where the black, front part of the case is a bit worse for wear and I'd love to be able to just lift it off and replace it with another keeping the rest of that watch!
Nice! Used to wear these things. Very cool to see the insides. Didn't realize there were so many discrete components and two blob chips. Your fingers store a charge like a capacitor and that's what makes the screen light up. Doesn't take much charge at all to drive those things, it's really just a voltage and next to no current. The strip of contacts for the screen is called a zebra strip.
lol, I thought it was my electric personality! 😁 I like the term 'zebra strip'. Thanks!
@@WatchWithMike Haha that helps. Of course, thanks for the video!
Thanks Mike. Where would you start if the module won't star up at all so can't prod the buttons to try and locate the area where the fault might be?
I would take apart as much of the movement as I could and clean all of the contacts. That didn't work then it's possible the processor is fried, which would be beyond my skill set to fix!
Hey thanks for the video I have a similar sports watch different model put in a new battery and it failed to turn on although the LCD did seem to flash briefly for a second but I couldn't get it to do that again I tried holding down the AC reset button and connecting the AC reset button to the watch battery with a paperclip but it doesn't seem to do anything after watching your video I took apart the little Contraptions I couldn't see any corrosion I have been swimming in the sea with the watch for a few years. I'm surprised it held up as long as it did even though it is waterproof to 5 ATMs the old battery didn't look like it was leaking and as far as I could see the internals on the circuit board I didn't see anything that looked like water had gotten in there I was kind of expecting it just to turn back on when I put in the new battery but unfortunately it seems like that was not the case I know a guy who repairs cell phones and he has the microscope equipment but he doesn't work on watches I actually have a spare watch that I can use for my swimming but it's just a little frustrating that I was able to get it open and exchange the battery and then it's still dead I don't know what else I can do and it's probably not economically feasible to have anyone attempt to repair it do you have any suggestions or idea what might have happened I guess it could have shorted out but I noticed the LCD gradually dimming over a period of about 12 hours and then it finally stopped working and it only was about a day or so before I put in the new battery anyway I appreciate your video it was very detailed I didn't try to clean it with isopropyl because it looks pretty clean but maybe if I dig some out I'll try that
I think alcohol would be a good next step, especially since the watch has been in salt water. Good luck, and please check back to let us know if you were successful!
Thanks Mike
👍🏼
I have a different version of the Ironman Triathlon with 18mm lug width, and the leather straps Vario makes for the Casio AE-1200 fit nicely on my Timex.
Cool! Side-by-side, Timex and Casio are very similar, so it's good to know that some of the straps may be interchangeable. Thanks for sharing! 😁
Sorry for jumping in, but I have to agree. Take the Casio Pulsecheck JP-100W and the Timex Pulse Watch. They look exactly the same minus the branding. 🤔
The little springs between layers of the movement and the movement and the back case are to prevent the buildup of static electricity, which could fry the electronics.
Thanks - that makes sense! I'll bet it also helps with shock absorption... I was amazed how well built this relatively affordable watch really is! And I can't fault the watch for not working - I'm sure it was human error on the last battery change that was the cause. 😃
Good job! I’m not in favor of digital watches but that doesn’t take anything away from a job well done! 👍
@@mokumholland5640 thanks Tom! It was a very fun project! 😁
Hey Mike, did you ever get your watch back from Omega service?
Yep! It's sitting on my desk downstairs waiting to be videotaped. Thanks for asking and stay tuned!
Good Job
Thank you!
I have dital watch led wouldn't trune on
1. New battery... 2. Open it up and give everything a wiggle. Sometimes that's all it needs!
hmm. This looks really involved. I have this exact model. I bought it at Kohls around 15 years ago for 35 or so. I recently wore it on a rainy day and it shut off entirely for 2 days. Then maybe it dried out(?) and started working again, but the time is wrong. And none of the buttons work. I guess I'll tinker with it a bit, but take it apart entirely. I don't have a repair kit and I don't have repair skills in this realm.
It sounds like you have nothing to lose by trying to fix it… Worst case scenario is you have to replace it, and it looks like these watches are still available and affordable. Good luck! 😁
nice mike ... and it works !!!! clean before licking 👍
Yes! Did you know that licking is also a valid technique for telling whether a battery has a charge? Shocking! 😁
yeah its tingling sensation on you tong... 9 volt feels nice ...@@WatchWithMike
@@ElderPinto254 when I was doing video production full-time, every piece of equipment ran on 9 V batteries. You better believe we did the tongue test in the field. I got so good I could tell the taste difference between Energizer and Duracell!
everytime i see a nine volt i have to test it its a strange thing for people that dont know ...😁😁😁@@WatchWithMike
@@ElderPinto254 There's no doubt it releases serotonin in the body. Years from now, it will be considered a common health practice. We are ahead of our time! 👍🏼😁😳
Fantastic
Hi Mohammed! Thanks for watching! 😁
That sticker on the inside of the caseback isn't an insulator- it's the piezo speaker. Those springs contact it and transmit power from the pcb to make the beeps! It's offset to line up with them.
Cool beans! I didn't know that! 😀
Yes, correct
I find it unbelevable the amount of platinum capacitors in this wath. By my count 12. Gold connectors wow. That watch couldn't have been cheep when it was new. Im not into e watches becaus of the shortige of knowledge but i can apreciate the watch, looking at you taking it down.
Excellent! I didn't know how much fun it would be until I started taking it apart. Platinum? I'm going to have to go back and see - I didn't know that!
👏👏👏👏👏
I appreciate you watching!