Bench DC power Supply - Button Cell Battery -

[JerseyMo]

This week I started to work on a Waltham Electrodyne watch form the 1970's. As with any early battery op movement the first issue is "do I have the right battery".  Which of course I did not but did have one a bit larger and was able to hold in place long enough to see that the movements looks to be running.  Something I have been considering is to have a variable low voltage DC power supply for testing.   I 've done some searching and found a few like the one in the photo below that looks to be just what I'm after.  Has anyone used or built something similar?

 

[watchweasol]

Hi JerseyMo    I build a variable PSU designed by Martin Catt It is also a diagnostic station It was posted on March 28 with pictures.. Google Martin Catt and look for the variable power supply ,, 

[JohnR725]

Either designing and building your own or building from the plans mentioned above at least are designed for doing watches. The problem with the power supply you're looking at is it's capable of supplying a heck of a lot of power way beyond what a watch needs so I would fear if you are not careful you might vaporize your watch circuit.

I was looking at some of the YouTube reviews and there's a fine adjustments but when you're down at the really low voltages it really doesn't do that much. Really what you need is a power supply between zero and 3 V not 30 and the current meter will be a waste of time as watches draw way less. So you're really going to need another meter for measuring the current.

That I have a link to additional information about your watch

https://electric-watches.co.uk/makers/waltham/

[JerseyMo]

2 hours ago, watchweasol said:

Hi JerseyMo    I build a variable PSU designed by Martin Catt It is also a diagnostic station It was posted on March 28 with pictures.. Google Martin Catt and look for the variable power supply ,, 

I'm not familiar with Martin Catt and Google search is a generic result. Is this a company name or an individual?

 

[watchweasol]

Hi JerseyMo  this is the link   http://www.pocketwatchrepair.com/catt/pwr-supply.php   Its an article by Catt on the variable power supply.             Martin Catt is a bona fide watchmaker  who designed the variable supply.  Hope you find this of use to you.

[JerseyMo]

thanks

[AndyHull]

I don't use my bench supply for watches (mainly because I fear I may zap them with 12V by mistake)...

I have a bunch of AA battery holders with IC test clip leads on them. 1xAA, 2xAA, 3xAA and 4xAA to give me 1.5V, 3V, 4.5V and 6V

Here is one of them in action.

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There are a variety of clips that I use too.

 

Search ebay for for the keywords "SMD IC Probe Clip Jumper Grabber" or similar.

These little clips make fixing the supply to the watch module a slightly less risk process.

Edited April 17, 2020 by AndyHull

[watchweasol]

Dead handy  not beautifull but functional,   great.

[JerseyMo]

14 hours ago, AndyHull said:

I don't use my bench supply for watches (mainly because I fear I may zap them with 12V by mistake)...

I have a bunch of AA battery holders with IC test clip leads on them. 1xAA, 2xAA, 3xAA and 4xAA to give me 1.5V, 3V, 4.5V and 6V

Here is one of them in action.

e

There are a variety of clips that I use too.

 

Search ebay for for the keywords "SMD IC Probe Clip Jumper Grabber" or similar.

These little clips make fixing the supply to the watch module a slightly less risk process.

exactly what I first thought about using.  I simple AA battery with two leads to attach.  This would only be used on the early watchers that don't have any electronic parts. This way I can't over load any circuit. Just seems lately that my previous career of repairing coin operated amusement machines is coming back to life.