Today, I have a customer who came into my shop to change his G-Shock watch battery. I said: "RM30". He is ok with it, so I open the back case of the watch.
Then, I found out that it was not a normal battery, it was a solar battery. For solar battery. it's not RM30, it has to be RM100. He is shocked but soon agrees to change it.
I told him actually it doesn't need to be changed yet, we can try to put it under the sunlight or desk light for a few days, and let's see if it will back to work like normal.
He wanted me to just change it, but unfortunately, I have run out of that battery model, so he agreed to try to let it absorb some lights first.
So, I put it in my shop's showing cabinet, because it has a little spotlight which is quite bright and will provide enough power to charge it.
After about 1 day, it is back to life, but showing low battery and it cannot be operated. So I wait for another 2-3 days, it's at medium battery level at the moment. I took it out and set it back to the correct time, date, and year and also correct the hand alignments.
After that, I contacted my customer and he was happy to collect his watch functioning well without an expensive charge.
When he came to collect the watch, he told me he has put it in its watch box, then kept it in his drawer for years without wearing it. That's why it totally dies and it's actually a huge mistake you can do to your solar watch, no matter if it's using a solar battery or solar panel with a capacitor.
For this customer, he is lucky that this battery is still rechargeable after years of complete darkness. But if you are not lucky, the charging part can totally malfunction after a long time of not absorbing light.
2 mistakes you should avoid for your solar watch:
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Not giving them enough exposure to light. If the watch is not exposed to enough light, the battery may not charge fully, and the watch may run out of power or lose accuracy.
- Exposing the solar watch to extreme temperatures, such as leaving it in a hot car or exposing it to freezing temperatures. This can damage the watch and affect its performance.
To ensure that your solar watch functions properly and lasts for a long time, you should treat it with care by following these:
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Keep the watch exposed to light: Solar watches need exposure to light to charge their batteries. You should keep your watch in a place where it can receive enough natural or artificial light. If you're not wearing the watch often, just put it in an open watch box that can receive at least little light.
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Avoid exposing the watch to extreme temperatures: Exposure to extreme temperatures can damage the watch's internal components and affect its accuracy. You should avoid leaving your watch in very hot or very cold environments, such as a hot car or a freezing outdoor location.
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Keep the watch clean: Dirt and dust can accumulate on the watch's surface, and this can affect its performance. You should clean your solar watch regularly with a soft cloth and avoid using harsh chemicals or abrasives.
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Follow the manufacturer's recommendations: Different solar watches may have specific care and maintenance instructions, and it's important to follow them. This may include recommendations for battery replacement or service intervals.