Technically, a solar watch can work without a battery. But since solar energy is available only during the day, the watch needs a battery to store energy for night use.
Therefore, the watch of a solar battery is just as important as the other parts.
It promises years of efficiency, but certain conditions can also run it down. So, can a solar watch battery be replaced? And more importantly, should you do it yourself? Read on to find out!
Can you Replace a Solar Watch Battery?
The mechanism behind a photovoltaic system is the use of sunlight to generate electricity. However, solar energy is barely noticeable at night; the photons are not nearly as strong.
So, these watches need batteries to power through the night. With great power comes great responsibility, but is that applicable to a solar watch battery?
When you look up the average brand on the internet, there are always promises of an almost everlasting service. But even the best batteries on the market need to be replaced.
You can replace a solar watch battery, but chances are you will not need to for years and years. Regular maintenance, such as cleaning the dirt and sweat off the watch’s body, will help prolong the battery’s span.
Proper charging is also very important. If you leave the solar watch in a dark place for too long, say upward of six months, you may need to replace the battery.
But again, the perks of using a solar watch is that the battery never runs out, even when you have abandoned it for too long. In five to ten years, you will discover that the mechanism is still functioning, even though the battery may have begun to depreciate.
You can replace a solar watch battery, but you may never have to. However, if the need truly arises, you must leave it to a professional watch repairer, preferably the manufacturer of your unit.
Before you take that solar watch to the manufacturer for a battery replacement, we recommend putting it in the sun first.
The way most are designed, their hour, minute, and seconds hands will stop without exposure to sunlight. This may give the impression that the battery has gone bad.
In most cases, it hasn’t and does not need to be replaced.
Can a Seiko Solar Watch Battery be Replaced?
Seiko is a long-standing manufacturer of watches, and this company started the journey of providing quality time as far back as 1881.
Now, they have hopped on the trend of solar watches. Is the brand reliable?
But more importantly, can a Seiko solar watch battery be replaced?
Seiko uses a secondary battery for their solar watches, which you can replace. However, it must be done by an expert, preferably Seiko manufacturers. A Seiko solar watch battery will last a long time, even more than a decade, before it needs replacement. But if your watch stops working before then, you are not to replace the battery yourself.
Let’s analyze the physical structure of a Seiko watch, so you can see why you should not risk replacing it yourself.
At the top, which is the surface of your watch, is the typical glass covering. The second, minute, and hour hands follow, then the dial and the solar cell units.
The last thing you want to do is tamper with the photovoltaic cells of your Seiko watch. This is the mechanism behind the whole functioning of your watch.
Without the PV system, the watch will be useless. Without a battery, you may be able to tell the time during the day.
But if you damage your solar cell unit, you can transport it to Seiko for replacement.
They are in the best position to replace the secondary battery for you.
Now, avoid replacing the secondary battery with a silver oxide battery. If you are not using the Seiko company to repair your watch, ensure you mention that you don’t want a silver oxide battery.
It may seem like a good idea to replace your secondary Seiko battery with a silver oxide unit, but the latter is more prone to overheating. The worst-case scenario is that the watch goes up in flames.
Can a Citizen Solar Watch Battery be Replaced?
The Citizen Eco-Watch is one of the bangers in the solar watch industry. And there are many reasons it stands out.
The technology takes the concept of solar energy to another level, which is why you don’t need to replace the battery.
Unlike the typical solar watch that needs a battery for electricity storage, your Citizen solar watch was designed to function without one. It uses advanced solar cell technology, so it charges in any light. You don’t need to replace your Citizen solar battery because the brand maximizes solar power to tell the time.
The Power Save feature explains how the mechanism works. Typically, electricity is stored in batteries for nighttime, when there is no sunlight. Many of these watches can also charge their batteries with artificial light sources, but that is not the point.
With the Power Save feature on the Citizen watch, the minute and or seconds hands stop at 12 when there is no light source.
This is because the solar cells work with any light; they are so sensitive and efficient that immediately you bring your wrist back in the light, and the hands dart back to work.
The feature extends to disabling the calendar, but that is when you have been away from a light source for three days. This can be when you put your watch back in its box, a drawer, or even under your pillow.
The icing on the cake is that the Eco-Watches are available in many designs.
How Much Does it Cost to Replace a Solar Watch Battery?
Unless the solar cells are damaged, give or take you can use your solar watch for a couple of decades. And you will only need to replace the battery once or twice, depending on how you maintain it, the brand, and the quality.
But if somehow, your solar watch battery is damaged, it will cost $30, give or take, to replace it. Solar watch batteries are usually durable and can last five years. However, factors like moisture or water, dirt, and sweat can cause depreciation.
Water damage is especially an enemy to solar watch batteries because it causes rust.
The time factor also matters; the longer you have had your watch, the less efficient its battery’s performance will get.
Protect your solar watch from water at all costs. Moisture damage can also affect the watch’s internal mechanism and cause it to rust or spoil.
You can also protect the battery by charging your watch in a cooler location. Yes, solar cells need sunlight to charge, but they do not need the high temperature attached. If you put your solar watch on the dashboard of your vehicle to charge, you are exposing the battery to a temperature that may overheat it.
Neither should you charge your watch too close to an intense artificial light source. The same thing will happen; general destruction of the internal parts by heat.
That seems like a lot of information, so to cut it short, the ideal temperature for your solar-powered watch is 60°C.
Another way to protect the battery is by cleaning your watch regularly. You don’t need to open it up; instead, wipe it with a moist and soft cloth to remove the grime and sweat from your body.
If the battery has gone bad, replace it without delay. The longer you wait, the higher the chances that the damage will extend to other parts of the watch.
Can You Charge a Solar Watch With a Lamp?
Most solar watches have a battery that stores excess electricity when there is no light source. But even that battery runs down. Well, depending on the brand you are using.
However, many manufacturers of solar watches want you to stick to clean and green energy, so they make it possible to charge the solar cells with alternative light sources, such as LED lights.
So yes, you can charge a solar watch with a lamp, but it is best to avoid making a habit of it. The best light source for your solar watch is the sun. But when the sun is not always available, you can use your LED lights, but do not expect the same efficiency level.
The average solar watch needs 20 hours of sunlight to charge fully, but just three minutes are enough to get you enough power for the entire day.
On the other hand, an unnatural light source will take longer. For instance, LED lights require at least 150 hours of uninterrupted charge to reach a full battery. But to charge your device for twenty-four hours, it must be left under the lamp for at least three hours.
LED lights are notorious for generating heat, so keep the solar watch at least twenty inches away from the energy source. Otherwise, you risk damaging your battery because it may overheat and melt.
Still on the heat issue, if you must use a lamp to charge your solar watch, it is best to use smaller bulbs. Those generate less heat and are less likely to damage the battery.
You should only charge your solar watch with an artificial light source when you are in a pinch.
Or you could buy an Eco-Watch. It does not have a battery and can be powered with the slightest display of light.
How Much Sunlight Does a Solar Watch Need?
A solar watch needs twenty hours of sunlight to charge your solar watch fully. But when the weather is chilly or cloudy, leave it in the sun for sixty hours.
On average, however, you can charge your solar watch for only three minutes, and the battery will last the entire day!
When the weather is cloudy, you may spend as much as ten minutes extra time.
Can You Put a Regular Battery in a Solar Watch?
You should not put a regular battery in a solar watch, even though you technically can. There is a difference between a regular battery and a solar watch battery. The latter is called a secondary cell, and a regular battery cannot replace its function.
If anything, it will damage your solar watch.
When your solar watch battery spoils, your best bet is a professional, such as the manufacturer or retailer of your watch.
Conclusion
A solar watch is an accessory you can leave in a box for years and will not need to replace the battery before use. In most cases, leave it in the sun for a few minutes, and it will return to action.
The battery is a fantastic technology because it lasts a long time. This means there is less e-waste to dispose of. At the same time, solar energy is being maximized to the core.
