Can a solar-powered watch ever die?

[dpk777]

I've had a Citizen Eco Drive solar-powered watch for about 4 years.
Recently I left it in my room for a few days without sunlight so it was expected to stop - so I decided to charge it up again by keeping it in the sunlight.
The second it got sunlight it began ticking (but it was struggling/stuttering) but I thought it would get back to speed after a few hours.
However, after a couple days the second hand is still stuttering.

Is the battery dead?

 

[Quasmo]

maybe.

 

[Astu222]

if the sun dies then a solar anything will die.

 

[Evadman]

Then the watch may enslave humanity.

 

[LtPage1]

did anyone smash it with the butt of a shotgun lately?

 

[her209]

Have you heard about the Profit Theory?

 

[WannaFly]

I'd like to know this also, as I'm thinking about getting an Eco Drive

 

[phreakah]

i have an eco drive too... the book says that the watch has a battery that charges while it's in light, and it should run for 5 years in the dark..mine has been kept in the dark for more than a few days before and it kept the time just fine.. i'd contact them to see if they can fix yours

 

[Bateluer]

Parts can always wear out, so I'd assume that a solar powered watch can die. Batteries, regardless of how they are powered, have a limited usuable shelf life.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: her209
Have you heard about the Profit Theory?

Have you?

 

[episodic]

Well yea, stars die - no star - no solar power . . .

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Bateluer
Parts can always wear out, so I'd assume that a solar powered watch can die. Batteries, regardless of how they are powered, have a limited usuable shelf life.

Bingo. Even rechargeable batteries will "die" at some point. Typically they'll tolerate a couple hundred recharge cycles if they're NiCd and fully discharged before each recharge. Of course, for all practical purposes this is far longer than anyone should ever need since a watch will typically run 2-3 years on even a marginal battery, so if the battery lasts only the equivalent of 100 cycles then the watch should last 200-300 years.

Of course, the gears and such can always go bad, and the battery may have had a defect.

I don't know about quartz watches (don't particularly like 'em anyway) but with true clockwork watches they really need to be kept running or the works tend to gum up a little bit. It may just be that the works need to be cleaned.

ZV

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo

Originally posted by: her209
Have you heard about the Profit Theory?

Have you?

Of course.

 

[everman]

Your "solar powered" watch needs a new battery

 

[rezinn]

I've got a solar powered calculator that has been working for over 12 years. It takes longer to power on in low light now, but works fine.

 

[Mik3y]

of course it'll eventually die. nothing lasts forever.

 

[lobadobadingdong]

strange watches, my $20 timex (expedition) has been around almost 6 years without needing a replacement battery. I feel special now. (but watch my battery die tonight.......)