Batteries for Accutron 214's
Home     Accutron on Facebook   eMail

387S Batteries - 1.5v
 Minimum Order: One 5-pack

A plastic spacer is included with each cell.

One strip of five (5) batteries $35.00 - Free Shipping - Batteries are not returnable.

    

 

AccuCell-1 Battery - 1.3v
Minimum Order: Two Batteries

$15.50 each - Free Shipping - Batteries are not returnable.

Please Note: 214's that have been adjusted to run on 1.5 volts may not run properly with the reduced voltage. Likewise, 214's that have been adjusted to run on 1.3 volt Accucells may not run properly with a standard 1.55v battery..

Accucel's are shipped fully assembled in their original plastic case.

The 1.3v AccuCell-1 battery is actually a standard 395 cell fitted with a diode to drop the voltage. The battery has to be small enough to make room for the diode and as a result they have a slightly shorter life than a 387S/394 cell.

To order

Please e-mail indicating the batteries needed and your shipping address.  I will reply with a completed order form to send along with your payment. Personal check, or PayPal accepted. Sorry, no credit cards.

Personal Check: Your order will be shipped within 5 business days.

PayPal: (Add 5% PayPal Merchant Fee), Your order will be shipped within 3 business days.

 Free shipping: USPS First Class Mail.

 INSTALLING a #387S (394/380) BATTERY IN YOUR ACCUTRON 214

Check the voltage of the new battery to be certain that it's not defective. It should measure 1.5V.

 If the battery is ok, install it by following these instructions carefully.

1) Unscrew the battery hatch, and carefully place the battery into the watch as follows: Angle the battery slightly downward, aim the lowered edge toward the outside of the case and insert the battery, lower edge first so that it falls into the recess easily.

View of the battery as it should appear when placed into your 214s battery compartment (unprinted side up). The printed (+) side is facing down.

2) Make certain that the plastic insulator is not hanging up on the battery nest, preventing the battery from having solid bottom contact. After dropping a battery into your 214s battery compartment, it may appear to be seated properly even when it is not. Always press the center (metal part) of the battery down firmly until it seats against the bottom contact. This is necessary because the plastic spacer may be too large to enter its opening thus preventing the bottom of the battery from seating all the way down.  
 
3) Check to see that the contact spring installed on the under side of the battery hatch has not been flattened. Observe whether  the spring moves down freely when pressed, and that it pops back up when released. The spring must provide positive pressure against the top of the battery. 

 Left: Flattened contact spring (1962 on)
 Center: Good contact spring
 Right: Early 3 finger contact spring (1960/1961)

           

 Click on thumbnails for a larger image and use your back button to return

Screw the battery hatch back on being very careful not to cross-thread it. Do not over-tighten the hatch, Slight pressure on the new gasket is all that's needed.

  

 IMPORTANT:  TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO THE COIL, MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE METAL PART OF THE BATTERY IS SEATED FLAT AGAINST THE CIRCUIT BOARD. IF YOU FEEL PRESSURE BEFORE THE BATTERY CAP IS SCREWED ALL THE WAY DOWN, STOP, REMOVE THE CAP AND RE-SEAT THE BATTERY.

Continuing to screw down the battery hatch in that situation will invariably put pressure on the battery mounting screw well before the hatch is closed fully, and the coil will break at the screw.

 Broken Circuit Board

 STARTING YOUR WATCH

Many 214s will start spontaneously when a new battery is installed but some will not. Over the years the permanent magnets on the tips of your tuning fork may have lost some of their strength. If this is the case you will need to jump-start the movement. A sharp smack with the palm or knuckles of your hand at the 3 or 9 oclock position should cause the tuning fork to start to vibrate. Once started the watch will perform normally until the battery dies.

 

Copyright  2002 by Martin Marcus. All rights reserved. These pages may not be copied without written consent.