QUESTION: What's your best practices for Solar Charging your watch collection?
In the beginning, I only had a handful of solar charged watches and it wasn't a hassle to keep it powered up. Now, years into my watch collecting journey, I have many many more and keeping them charged has become a little challenging.
So, I wanted to ask the WC community what their best practices are for keeping a medium to large collection of solar charged watches powered up.
Do you have any tips, suggestions, and lessons learned for charging your watches? I'd like to hear y'alls thought on the matter.
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Bytemonkey
builder of websites, fixer of computers, player of old video games, watcher of anime, collector of yo-yos, comic books, action figures and cheap watches
Pensacola, Florida, USA
Member since
Last active: 52 min ago
7.00” / 17.78 cm
I’ve seen people leave it all their solar watches on a window sill
According to Mr.Dee.Bater nuclear fusion is a scam (it might very well be) so it looks like you won't be buying a miniature sun any time soon. Normally I would suggest a glass roof but you may live in a flat so that's a problem too. Moving out could be an option 😄
Of course you could follow @SpecKTator's advice but they can fall down and scratch and we don't want that either. So it looks like you'll have to send them over to me after all, I'll keep them charged. Pinky promise 😉
Jokes aside, I'd do as suggested and leave them near the window.
Wear them on rotation.
This. Window sill is great, got this to make sure....
I find that strapping it to one of these then go as high as possible.
I've heard a black light will do it, but haven't tried. I only have one Eco-Drive and I wear it enough to keep it charged.
This. Window sill is great, got this to make sure....
From your experience, does it charge faster than putting them out on the window sill?
Hermann Jäckle - Uhrenvitrine Laufenburg I Vitrine für 20 Uhren I Uhrenbox Holz I Vitrinenschrank weiß I Uhrenaufbewahrung I Glasvitrine zum Aufhängen & Stellen I abschließbare Uhren-Box https://amzn.eu/d/3IHGru5
Something like this on a wall near a window is doing fine. Putting them on a window still can be a good idea too as long as the watches don't heat up to high there.
I’ve seen people leave it all their solar watches on a window sill
Do people leave it out on the window sill all the time or do they only do that when they charge it?
I find that strapping it to one of these then go as high as possible.
I lost a G-Shock that way. Since then, I promised myself... NEVER AGAIN.
What's the opinion on charging it in your car? Some folks at my work told me to this, but they're idiots so I'd like a second opinion on that.
Once in a while I spread them out on the table in the balcony. Or I just wear them.
Once in a while I spread them out on the table in the balcony. Or I just wear them.
This what I'm doing now. How long do you leave them out?
Hermann Jäckle - Uhrenvitrine Laufenburg I Vitrine für 20 Uhren I Uhrenbox Holz I Vitrinenschrank weiß I Uhrenaufbewahrung I Glasvitrine zum Aufhängen & Stellen I abschließbare Uhren-Box https://amzn.eu/d/3IHGru5
Something like this on a wall near a window is doing fine. Putting them on a window still can be a good idea too as long as the watches don't heat up to high there.
How far away would you place this from the window? Do you keep it closed or open? Do the watches get hot in the box?
Do people leave it out on the window sill all the time or do they only do that when they charge it?
All the time…like a plant 🪴
What's the opinion on charging it in your car? Some folks at my work told me to this, but they're idiots so I'd like a second opinion on that.
Well if you live int the Atlanta area they are going to break your window anyway. So leaving them a parting gift is nice
I just keep them in the watch box and put them by the window when they ask for it, if they ever do!
I thought solar are the easiest to maintain- no batteries, no winding, no wearing. Just leave em where there's a bit of light and you're good to go! Even if light is low, they go into power saving mode and can last 6 months to a year in the dark. Mine just chills in ambient light and theyre always fully charged
The solar energy is stored in a battery. It doesn't need replacing for 10 to 20 years.
Hang them on a tree branch in my yard for the day. They’re all gshocks so I’m not too fussed about them getting damaged.
I put them on the windowsill for four days every few months as I see the ones with power reserve indicators showing the charge depleting.
That way I know that all of them are roughly charged up and I just do them all at the same time.
Makes it pretty easy.
Do people leave it out on the window sill all the time or do they only do that when they charge it?
I used to do this but then I thought “why expose them to light ALL the time? Now I just put the box out sometimes and I wear them in rotation anyway. Most have a long power reserve of at least 6 months. That said I “only” have 5 solar watches.
What's the opinion on charging it in your car? Some folks at my work told me to this, but they're idiots so I'd like a second opinion on that.
Heat would be a concern. Cars get hot.
Just slap it on your wrist every once-in-a-while and charge it through the day. That's what you bought it for, right?
The solar G-Shocks I definitely try to rotate. The more fancier solar watches were gifts that have lots of sentimental value that I rarely wear them now because I don't want to damage them.
I put them on the windowsill for four days every few months as I see the ones with power reserve indicators showing the charge depleting.
That way I know that all of them are roughly charged up and I just do them all at the same time.
Makes it pretty easy.
I like your idea. I might just time the "charging ritual" every time I need to replace the water filter in the fridge's water dispenser.
Well if you live int the Atlanta area they are going to break your window anyway. So leaving them a parting gift is nice
💯 I'm not in ATL but in FL. Still had to buy a Club for my car even though I know that won't really stop them.
I bought an LED charger also. I know sunlight is free but I set one out in direct sunlight and the watch got HOT, REAL HOT. And may have damaged the piece. Also I love in the PNW so sunlight isn't a dependable commodity for me.
Do they make LED chargers for multiple watches? Would an LED lamp be as effective if dealing with several watches?
That would be my thought as well? Wear em, and if you can bring yourself to slap them on your wrist, perhaps they may want to search for a new home?
I have some watches that I don't wear because I don't want to them messed up. I have no plan on selling them and if anyone tries to take them they forfeit their life.
💯 I'm not in ATL but in FL. Still had to buy a Club for my car even though I know that won't really stop them.
Gah damn dopeheads
A three-tier bracelet display rack will hold a dozen watches on the windowsill
I have 11 solar watches that are atomic I have them on stands they line the side of my dresser and they face the window and they all seem to stay charged at high and receive signal The light from the window seems to be enough to keep them charged