The Citizen BM8475-00X is Green and runs off PV!

Xringer · 01-19-12, 11:23 AM

So, you never have to replace the battery!! Supposedly, it could last about 10 years..
They say the PV is under the surface of the watch face. Which happens to be
pretty dang large.. The right size for an older nearsighted retiree..

Lot's of good reviews at:
Amazon.com: Citizen Men's BM8475-00X Eco-Drive Military Black Plated Steel Canvas Strap Watch: Military: Watches

My wrist are a little larger than this guy's.. At 6.75" around..
Citizen Eco-Drive Military Watch BM8475 - YouTube

What do you guys think? Should I go Solar?? (I see one on Ebay for $100)..
Since I'll be 66 this month, this could be the last watch that I ever have to buy..

Piwoslaw · 01-19-12, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xringer

They say the PV is under the surface of the watch face. Which happens to be
pretty dang large.. The right size for an older nearsighted retiree..

But shouldn't retirees (and not only) avoid direct sunlight?
Plus there are parts of the world (like here) where there can be almost no sunlight for weeks at a time (a few years ago we had a total of 3 hours of sunshine during all of January).
Unless it runs off of room lighting.

Xringer · 01-19-12, 12:52 PM

If the second hand starts clicking up 2 seconds at a jump, it's time for direct sunlight.
In 4 hours, it's fully recharged (for another 6 months of total darkness)..
Otherwise, it will stay charged if used or left sitting in normal room light.
I think this watch would be just fine for use in Norway or Nome.

AND, No more filling the city dump with tiny little batteries that sweet little
mice could accidentally ingest and become giant killer RoboRats!

Anyways, I've been reading the reviews and I just might be clicking on this one...

I don't have a regular watch anymore..
My work watch is too big for things that I do now..
Timex Data-Link (USB type).

It's great for work, since it's like a little PDA.. But, I don't work much these days..

Xringer · 01-19-12, 02:24 PM

After watching the video again, it just seemed a tad too big..
(Case diameter: 42.00 Case Thickness: 11.00)
I changed my mind and went for a different Eco-Drive model..
Amazon.com: Citizen Men's BM8180-03E Eco-Drive Canvas Strap Watch: Citizen: Watches

Has all the same features, but it's bit smaller. It might even look better too.

Case diameter: 37.00mm Case Thickness: 9.00mm

And, the cost isn't too bad either..

GaryGary · 01-19-12, 07:33 PM

Hi,
Looks good.

Question: does the date feature handle months of 30 and 31 days automatically? Or, do you have to manually advance the date number on short months?

Gary

Xringer · 01-19-12, 08:08 PM

Manual.. And not too easy, per the reviews..

"The date and day need to be set before noon or the date and day won't change properly;
after all, the watch cannot tell whether it is morning or afternoon!
And the date requires adjusting at the end of the month for 30-day months."

Seems like the date/month gismo might have caused a lot of 1 star reviews.
The reviews go back to 2005.. I hope the factory worked out the bugs by now..

strider3700 · 01-19-12, 08:39 PM

my eco drive is coming up on 8 years. still works although I think the battery or whatever it stores it's charge in is getting tired. It used to go weeks in a drawer without an issue. Now more then 2 or 3 days and it's dead. I'll get it freshened up. If I was buying again I'd have no issue with the eco drive if I can get a tough enough model. Mine is a pretty dressy titanium and I did break the guts in it early on dropping it 8 feet onto a concrete floor.

oh and mine handles 30 vs 31 day months not a problem but setting it isn't obvious. I need to break out the manual to remember how to do it. Something about pointing to the correct year somehow so it knows. If I remember correctly it still gets leap years wrong though. The feature is called perpetual calendar.

mine looks a lot like this one
http://www.citizenwatch.com/COC/Engl...ber=BM7080-54E

Xringer · 01-20-12, 08:09 AM

It looks like you just need to make sure not to do it after 21:00 hours..

Setting the calendar
1. Pull the crown out to the 1st click (calendar setting position).
2. Set the desired date by turning the crown counterclockwise.
3. Set the desired day of the week by turning the crown clockwise.
• In the case of date display models, turning the crown clockwise will result in
the loose play of the crown.
4. After you have set the calendar, be sure to press the crown back to its
normal position.
• Do not adjust the calendar when the watch is reading as below. Otherwise
the calendar may not change correctly.
* Date display models ..... between 9:00 pm and 1:00 am
* Date, day of the week display models ..... between 9:00 pm and 4:00 am

Since your watch is about 8 years old, I wonder if they made any improvements to the titanium battery?

I read somewhere, that some models had a capacitor, instead of a battery,
and there was a problem with leakage, as they aged.
I assume it was in reference to voltage leakage (and not a fluid),
which causes a cap to self-discharge..

Humm, I'll be 74 in another eight years.. Not sure if I'll be needing a watch much after that..
(If I make it that long)!

Xringer · 02-02-12, 05:50 PM

The dealer tested the watch, found a problem, and decided not to ship it.. Back-ordered me..

Today, the BM8180-03E came back into stock at Amazon main,
so I canceled my Discount Watch Store order and placed a new order with Amazon.
Should be here in about a week.. Can't wait!! I love the look of this watch..

Here's a pic with a replacement band..

That face is very Cool looking eh??

I've been using this Kenneth Cole watch and it just doesn't seem right for me.. Too dressy..

iamgeo · 02-02-12, 09:50 PM

How about a pic with the watch on your wrist for size reference?

01-19-12, 11:23 AM	#1
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	The Citizen BM8475-00X is Green and runs off PV! So, you never have to replace the battery!! Supposedly, it could last about 10 years.. They say the PV is under the surface of the watch face. Which happens to be pretty dang large.. The right size for an older nearsighted retiree.. Lot's of good reviews at: Amazon.com: Citizen Men's BM8475-00X Eco-Drive Military Black Plated Steel Canvas Strap Watch: Military: Watches My wrist are a little larger than this guy's.. At 6.75" around.. Citizen Eco-Drive Military Watch BM8475 - YouTube What do you guys think? Should I go Solar?? (I see one on Ebay for $100).. Since I'll be 66 this month, this could be the last watch that I ever have to buy.. __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less..

01-19-12, 12:52 PM	#3
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	You must be thinking of retired Vampires.. ;) If the second hand starts clicking up 2 seconds at a jump, it's time for direct sunlight. In 4 hours, it's fully recharged (for another 6 months of total darkness).. Otherwise, it will stay charged if used or left sitting in normal room light. I think this watch would be just fine for use in Norway or Nome. AND, No more filling the city dump with tiny little batteries that sweet little mice could accidentally ingest and become giant killer RoboRats! Anyways, I've been reading the reviews and I just might be clicking on this one... I don't have a regular watch anymore.. My work watch is too big for things that I do now.. Timex Data-Link (USB type). It's great for work, since it's like a little PDA.. But, I don't work much these days.. __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less..

01-19-12, 02:24 PM	#4
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	Too big for me.. After watching the video again, it just seemed a tad too big.. (Case diameter: 42.00 Case Thickness: 11.00) I changed my mind and went for a different Eco-Drive model.. Amazon.com: Citizen Men's BM8180-03E Eco-Drive Canvas Strap Watch: Citizen: Watches Has all the same features, but it's bit smaller. It might even look better too. Case diameter: 37.00mm Case Thickness: 9.00mm And, the cost isn't too bad either.. __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less.. Last edited by Xringer; 02-03-12 at 08:37 AM.. Reason: Case size data

01-19-12, 08:08 PM	#6
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	Manual.. And not too easy, per the reviews.. "The date and day need to be set before noon or the date and day won't change properly; after all, the watch cannot tell whether it is morning or afternoon! And the date requires adjusting at the end of the month for 30-day months." Seems like the date/month gismo might have caused a lot of 1 star reviews. The reviews go back to 2005.. I hope the factory worked out the bugs by now.. __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less..

01-19-12, 08:39 PM	#7
strider3700 Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vancouver Island BC Posts: 745 Thanks: 23 Thanked 37 Times in 30 Posts	my eco drive is coming up on 8 years. still works although I think the battery or whatever it stores it's charge in is getting tired. It used to go weeks in a drawer without an issue. Now more then 2 or 3 days and it's dead. I'll get it freshened up. If I was buying again I'd have no issue with the eco drive if I can get a tough enough model. Mine is a pretty dressy titanium and I did break the guts in it early on dropping it 8 feet onto a concrete floor. oh and mine handles 30 vs 31 day months not a problem but setting it isn't obvious. I need to break out the manual to remember how to do it. Something about pointing to the correct year somehow so it knows. If I remember correctly it still gets leap years wrong though. The feature is called perpetual calendar. mine looks a lot like this one http://www.citizenwatch.com/COC/Engl...ber=BM7080-54E Last edited by strider3700; 01-19-12 at 10:44 PM..

01-19-12, 07:33 PM	#5
GaryGary Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: SW Montana Posts: 139 Thanks: 1 Thanked 21 Times in 15 Posts	Hi, Looks good. Question: does the date feature handle months of 30 and 31 days automatically? Or, do you have to manually advance the date number on short months? Gary

01-20-12, 08:09 AM	#8
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	21:00 It looks like you just need to make sure not to do it after 21:00 hours.. Setting the calendar 1. Pull the crown out to the 1st click (calendar setting position). 2. Set the desired date by turning the crown counterclockwise. 3. Set the desired day of the week by turning the crown clockwise. • In the case of date display models, turning the crown clockwise will result in the loose play of the crown. 4. After you have set the calendar, be sure to press the crown back to its normal position. • Do not adjust the calendar when the watch is reading as below. Otherwise the calendar may not change correctly. * Date display models ..... between 9:00 pm and 1:00 am * Date, day of the week display models ..... between 9:00 pm and 4:00 am Since your watch is about 8 years old, I wonder if they made any improvements to the titanium battery? I read somewhere, that some models had a capacitor, instead of a battery, and there was a problem with leakage, as they aged. I assume it was in reference to voltage leakage (and not a fluid), which causes a cap to self-discharge.. Humm, I'll be 74 in another eight years.. Not sure if I'll be needing a watch much after that.. (If I make it that long)! __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less..

02-02-12, 05:50 PM	#9
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	At last! The dealer tested the watch, found a problem, and decided not to ship it.. Back-ordered me.. Today, the BM8180-03E came back into stock at Amazon main, so I canceled my Discount Watch Store order and placed a new order with Amazon. Should be here in about a week.. Can't wait!! I love the look of this watch.. Here's a pic with a replacement band.. That face is very Cool looking eh?? I've been using this Kenneth Cole watch and it just doesn't seem right for me.. Too dressy.. Attached Thumbnails __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less.. Last edited by Xringer; 02-02-12 at 06:13 PM..

02-02-12, 09:50 PM	#10
iamgeo Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Lakehills, Tx Posts: 168 Thanks: 4 Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts	How about a pic with the watch on your wrist for size reference?