Casio 2629 Owner's Manual

MA0310-EA

Operation Guide 2629

Power Saving

The Power Saving feature of the watch is turned on at the factory.

•Power Saving causes the watch to automatically enter a sleep state to save power whenever the watch is left in the dark.

•Note that the watch may also enter the sleep state if the watch is blocked from light by your sleeve.

How the sleep state works

•Display sleep state

The display sleep state is triggered whenever the watch is left in the dark for about one hour between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

•The watch does not enter the sleep state if it is in the Stopwatch Mode.

•The display goes blank, except for a sleep indicator flashing on it. Alarms and the hourly time signal continue to operate normally while the watch is in the display sleep state.

H

M

L

Sleep indicator

•Function sleep state

The function sleep state is triggered whenever the watch is left in the dark for six or seven days.

•The sleep mark stops flashing and remains on the display.

•Alarms, the hourly time signal, and auto signal reception are also disabled while the watch is in the function sleep state.

•Digital timekeeping functions continue to operate normally in the function sleep state.

To recover from the sleep mode

Place the watch in an area that is well-lit, press any button, or angle the watch toward your face to illuminate the display using the Auto Light.

•It can take up to two seconds before the display re-appears after you place the watch in a well-lit area.

Turning Power Saving On or Off

Use the procedure under “Setting the Home Time and Date Manually” to turn Power Saving on or off.

Leaving the watch in a drawer or anywhere else it is dark can cause Power Saving to trigger in order to conserve battery power.

Modes and Display Screens

Timekeeping Mode

		Graphic Area
Battery	Day of the Week	Sunset Time
		Sunrise
Indicator
		Time
	H
	M
	L
PM indicator		Current Time
(no indicator		Hour, minute,
for AM)
		second
		Monthday

(Light)

Time Stamp (Time Memo)

Holding down the B button for about one second in the Timekeeping Mode creates a record containing the current date (month and day) and time (hour, minute, second) in memory. Storage of the record is indicated by the watch beeping.

•The display shows the contents of the record for about two seconds, after which the normal Timekeeping Mode display reappears.

•See “Viewing Time Stamp (Time Memo) Data” for information about recalling Time Stamp records.

Memo number

H

M

L

Sunrise/Sunset Mode

H

M

L

Stopwatch Mode

Mode Indicator

H H M M

L L

•The watch will automatically return to the Timekeeping Mode if you do not perform any operation for two or three minutes in the Sunrise/Sunset Mode, Direction Mode, Recall Mode, or Alarm Mode.

•Entering the Alarm Mode displays an alarm number, “SNZ” (snooze alarm), or “SIG” (hourly time signal).

Direction Mode	Recall Mode
Mode Indicator	Mode Indicator
H	H	H
M	M	M
L	L	L

Alarm Mode	World Time Mode
Alarm Number
H	H
M	M
L	L

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Operation Guide 2629

Power Supply

The power supply of this watch uses a solar cell to generate electrical power, which is stored by a rechargeable battery. Using or storing the watch where it is not regularly exposed to light, or allowing it to be blocked from light by your sleeve as you are wearing it can cause the power of the rechargeable battery to run down. To ensure stable operation, be sure to allow the watch to be exposed to light as much as possible when you are wearing or storing it.

Note that all data in memory and all settings are cleared whenever you allow the level of the rechargeable battery to drop to Level 4.

Flashing Recovery Indicator

If you use the light or alarms a number of times during a short period, a Recovery indicator flashes on the display and the following operations become disabled as battery power recovers.

•Display illumination

•Alarm and hourly time signal

•Time calibration signal reception

Normal operation will return after the battery recovers.

Battery Indicator

	Level 1	H	All functions enabled.
	Level 2	M	All functions enabled.
	Level 3	L	Display, display illumination, alarms,
			hourly time signal, and signal
			reception disabled.
	Level 4	(No display)	All functions, including digital
			timekeeping, disabled.

•Exposing the watch to direct sunlight or other strong light may cause the battery level indicator to momentarily indicate a level that is higher than the actual battery level. Because of this, you should wait for a short while after charging to check the battery level indicator.

•Even if the battery level drops all the way to Level 4, you will still be able to recharge the battery and use the watch again.

•When recharging from Level 4, set the current time and date after the battery level recharges to Level 3. At this time you should continue to expose the watch to light so it can charge up the Level 2 or Level 1.

Start charging at Level 3!

Battery Level 3 indicates that remaining battery power is very low. Be sure to expose the watch to light for recharging as soon as possible after the Level 3 indicator starts to flash.

Charging Precautions

Avoid charging the watch in the following locations, and anywhere else where the watch may become very hot.

•On the dashboard of an automobile parked in the sun

•Very close to an incandescent light source or other sources of heat

•In a location exposed to direct sunlight for long periods

Note that the display panel may become black under very high temperatures. This is temporary, and the display will appear normal again at lower temperatures.

Depending on the light source you are using, the case of the watch may become quite hot during charging. Take care to guard against burn injury after charging.

To charge the battery

Point the solar panel (face) of the watch at a light source.

•Remember that even a partial blockage of the solar cell reduces charging efficiency.

Example: Positioning the watch

Solar Cell

• The illustration shows the resin band model.

Charging Guide

Starting from a full charge, it should take approximately six months of operation without further charging under the conditions described below before battery drops to Level 3.

Daily Use (All time values are approximate.)

•Display Illumination: 1.5 seconds

•Alarms: 10 seconds

•Signal reception: 5 times

•Digital display: 18 hour

Making sure the watch is regularly exposed to light ensures stable operation.

Required Daily Charging Time

•The following is the daily amount of charging required each day to support the operations under “Daily Use”

	Exposure Level	Approximate
	(Brightness)	Charging Time
	Outdoor Sunlight	5 minutes
	(50,000 lux)
	Sunlight Through a Window	24 minutes
	(10,000 lux)
	Daylight Through a Window
	on a Cloudy Day	48 minutes
	(5,000 lux)
	Indoor Fluorescent Lighting	8 hours
	(500 lux)

• Charge Times Required to Advance to a Higher Level

	Exposure Level	Approximate Charging Time
	(Brightness)	Level 4 \ Level 3 \ Level 2 \ Level 1
	Outdoor Sunlight	1 hour	15 hours	4 hours
	(50,000 lux)
	Sunlight Through a	4 hours	73 hours	20 hours
	Window (10,000 lux)
	Daylight Through a
	Window on a Cloudy	6 hours	148 hours	41 hours
	Day (5,000 lux)
	Indoor Fluorescent	66 hours	– – –	– – –
	Lighting (500 lux)

•Note that the above charging times are for reference only. Actual charging time depends on a variety of environmental factors.

Display Illumination

An EL (electro luminescent) panel is used to illuminate the display for easy reading in the dark. An auto light switch automatically illuminates the display when you angle the watch towards your face for reading.

To illuminate the display manually

Pressing the L button in any
mode illuminates the digital	H
display for about 1.5 seconds.	M
	L

• Pressing the L button illuminates the display regardless of whether the auto light switch is on or off.

You may hear a faint rattling sound when you move the watch around. This sound is caused by the movement of a metal bulb that controls operation of the auto light switch, and does not indicate malfunction.

Illuminating the Display with the Auto Light Switch

The full auto light switch automatically illuminates the display for 1.5 seconds whenever you angle the watch towards your face for reading, but only when it is dark.

•The full auto light switch does not illuminate the display when surrounding light is bright.

The light is very convenient when reading the current time and other data in the dark.

The auto light switch illuminates the display in all modes.

In the Timekeeping Mode, hold down the L button for about two seconds to toggle the auto light switch on ( indicator displayed) and off (no indicator displayed).

Auto Light Switch On Indicator

H

M

L

•In any mode, hold down the L button for about two seconds to toggle the auto light switch on ( indicator displayed) and off (no indicator displayed).

To illuminate the display

With the watch on your wrist, position it parallel with the ground.

Rotate your arm so the watch is angled at about 40 degrees, so you can read its face.

At least 40°

•You should be wearing the watch on the outside of your wrist when using the auto light switch.

•Make sure that the left (9 o’clock) and right (3 o’clock) sides of the watch are

within ±15 degrees of being parallel with the ground. The auto light switch may not operate properly if the angle is greater

Display Illumination Precautions

•The light may be difficult to see if you turn it on under bright sunlight.

•If you press the L button or if an alarm operation starts while the display is illuminated, illumination will turn off.

•You may notice a slight sound from the watch while the display is illuminated. This is the sound of EL panel vibration, and does not indicate malfunction.

Auto Light Precautions

•Frequent use of the auto light can run down the battery.

•The display may not illuminate immediately when you angle the watch towards your face. This does not indicate malfunction.

•The display remains lit for about 1.5 seconds only, even if you leave the watch angled towards your face.

•The display may illuminate unintentionally when you wear the watch on the inside of your wrist, when you shake your arm, or when you raise your arm. Be sure to turn off the auto light switch whenever you do not need display illumination.

•Keep the auto light switch turned off whenever you are wearing the watch on the inside of your wrist.

•Electro-static charge and magnetism can interfere with auto light operation and even make operation impossible. If this happens, lower your arm to the starting position and then raise it again. If you still have trouble with display illumination, try lowering your arm down to your side and then raise it to your face for reading.

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Operation Guide 2629

How a Radio-controlled Watch Works

What is a radio-controlled watch?

Your radio-controlled watch is designed to receive a time calibration signal that contains standard time data and adjust its current time setting accordingly.

				Signal is received using
	Transmitter	Long-wave time		built-in antenna.
		calibration signal		Watch decodes
				received data and
				converts it to time
			Signal data	data.
			Decode
	Cesium		Time data	Time is adjusted
				according to time
	atomic clock	Watch	Internally
				data.

After the watch receives the Japan Standard Time signal, it performs internal calculations to determine the current time. Because of this, there may be an error of up to one second in the displayed time.

Calibration Signal

•The Japanese calibration signal (Call Sign: JJY) is maintained by the independent Japan Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications Communication Research Laboratory (CRL). It is a long wave signal transmitted 24 hours a day from the Mt. Otakadoya transmitter (40kHz) located in Tamura-gun, Fukushima Prefecture, and from the Mt. Hagane transmitter (60kHz) located on the border between Saga Prefecture and Fukuoka Prefecture.

•The U.S. calibration signal (Call Sign: WWVB) is transmitted by the National Institute of Standards and technology from Fort Collins, Colorado.

Though the calibration signal is normally transmitted 24 hours a day, transmission may be interrupted occasionally due to maintenance, lightening, etc.

Reception Range

This watch is designed to receive the standard time calibration signal of Japan (JJY) or of the United States (WWVB). The signal that is received depends on the current Home City setting.

• For information about selecting a Home City, see “Setting the Time and Date Manually”.

Home City	Transmitter
TYO	Either the Mt. Otakadoya signal (40kHz) or the Mt.Hagane signal (60kHz)
LAX, DEN, CHI, NYC	Fort Collins, Colorado signal

Transmitter Location	1000km
500km	Mt. Otakadoya
	(40kHz)

500km

Mt. Hagane

(60kHz)

1000km

•Under optimum conditions, the calibration signal should be receivable up to 1,000 kilometers from the transmitter.

•Note that the wave is relatively weak at distances greater than 500km, so reception may be poor at long distances.

Transmitter Location

3000km

1000km

Fort Collins

•Under optimum conditions, the calibration signal should be receivable up to 3,000 kilometers from the transmitter.

•Note that the wave is relatively weak at distances greater than 1,000km, so reception may be poor at long distances.

•Geographic contours, nearby buildings, the season, the time of day, can even make reception impossible even when you are within range of the transmitter.

•Best reception is possible late at night.

Location

Reception is difficult and may even be impossible in the locations described below. Avoid such locations when performing signal reception.

•You should think of your watch operating like a radio or TV when it is receiving the calibration signal.

Among or near buildings

Inside a vehicle

(automobile, train, plane, etc.)

In a location where there is radio interference

(construction site, airport, etc.)

Near high-voltage lines

Next to a household appliance or office equipment

(TV, speaker, fax, PC, mobile phone, etc.)

Near mountains

If you are experiencing problems with reception, move away from the types of locations described above to a location with better reception, and try again.

Receiving the Calibration Signal

There are two methods you can use to receive the time calibration signal.

•Auto receive (Reception is performed automatically at midnight, 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, and 4:00 each morning.)

•Manual receive (You initiate reception using a button operation.)

•If reception is not successful for any of the normal auto receive operations shown above, auto receive is performed one more time at 5:00 a.m.

•The watch is set up for auto reception at the factory, so all you need to do is to place it in a location that allows good reception each night.

Setting Up to Make Reception Easier

Remove the watch from your wrist and place it somewhere so its top (12 o’clock side, where the antenna is located) is facing approximately in the direction of the signal transmitter. Keep it away from metal objects.

Resin band

Metal band

•Orienting the watch so it is sideways to the transmitter makes it more difficult to receive the signal.

•Do not move the watch while it is receiving the calibration signal.

Time Required for Reception

Signal reception takes anywhere from about two to six minutes.

•Note that when “AUTO” is specified as the frequency selection mode, signal reception can take up to 12 minutes.

•See “To specify the transmitter mode” for more information about transmitter mode.

To trigger reception manually

Hold down the D button for	MH
about two seconds.	L

• The watch beeps and reception starts. The “”icon flashes on the

display while signal reception is in progress.

Receive indicator

To interrupt reception

Press the D button.

• All other buttons besides D are disabled during signal reception.

When reception is successful

The watch terminates reception and adjusts the current time. Next it beeps and then displays the date and time the adjustment was performed.

•The “” icon on the display also indicates successful signal reception. The “” icon is cleared from the display each day at 3:00 a.m.

When reception fails

The watch does not adjust its current time setting, and displays “ERR” instead.

•The display will return to the normal timekeeping screen automatically if you do not perform any operation for about one or two minutes.

Receive indicator

H M

L

The receive indicator cycles from “Unstable” through “Stable” as

shown below while reception is in

progress. How far it cycles depends on the signal strength. Keep the

watch in a location where reception is stable while reception is in progress.

Unstable

Stable

•Even under optimum reception conditions, it can take about 10 seconds for reception to stabilize.

•Use the receive icon to check reception status and to determine the best location for signal reception.

•Note that weather, the time of day, surroundings, and other factors can all affect reception.

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