What kind of battery does the texas instruments model 101 watch use?
I am pretty certain that this watch uses two #386 silver oxide button cells. Alkaline cells would work, too, but they'd burn out more quickly--not that batteries last all that long in this watch, anyway. I'm basing this on the slightly newer (~1976-78) plastic-bodied TI LED watch that I have in front of me that I believe contains the same time keeping module as the original model 101.
It is also possible that the earlier watch would have taken #357 batteries, which are the same diameter as #386 cells but slightly taller. Both battery types were popular in LED watches of the time. However, I would suggest starting with #386 cells, as I destroyed the case back of a plastic TI LED watch many years ago by trying to use #357 batteries instead of the slightly smaller 386s. Both batteries put out the same voltage, so the watch will light up with either. However, the case back won't close if the battery is too tall--and if you force it, you can bend, distort, or shatter (in my case) the all-but-unobtainable case back.
Have fun with this watch! Mine still lights up and keeps good time.
×