SR44/lR44 battery adapter

[eli griggs]

I’m having a difficult time recalling the name of the battery adapter for converting SR44 batteries to the correct voltage for, example, a Canon F1n or FTb, etc.

What’s the correct name please and who sells it?

 

[Roseha]

I think it was called the MR-9? There's a seller on Ebay from Japan

KANTO camera Genuine MR-9 mercury battery adapter SR43 Conversion 1.35v JAPAN​

I also found a reference to I think the same thing at Cameractive in China

PX625 Battery Replacement (Battery Adapter) for Vintage Film Cameras (

The PX625 is a small button-shaped 1.35volt mercury battery which a great number of camera models were designed to use. Since PX625 batteries are banned for environmental protection, they are no longer available. To address this problem, we've created a battery adapter that allows the use of a...

cameractive.com

 

[BrianShaw]

MR-9 Mercury Battery Adapter

Our mercury battery adapters are the perfect solution for vintage collector cameras and equipment that were designed for use with mercury batteries.

shop.criscam.com

 

[eli griggs]

Thank you all!

 

[LtDave]

my Gossen Luna Pro meter uses TWO of the PX-625 batteries and Gossen sells a two-cell adapter. it wasnt cheap ($50-60?) but not sure if buying two single-cell adapters are cheaper or if they would fit IF you needed two of them.

 

[xkaes]

Keep in mind that some "converters" are no more than adapters and don't really change the voltage. In addition, depending on the converter and the thickness of the battery used, it still may or may not fit. For example, in my SuperPilot SBC, which uses TWO batteries, some will fit and some won't due to a very minute difference in the thickness.

 

[BrianShaw]

Keep in mind that some "converters" are no more than adapters and don't really change the voltage. In addition, depending on the converter and the thickness of the battery used, it still may or may not fit. For example, in my SuperPilot SBC, which uses TWO batteries, some will fit and some won't due to a very minute difference in the thickness.

Very important point! Post 2 link = size adapter only; Post 3 link = size and voltage reduction adapter.

The battery issue is related to which cell is used. There are two with the same diameter but hte heights are different. The 386 (or equivelent nomenclatures 301 and SR43) is 4.2mm tall whereas the 357 (or equivelent) is 5.4mm. Both work but 386 is the correct/specified cell for the adapters like CrisCam and are the ones that fit best in some multi-cell devices.

 

[eli griggs]

At $40 @, these best work in my Canons, but, take note that the site includes the Canonet ql17, which does not need the adapter to have the meter working correct on SR44 cells.

Double check your camera’s needs before buying unneeded kit.

IMO

 

[BrianShaw]

Canonet ql17, which does not need the adapter to have the meter working correct on SR44 cells.

Interesting. I used a CrisCam adapter in mine and exposure was always reasonable. I never tried it with a 1.5v cell. Missed that opportunity...

 

[wiltw]

Keep in mind that some "converters" are no more than adapters and don't really change the voltage. In addition, depending on the converter and the thickness of the battery used, it still may or may not fit. For example, in my SuperPilot SBC, which uses TWO batteries, some will fit and some won't due to a very minute difference in the thickness.

Be careful when reading the product description in the eBay ad, when selecting a suitable product:

1. the RIGHT product mentions Voltage Conversion, to prodvide the needed 1.35V, such as the description '1.55V to MR-9 1.35V'
2. the WRONG product assumes you have inserted an Air Cell, and merely adapts the SIZE of the smaller cell to fit within the larger diameter space originally designed for the mercury oxide battery...usually a small air hole is drilled in the outside to permit air to get to the air cell!

"Voltage Compatibility: This adapter does not alter voltage levels, ensuring safe and reliable performance.​

Battery Compatibility: Works seamlessly with Hearing Aid Batteries Size 675 PR44, a 1.4V Zinc air battery, or LR44 (1.5V, requiring manual exposure adjustments)."​

2X MR-9 Mercury SR43 PX13 PX625 Battery Adapter For Olympus 35 Canon Film Camera | eBay

The adapter fits for LR44 or a 1.4v Zinc air battery. 2pcs battery adapter( Battery is not included.).

www.ebay.com

​

​

...and BOTH are called 'MR-9" in eBay ads!!!

Spending a bit more, for the Criscam product ensures the proper funcitonality (not using air cell to get 1.35V)
\https://shop.criscam.com/products/mr-9-mercury-battery-adapter

 

[Old_Dick]

Amazon $9.99 Free delivery​

2Pcs MR-9 Battery Adapter Replacement for Film Camera and Exposure Meter MR9 PX625 PX13​

 

[MattKing]

Amazon $9.99 Free delivery​

2Pcs MR-9 Battery Adapter Replacement for Film Camera and Exposure Meter MR9 PX625 PX13​

At that price this is guaranteed to be an adapter, but not a voltage converter.
Meaning it will only work with the relatively short life zinc air hearing aid batteries.
Also meaning that using "MR-9" in the description is misleading, because the MR-9 actually provided voltage conversion.
I've actually used these sort of adapters before, and in the right application, they make sense.
Just not in cameras that you want to offer long battery life.
For those, I prefer something like the MR-9 adapters.

 

[Kodachromeguy]

Interesting. I used a CrisCam adapter in mine and exposure was always reasonable. I never tried it with a 1.5v cell. Missed that opportunity...

Brian, you DID need the CrisCam cam adapter because the QL17 needs the 1.35 volt as a calibration constant. I use the Wein cells in mine. One could try a 1.5 volt cell, and it may be adequate with a flexible C41 film. But the right way to power the meter is 1.35 volts.

 

[eli griggs]

Brian, you DID need the CrisCam cam adapter because the QL17 needs the 1.35 volt as a calibration constant. I use the Wein cells in mine. One could try a 1.5 volt cell, and it may be adequate with a flexible C41 film. But the right way to power the meter is 1.35 volts.

There are many reports of the QL17 using a 1.5v battery, like mine do, (sr44) without more than an “O” ring, so this is one expensive tool you can do without.

The Canon F1/F1n are a different story and a diode or a MR-9, needs installing before becoming a battery only tool.

I don’t know if other Canonets can do without the MR-9 or diode install.

Anyone?

 

[benjiboy]

The MR 9 adapter is quite expensive, but it works perfectly, and the diode inside it reduces the voltage to the correct 1.35V. I have two of these, which I have been using in my two Canon F1n's for about ten years and they have always worked perfectly.

 

[Sanug]

In Germany is a suppliant for a well made diode adapter at a reasonable price. Unfortunately, they deliver to Germany only.

PC625-Adapter - Batterieadapter mit eingebauter Diode - Photohaus Clickpic

Batterieadapter für Kameras, die alte PX625-Quecksilberbatterien benötigen. Der Adapter hat eine auf einer Platine eingelötete Diode, welche die Spannung einer handelsüblichen SR44-Knopfzelle auf die für die ordnungsgemäße Funktion des Belichtungsmessers benötigte Spannung absenkt. Den Adapter...

photohaus-clickpic.de

 

[r_a_feldman]

I ordered and assembled an adapter kit from Frans de Gruijter in the Netherlands, which is listed on page 11 of https://butkus.org/chinon/batt-adapt-us.pdf. That was about 10 years ago, however, so I do not know if the kits are still available. (The PDF is dated 2014.)

The kit includes a Schottky diode and uses a SR44, S76 or 357 cell. The instructions are on pages 6-8 of the PDF. The adapter has worked well for me.

 

[Bruce Butterfield]

I ordered and assembled an adapter kit from Frans de Gruijter in the Netherlands, which is listed on page 11 of https://butkus.org/chinon/batt-adapt-us.pdf. That was about 10 years ago, however, so I do not know if the kits are still available. (The PDF is dated 2014.)

The kit includes a Schottky diode and uses a SR44, S76 or 357 cell. The instructions are on pages 6-8 of the PDF. The adapter has worked well for me.

I ordered and received one from Frans about 6 months ago; the info and prices in the link above were still valid then. The adapter works perfectly in my Leica CL.

 

[Joel_L]

I use the plain adapter and put the diode in the camera body. Working great for the many camera bodies I have done that to.

 

[LtDave]

I use the plain adapter and put the diode in the camera body. Working great for the many camera bodies I have done that to.

does putting the diode in the body require much disassembly, or is it just put into the battery compartment between the contacts and the battery/adapter?

 

[eli griggs]

does putting the diode in the body require much disassembly, or is it just put into the battery compartment between the contacts and the battery/adapter?

Depends upon which camera is the recipient.

 

[mtjade2007]

my Gossen Luna Pro meter uses TWO of the PX-625 batteries and Gossen sells a two-cell adapter. it wasnt cheap ($50-60?) but not sure if buying two single-cell adapters are cheaper or if they would fit IF you needed two of them.

I believe you don't really need to use any adapter to lower the battery voltage from 1.55v to 1.35v. 1.55v is 115% of 1.35v. Why not just set the film speed on the Gossen meter to 15% slower? The reason this should work because the light meter contains linear components (resistive parts) only. The meter will respond linearly to give a 15% higher reading. This has the effect of a 15% higher speed set to the meter. I have done comparisons of several of my Gossen Pro with my Pentax p67-ii's meter. I feel I can just set the film speed 15% lower to my Gossen and get a decent exposure readings. I say I feel because analog meters are not made equal. There is a certain amount of error existing in them. But I do feel I can trust them by lowering the speed setting by 15%.

 

[wiltw]

I believe you don't really need to use any adapter to lower the battery voltage from 1.55v to 1.35v. 1.55v is 115% of 1.35v. Why not just set the film speed on the Gossen meter to 15% slower? The reason this should work because the light meter contains linear components (resistive parts) only. The meter will respond linearly to give a 15% higher reading. This has the effect of a 15% higher speed set to the meter. I have done comparisons of several of my Gossen Pro with my Pentax p67-ii's meter. I feel I can just set the film speed 15% lower to my Gossen and get a decent exposure readings. I say I feel because analog meters are not made equal. There is a certain amount of error existing in them. But I do feel I can trust them by lowering the speed setting by 15%.

Not according to information on the web. The original Gossen Luna Pro (CdS model) cannot use 15.V batteries because it was designed for 1.35V mercury cells, and higher voltage will cause incorrect readings. To use 1.5V batteries, you must use a Gossen Battery Adapter V207A, which was made by Gossen to lower voltage. Gossen's own web site mentions that adapter, or the use of the MR-9 voltage conversion adapter, or air cells, all as suitable alternatives.
https://www.gossen-photo.de/en/ersatz-fuer-quecksilberoxid-batterie-v625px/

"....cell voltages of 1.5 V and 1.55 V respectively are not suitable as replacements due to their higher voltage levels, and because the voltage level of alkaline manganese batteries decreases during the course of their service life...​

"GOSSEN Battery Adapter V207A​

The battery adapter replaces two no longer available mercury oxide button cells V625PX or PX13 with two silver oxide button cells IEC SR 43 and adapts them both mechanically and electrically to the characteristics of the original batteries. The battery adapter can be ordered via our webshop and, in addition to the adapter, also contains two matching silver oxide button cells IEC SR 43."​

The use of an offset ISO value may or may not work, depending upon the metering circuit. Decades ago, while mercury oxide batteries were still available, I conducted a test of my Olympus OM-1n, using mercuric oxide vs. alkaline button cell, and found that the degree of meter error with the 'wrong' cell actually VARIED, based upon the brightness of the light level...different degree of error in dim light than the degree of error in bright light, so a single offset could not be reaonably used to corrent meter error if 1.35V was not used. Other meters might or might not matter if failure to use 1.35V cell.

 

[mtjade2007]

I fully understand your point and the content of the Gossen web site. I spent a bit of time looking into the circuitry of Gossen Pro light meter. I own 8 of them and repaired a few of them. I found them contain only resistive (linear) components. There are no active compoenets such as transistors or ICs inside so if the power supply voltage is beefed up the current flowing through each resistive component will increase proportionally (linearly). When we put 1.55V Alkline battery cells into the meter the meter will report a 15% higher reading accordingly. The cds cell is also resistive (photoresistive). Its resistance changes corresponding to the amount of light falling on it. The current flowing through it is linearly correspondent to the voltage applied to its terminals if the voltage variation is not excessive.

I once tested my theory using a Minolta Flash meter V (it's ambient measurement mode) against the measurement of my Gossen Pro meters. I found if I set the Gossen Pro to 15% slower of the film speed ( it's really a very small adjustment only) Their readings were reasonably close to my Minolta's reading closer than without setting the film speed slower.

Keep in mind that a 15% reduction of the film speed is a very small adjustment on the meter. You will probably feel it very insignificant. But Gossen meters are very old now they could be a bit inaccurate. Reducing the film speed setting to compensate the higher voltage of the battery cells will help keep you from over exposure your film better than not. You don't really need to use any battery adapter for the purpose. Give it a try and see if you find this true.

 

[eli griggs]

The Luna pro sbc (American) will take a schottkey diode, as I recall and there’s a pdf annd video online showing the needs to know.