Gossen light meters with 9V batteries

RalphLambrecht

Subscriber
Joined
Sep 19, 2003
Messages
14,649
Location
K,Germany
Format
Medium Format
I own several Gossen light meters powered by common 9V block batteries. According to their manuals, they turn themselves off after 2 minutes of no use. I don't use them constantly, so, they rest in a drawer between shoots (supposedly turned off). But, too often, the battery is dead when I need one again. I use rechargeable batteries and they are easily recharged for close to nothing, but I wonder if they are really turned off. There is no dedicatedon/off switch. My question is: What is your experience with these meters?
 

1957ExaktaVarexIIa

Member
Joined
Jul 9, 2024
Messages
90
Location
Germany
Format
35mm
My Lunasix F uses a 9V block battery. Sorry to say, I have not yet had any problems with dead batteries.

Maybe your lightmeters have problems with electric contacts (German "Kriechstrom")...? It might happen if they are only rarely used.
 

David Lingham

Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2006
Messages
411
Location
Cardiff St Wales UK
Format
Medium Format

Ralph, I have two Gossen meters, one is the Profix SBC, known in the States as the Luna Pro SBC, the other is the later Lunasix F. The SBC has become slightly unreliable and is kept in a drawer as a reserve with the battery removed, the other one stays in my bag and is in constant use.
 

mpirie

Member
Joined
Sep 19, 2005
Messages
598
Location
Highlands of Scotland
Format
4x5 Format
I have a couple of Profisix's that use the 9v battery and they seem to last a very long time. They do switch off after a while.

Is there a chance that something is pressing against the measure button while they're in the drawer?

Mike
 

Nitroplait

Subscriber
Joined
Jul 13, 2020
Messages
807
Location
Europe (EU)
Format
Multi Format
I only have recent consistent experience with a Gossen Lunasix F (aka Luna-Pro F in USA) which I currently own and use.



It has been powered for the past 13 month with a Varta Lithium 9V battery. No noticeable depletion yet. It is the zero-pointer needle type, and the needle returns to the inactive resting position after approximately 25 seconds.

Could it be that your rechargeable 9Vs are self discharging?
 

BrianShaw

Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2005
Messages
16,523
Location
La-la-land
Format
Multi Format
Try using the battery that the meter manufacturer specifies. That will help test if your meters are defective or if the rechargeable battery is letting you down.
 

guangong

Member
Joined
Sep 10, 2009
Messages
3,589
Format
Medium Format
Ralph, my Lunasix F also eats 9v batteries if left in meter when not in use. I still prefer my old Luna Pro updated with Gossen battery adapter.
 

BrianShaw

Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2005
Messages
16,523
Location
La-la-land
Format
Multi Format

Based on a very small sample size, mine doesn't drain batteries abnormally. It did once but it was my error in putting the meter back in the case crooked and the "measure" button was being held in the depressed state. I must admit that I've questioned the automatic shutoff feature and found it confidence-building to verify that the feature actually works. It would be very intersting to find out now that there is a design defect in a meter that has been available for decades without some prior information about faulty design.

Like @guangong I much prefer the old Luna Pro with Gossen battery adapter. I thought the Luna Pro SBC features would make it a better choice but it didn't completely work out that way. Some of the "updated features" are worhtwhile to me but that must be balanced with the ginormous size. Batteries and battery longevity, though, are not the detractor.
 

Chan Tran

Subscriber
Joined
May 10, 2006
Messages
6,815
Location
Sachse, TX
Format
35mm
Those devices that turn themselves off generally use solid state switching device for that. Solid state switch often fail in the on state and perhaps the meter is supposed to turn itself off but your doesn't. I have a Mitutoyo caliper in the same way. It never turns itself off which it's supposed to.
In your case your best bet is to remove the battery after use. Using rechargeable isn't a good option because the next time you use it you will have to charge before you can use it. Also it discharges the battery to too low a voltage which can cause damage to the battery.
 

koraks

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Nov 29, 2018
Messages
22,764
Location
Europe
Format
Multi Format
RalphLambrecht said:
What is your experience with these meters?
Click to expand...

I have a Variosix F that I bought from @Philippe-Georges some time ago. It's still on the battery he put in and so far it seems to be doing fine.

If you happen to have a guide/tips on how to open the housing (responsibly...) on this meter, I'm willing to inspect mine to work out how the auto-power-on circuit works and what might be wrong with yours. My first inclination would be that there might be a tantalum capacitor used (for sake of their small size) that has started to leak. The leakage current of a worn out tantalum capacitor would drain a 9V batter within a matter of weeks, easily.

The workaround is obviously to store the meters without the battery connected.

Chan Tran said:
Solid state switch often fail in the on state and perhaps the meter is supposed to turn itself off but your doesn't.
Click to expand...

I'd expect the display to stay on in that case.
 

BrianShaw

Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2005
Messages
16,523
Location
La-la-land
Format
Multi Format
Chan Tran said:
Something like the Gossen Luna Pro SBC doesn't have a display. The gavanometer would not move unless you push the measure button.
Click to expand...

During the 3-second 1-minute on-time, the meter will continue to react to the stored last reading. So if the meter dial is turned and there is no response from the null meter display, it can be presumed in an off state. If moving the dial causes the null meter to move, it can be presumed to be on.

See page 10:
 
Last edited:

Focomatter

Subscriber
Joined
Sep 14, 2017
Messages
107
Location
Alaska
Format
Multi Format
Rechargeable batteries self-discharge. How fast depends on brand and battery model. Eneloop batteries were designed for a low self-discharge rate which is why I have been using them since 2008 with my underwater strobes that use AA batteries. Other brands of rechargeable NiMH batteries are all but dead after sitting for one week (cancelled shoot due to bad weather). I have not seen 9 Volt Eneloops.
 

ags2mikon

Subscriber
Joined
Dec 19, 2009
Messages
630
Location
New Mexico
Format
Multi Format
My experience with 9 volt rechargeable batteries is that they self discharge even when disconnected. I have a bunch of Gossen SBC meters and standard good quality 9 volt batteries last at least a year or more. The rechargeable ones went flat in 3 months.
 

MattKing

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
52,890
Location
Delta, BC Canada
Format
Medium Format
My Profisix used to last so long on a single alkaline battery that it made no sense to use a rechargeable battery. I'm actually surprised it would function correctly with one.
My Profisix F has been "misplaced" - I can't find it.
I did put it aside when the battery finally gave up the ghost after years of use, and now that I have a new battery, I can't find it.
I will say that the battery connectors are a weak point.
 

beemermark

Subscriber
Joined
Sep 21, 2008
Messages
867
Format
4x5 Format
I stopped using rechargeable batteries. As others have noted I've not had good experience with them holding a charge. A good brand 9 volt battery lasts forever in all my applications.
 

mrosenlof

Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2010
Messages
621
Location
Colorado
Format
Multi Format
I have owned a Luna-Lux SBC since the early 80s. The battery seems to last at least a couple of years. I don't use rechargables. I see similar battery life with a couple of Luna-Pro SBCs that I've acquired more recently. I've always used the so-called alkaline batteries for these meters.

Depending on the chemistry type of rechargable battery, you'll see varying rates of self-discharge. Wikipedia has a bit on self discharge on their page about NiMH batteries. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel–metal_hydride_battery#Self-discharge
 

jwd722

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 15, 2012
Messages
361
Location
Michigan
Format
Multi Format
A few years ago I purchase a mint Luna Pro F. I put in a new battery and all was right with the world...for a few days.
The battery was dead. I put in another new battery and a few days later, same thing. Found no help online. I installed a mini on/off switch and turn it on or off as needed and battery lasts forever, or so it seems anyway.
 

Attachments

  • 20240725_135131.jpg
    359 KB · Views: 63

Sirius Glass

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
50,359
Location
Southern California
Format
Multi Format
I had a Gossen Luna Pro SBC that had a sensitive red activation button and it ate batteries until I started storing it so that nothing in the camera bag could bump it.
 

Philippe-Georges

Subscriber
Joined
Apr 11, 2005
Messages
2,672
Location
Flanders Fields
Format
Medium Format
The two Gossen Variosex F's I had, and working on 9v, did turn off as they should.
But I used Alkaline VARTA Long Life Power batteries and they lasted easily for a year, even longer.
When I used more cheaper batteries, things ware different...

Only when 'shaken' (not stirred) in the camera bag, they tended to startup by themselves.
 

Philippe-Georges

Subscriber
Joined
Apr 11, 2005
Messages
2,672
Location
Flanders Fields
Format
Medium Format
koraks said:
The one I've got now is a lovely piece of kit; it's a joy to use. Thanks!
Click to expand...

I am glad you are happy with it!

The Gossens are good stuff...

A few weeks ago, a friend gave me an old still perfectly working Gossen Sixtronet flash meter, and works on 9V too (and has a switch), it's a real jewel!
Tomorrow I will post a few photo's of it, it's a beauty and comes in a fine case.
 
OP
OP

RalphLambrecht

Subscriber
Joined
Sep 19, 2003
Messages
14,649
Location
K,Germany
Format
Medium Format

that may well be my issue too.Nevertheless, I will stick to rechargables,because they're a ton cheaper and better for the environment.
 

Keith Tapscott.

Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2005
Messages
1,807
Location
Plymouth. UK
Format
Multi Format
I have a Lunasix F and the battery hasn't been replaced for a few years. It's still working fine, but perhaps a new battery is due soon.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…