Gossen Luna-Lux SBC battery check?

[runswithsizzers]

Apologies if this is in the wrong sub-forum; maybe it should be in "Exposure" ?

I recently bought a Gossen Luna-Lux SBC - which I believe may also be known as "Lunalite SBC" in Europe?

I've read the manual, but unless I missed it, there was not any mention of a battery check feature. Am I correct to say this meter does not have any built-in provision to check the battery?

Can anyone say what are the signs and symptioms that the battery might be getting low? Do the red LED get dim as the battery runs down? Or does the meter just stop working when the battery gets down to some low level?

I have a multimeter, so I can check the battery after removing it from the meter. But I am mostly ignorant of all things electronic. Looks like a new 9 volt battery measures about 9.4-9.5V. And I have a used 9V battery I took out of a (working) smoke alarm that measures 8.75V.

But what I don't know is, At what voltage should I consider replacing the 9 V battery in my Gossen SBC meter?

Thanks to anyone who might know.

 

[mrosenlof]

my experience with this meter (since '82) is that it's accurate as long as the LEDs light up. But I can't say I've done any careful testing.

 

[runswithsizzers]

my experience with this meter (since '82) is that it's accurate as long as the LEDs light up. But I can't say I've done any careful testing.

Thanks for sharing your experience. Good to know.

My main concern is not so much about loosing accuracy, but how to tell when it's time to replace the battery to avoid having the meter quit on me at some inconvenient time and place. I can always carry a spare, but I would prefer to change the battery when it is convenient for me, rather than being forced to do so in the middle of shooting. From what I've read, batteries last a long time in this meter, so it's probably nothing to worry about.

 

[AgX]

I recently bought a Gossen Luna-Lux SBC - which I believe may also be known as "Lunalite SBC" in Europe?

Outside the USA just Lunalite.

The SBC does not show up at the original designation of any Gossen meter.

 

[AgX]

I've read the manual, but unless I missed it, there was not any mention of a battery check feature. Am I correct to say this meter does not have any built-in provision to check the battery?

The original manual says:
"As long as you can recognize the LEDs, metering with the Lunalite is possible. Is the display too dark, the battery has to be exchanged."

 

[jim10219]

You might have a hard time finding this information out from someone else, as it's not likely the manufacturer has published it, nor anyone else posted about it.

Though, you can just use it until it quits, then pop the battery out and measure it. However, if it will run off a NiCd rechargeable battery, then I'd say it should be good down to at least 8.4v, as that's where they start.

 

[runswithsizzers]

The original manual says:
"As long as you can recognize the LEDs, metering with the Lunalite is possible. Is the display too dark, the battery has to be exchanged."

Thanks for that! I've read the Instruction Manual 3 times now, and I still can't find it. (My manual is the English version for the Luna Lux which I downloaded from Butkus <here> and I'm pretty sure it does not contain that useful bit of information.) But I was able to easily find that information in the Lunalite Instructions for Use manual. The two manuals are quite different. The Luna Lux manual covers some topics in more depth - but the Lunalite manual has better illustrations.

 

[AgX]

The manuals for the Gossen meters with the deviant designations are made by the US importer Berkey and are different from those manuals made by Gossen themselves.

 

[MattKing]

In addition, for meters that were in production for several years, I believe I have seen changes in the manuals over time.

 

[Sirius Glass]

On the left side there are two buttons: one for light reading and one for battery check.

 

[MattKing]

On the left side there are two buttons: one for light reading and one for battery check.

Are you sure? That sounds like the Profisix/Luna Pro SBC, not the Luna-Lux.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Different animal, but it looks like the Luna Pro SBC/Profisix.

 

[MattKing]

Different animal.

I know - which one are you talking about .
Looking at the instruction manuals available on Mike Butkus' site for both the Lunalite (World-wide) version and the Luna-Lux (USA only) version, it looks to me that there are some differences between the versions. However, in neither case is there a battery check function shown.
Only the Lunalite manual shows the left side of the meter, including the two buttons there - one (the red one) is described as the measuring button, and the other is described as "Key for recalling values from store".
On the Luna Pro SBC/Profisix there are two buttons on the left, and one of them is for the battery check.

 

[runswithsizzers]

Different animal.

Different, indeed. Gossen, or perhaps their US importer, Berkey, have got so many similar names for different models and different names for similar models, it is almost impossible to discuss them without confusion.

The US version, Luna Lux, and also the very similar Lunalite do have two buttons on the side - one takes a measurement, the other recalls the last measurement.

 

[AgX]

Yes, and there are already confusing designations at the original versions.
But to be fair that is the same with camera designations....

 

[MattKing]

To complicate things further, the Luna Pro F/Lunasix F moves the battery check button to the right side of the meter.