Permanent upgrade/replacement for 1.35V mercury batteries - voltage regulator

[koraks]

Ah, I see the problem. Yeah, you'd either have to hack the battery holder or at least fashion so.ethkng that fits inside the battery compartment, or use a voltage drop approach that will go on the negative side of the circuit.

 

[Chan Tran]

My solution is to simply use alkaline of the same size. The meter is off any way even with the right battery. If the camera works without the battery then I simply don't need the meter. It's a lot more fun using it that way.

 

[ic-racer]

One option would be to tap into where the meter circuit contacts the chassis, but that is up on top where there is not much room. Too bad because there is a lot of extra room where the wire comes off the battery holder at the base of the camera.

 

[ic-racer]

My solution is to simply use alkaline of the same size. The meter is off any way even with the right battery. If the camera works without the battery then I simply don't need the meter. It's a lot more fun using it that way.

OM-1?

 

[MattKing]

Yes, the chassis or all the metal structures of the OM-1 are positive.

I've always wondered if Maitani received some of his early training from Lucas Electrics .

 

[Chan Tran]

OM-1?

Not the OM-1. I have the OM-2 but... I do have a couple of Minolta SrT-101, a couple of Olympus 35RC, a Canonet all can use mercury battery but would work fine without any batteries. I have a couple of Canon EF and those work fine with alkaline batteries without any modification.

 

[David Lindquist]

I've always wondered if Maitani received some of his early training from Lucas Electrics .

Ah yes, Lucas, Prince of Darkness...

David

 

[Chan Tran]

I've always wondered if Maitani received some of his early training from Lucas Electrics .

He didn't say but I think he must in his dream. He kept the battery compartment of the OM-2 the same size but gave it an insert to accomodate the smaller silver oxide batteries. Using 2 metering circuits. One to have meter indication and another to actually time the exposure. He did it both for the OM-2 and the XA.

 

[Bill Burk]

Can’t you use the on-off switch? Haven’t tried OM-1 yet so I don’t know. If not I would add a switch for the regulator and mechanically link it to the on-off switch. Maybe a reed switch and a magnet if you can’t get in there.