Replacement for PX625 Batteries.

[Leigh Youdale]

I have two Nikkormats and they as well as other Nikons of the era used the now-banned Mercury PX625 1.3v batteries to power their meters.
I have inadvertently double ordered two conversion kits (already had two but my wife "filed" them) made in Holland that use a machined-out shell of the original battery size, fitted with a diode and into which the standard SR44 (silver oxide) or LR44 (lithium) cells fit. The whole assembly is then inserted in the battery chamber as if it were an original cell. The diode reduces the 1.5v of the newer batteries to a steady 1.3v as per the original specs. I only use the silver oxide type. They're much better than using the Wein zinc oxide type.
I can return the surplus ones for a refund, but before I do I thought I'd check to see if there was any interest locally - (Australia). Paid 16 Euros each for them.

 

[mgb74]

I have one (purchased a few years ago); they do work well.

 

[munz6869]

Hi Leigh - I'd be interested, to feed my Rollei 35, amongst others....

Marc!

 

[elekm]

I use the hearing aid batteries (Type 675) for most of these uses. The downside is their short lifespan (about six months), and the benefit is that they're available almost anywhere and very inexpensive. They deliver 1.4 volts and seem to be just about perfect.

However, some cameras requuire the physical shape of the 625/PX13 cell, while others need a small adjustment in the battery chamber.

For the Rollei 35, I use a small rubber "O" ring. No. 9, I believe. And then I bend up slightly the small flat metal contact in the battery chamber.

Doesn't work for the SE and TE models, as they take different batteries (PX28).

For many of my older cameras, I've simply given up on the in-camera meter and simply use a handheld meter.

 

[Pumalite]

You can rewire your Nikkormats for modern batteries. I did mine.

 

[brofkand]

Wein sells a replacement, but it's a zinc-air like the hearing aid battery.

Alternatively, at camera shops you can get an alkaline equivalent. My Minolta SRT-200 uses the same battery and the alkaline replacement works great, and was only about $3US. It was under the brand Promaster.

 

[Leigh Youdale]

Hi Leigh - I'd be interested, to feed my Rollei 35, amongst others....

Marc!

Send me a PM so we can do it offline. Or email <lmyoudale@me.com>
I found where my wife had filed my stuff (in error, its not like she's a bad person!) so I'm actually going to end up with five of the things to go with only two cameras and I've had two enquiries this morning, including yours, so I can probably satisfy everyone at the moment.
They come with full specs, a five-year guarantee (made out to me at the moment) and a new battery to go in the unit.
I'll be out of circulation tomorrow but can post them anywhere in Oz from Tuesday on.
When they're gone I'll give the contact details as people overseas might also be interested.

Leigh

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

I'm not sure if this website is applicable to your case, but I a have an old Minolta SRT that uses mercuruy batteries. I did some research and there a gentleman in the internet that shows how you can convert your Minolta SRT to use available silver oxide batteries.

Dead Link Removed

 

[MattKing]

Wein sells a replacement, but it's a zinc-air like the hearing aid battery.

Alternatively, at camera shops you can get an alkaline equivalent. My Minolta SRT-200 uses the same battery and the alkaline replacement works great, and was only about $3US. It was under the brand Promaster.

The alkaline "equivalents":

a) supply a different voltage than the original mercury batteries; and
2) more importantly, supply a voltage that changes over time.

For those reasons, unless the camera or meter has circuitry that deals with changing voltage, the alkaline "equivalents" do not provide a good replacement.

Jon Goodman (formerly interslice on eBay - famous for camera seals) has in the past sold adapters that allow use of the 675 hearing aid batteries in cameras and meters that require a battery of the exact same shape as the 625 mercury cells. I'm not connected with Jon in any way, but I am a happy customer.

 

[Oxleyroad]

Leigh, if you have a spare after Supplying Marc one I'd be interested for my old Sekonic light meter.

 

[Leigh Youdale]

Leigh, if you have a spare after Supplying Marc one I'd be interested for my old Sekonic light meter.

Yep. Due to mistakenly double ordering I'll have either 2 or three units available. I'm expecting the new ones this week. I can send them back for a refund - I just wondered if anyone locally had need of them before I did that. $20 each including a new battery and a five year guarantee.
Leigh

 

[Leigh Youdale]

I'm not sure if this website is applicable to your case, but I a have an old Minolta SRT that uses mercuruy batteries. I did some research and there a gentleman in the internet that shows how you can convert your Minolta SRT to use available silver oxide batteries.

Dead Link Removed

Well, yes. You could do it that way, but it seems a hard way to go, given that units are available off the shelf for $20. My time is worth more than I'd use trying to make my own from those instructions.

 

[Leigh Youdale]

The alkaline "equivalents":

a) supply a different voltage than the original mercury batteries; and
2) more importantly, supply a voltage that changes over time.

For those reasons, unless the camera or meter has circuitry that deals with changing voltage, the alkaline "equivalents" do not provide a good replacement.

Absolutely correct. The problem is that the drop in voltage from the Wein cells is relatively rapid but most people are not able to detect the changes and so a lot of frames get exposed using meters that are being progressively underpowered and therefore reading incorrectly.

 

[Pumalite]

That's why rewiring is the better solution.

 

[skahde]

Doesn't work for the SE and TE models, as they take different batteries (PX28).

That should read PX27. Fortunately, both will tolerate higher voltages and you can use about anything you can make fit physically. PX27A are readily available and can be used without modification.

 

[Ric Trexell]

I think Freestyle has a battery.

I was looking in an old Freestyle catalog and I saw a battery listed there for some sort of battery that replaced old mercury ones. I don't have the catalog handy, but you might want to see if I'm right or way off base. Ric.

 

[Avispartner]

I have used the Weincell batteries in the past, but over here in Switzerland one single piece comes to approx. US$ 17 which is just way too much.
Have just ordered the battery adapter from Jon Goodman to fire up my Yashica Lynx 14. Based on my experience with his light seal kits, this should work great. I was lucky, it was the last one in stock, but Jon told me he's going to build them again soon. If I'm happy with it, I'll order some more for my OM-1's and OM-1n's.

 

[ruilourosa]

earing aid batteries, 6 for 2 euros... and a piece of cutted hose to fit... cheap and works!

 

[E. von Hoegh]

Absolutely correct. The problem is that the drop in voltage from the Wein cells is relatively rapid but most people are not able to detect the changes and so a lot of frames get exposed using meters that are being progressively underpowered and therefore reading incorrectly.

Wein cells are zinc-air, not alkaline. The problem with Wein cells is the price, not the voltage which is both correct and pretty constant over the life of the cell.