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SR44/lR44 battery adapter

eli griggs

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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?
 
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
 
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.
 
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.
 
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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
 
eli griggs said:
Canonet ql17, which does not need the adapter to have the meter working correct on SR44 cells.
Click to expand...

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...
 

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
 
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Amazon $9.99 Free delivery​

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

 
Old_Dick said:

Amazon $9.99 Free delivery​

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

Click to expand...

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.
 
BrianShaw said:
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...
Click to expand...

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?
 
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.
 
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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
 
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