Wonder if this could be pressed into service to replace a bad selenium cell?

[Kino]

https://www.adafruit.com/product/2748

 

[Chan Tran]

I don't think so! Selenium cell in what? That cheap sensor is actually a much better light sensor than the selenium cell in most old meters that use it. However, you would ended up redesign the entire meter.

 

[Kino]

Any old rangefinder camera with a bad cell... I know it wouldn't be a direct replacement.

 

[Jim Jones]

Silicon photovoltaic cells would be easier to adapt. They are available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and can be salvaged from calculators and other battery free devices.

 

[AgX]

No. A selenium cell is a voltage producing device. What you link to is a device that has to be set at voltage to work, like a light dependent resistor or diode.

The best substitute for a selenium cell would be a silicone solar cell. Quite the same..., but with other material and somewhat different characteristics.

 

[Kino]

I have a Taron Eye with a dead cell, but it is a very long and narrow. Probably not worth the effort, but it's an interesting problem...

As seen here on Mike Eckman's great webpage: http://www.mikeeckman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/TaronEye.jpg