Does anyone know if there are substitutabke batteries for the 1.35 volt PX -675 for the Monox BL? I have not had any luck with the local camera stores and battery supply stores. Can you substitute the 1.5 volt 675 that is available for hearing aids? Thanks very much, Robert

-- Robert Salomone (RSALOMONE@aol.com), December 13, 1999

Answers

Bob, no, it is risky to use 1.5 v battery in BL. Use it at your own risk

You can buy Wein cell 1.35 v replacement cell for PX675 for $4.49 a piece from freestyle at http://www.freestylesalesco.com catalog number #990-122

Tel 800-292-6137.

Or you may contact CRIS they sell adapter to convert silver oxide 1.5v cell into 1.35v. Tel 800 216 7679. Fax 602 940 1329

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), December 13, 1999.

After lots of phone calls, I was able to locate some WEIN 1.35 675 batteries for the Minox BL. I noticed it was very difficult to remove the Wein battery as the fit into the battery compartment was very tight. After examining the Owner's manual, I noticed reference to a cloth strap with a red dot, which is used as a pull strap to remove the battery. Unfortunately the Minox BL I have is missing this cloth strap, I was able to cut a thin strip of electrical tape and wrap it around the edge of the battery, so I am now able to remove it if needed. Thought this might be of interest if anyone has a the same problem with their BL battery compartment. Thanks to all who responded with help.

-- Robert Salomone (RSALOMONE@aol.com), December 14, 1999.

I have been using S-76 silver oxide button cells in my BLs for some time now, with no noticeable difference over mercury originals. The problem with a Wein cell or any other zinc-air cell, is that they go dead very quickly once activated, and if this happens with film in the camera, you cannot change the battery without opening film chamber. The battery that Minox Labs is selling as a BL replacement is an A-76, which is the alkaline version of an S-76. Problem with Alkalines, though, is inconsistancy. They have a sloping discharge curve, silver oxides have a flat discharge curve, like mercury cells did. The only difference is a 1.5v rating versus 1.4v for the original mercury 675 battery. External dimensions are the same. As the Alkaline voltage starts out higher than the silver oxide on new cells then drops steadily lower, I reason that the silvers should be safer. Main difference is that the alkaline voltage does not remain consistent, silvers do. The silvers will put out the same voltage right to the end, then drop dead. I tested these against fresh mercuries in 4 different BLs several years ago, when mercuries were still available. I could not see any practical metering differences. Also compared against several zinc-air 675 substitutes, incuding regular and heavy duty 675 zinc-air hearing aid batteries (which are probably the same as, or similar to Wein cells). I cannot detect any individual changes when using the silvers compared to these. Of course, some of these old meters may be off in accuracy anyway. I have a BL that needs to be set at 50 ASA to get correct exposure readings on 100 ASA film speed, but it did this with mercuries too.

-- Michael J. Vorrasi (MVorr99@aol.com), December 16, 1999.