Re: Mercury cells

From: mc (mc_no_spam_at_uga.edu)
Date: 01/05/05 

Date: Wed, 5 Jan 2005 16:53:01 -0500

I'm not sure what kind of equipment you're talking about, but with most
cameras, a 1N34 germanium diode in series with a silver-oxide cell (1.55 V)
provides a good, stable substitute for a mercury battery. Yes, 1N34. The
voltage drop will be 0.2V at low current, not 0.35V as theory suggests.
There are even Schottky diodes that give a stable 0.2-volt drop over a wider
current range.

"Dave Platt" <dplatt@radagast.org> wrote in message
news:10toh6osfd10of4@corp.supernews.com...
> In article <crh24o$dr2$1@serv1.iunet.it>, Carlo G <not@vaible.it> wrote:
>
>>Is there any serious adapter to use with different battery type? I was
>>thinking to choose Silver-oxide cells and do not take in consideration
>>air-zinc technology because of the short life of cells: less than one
>>year,
>>even if you do not use the meter, from the moment you lift the label.
>
> There seem to be three approaches to this:
>
> [1] Have your equipment modified to use alkaline 625-size cells,
> and accept or compensate for the changing behavior as the
> batteries age.
>
> [2] Use the WeinCELL MRB625 zinc-air cells, which have a 1.35-volt
> output level and are designed for a longer life than hearing-aid-
> type zinc-air cells. One seller claims useful lifetimes of up to
> 2 years in some situations.
>
> [3] Use an MR-9 adapter, which accepts a silver-oxide 386 cell and
> regulates the voltage down to 1.35 volts.
>
> You'll probably get much more stable results with approaches [2] and
> [3] than with approach [1]. Approach [2] is the easiest drop-in
> approach, but I can't hazard a guess as to how long these specialized
> cells will remain on the market. Approach [3] is more expensive than
> [2] initially but would be cheaper and perhaps more sustainable in the
> long run.
>
> Disclaimer: I haven't actually used any of these approaches yet
> myself.
>
> --
> Dave Platt <dplatt@radagast.org> AE6EO
> Hosting the Jade Warrior home page: http://www.radagast.org/jade-warrior
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