Difference between revisions of "Mercury cells"

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'''Mercury cells''' (also referred to as mercury batteries) are batteries with a mercury oxide electrode. The manufacture, transport or sale of these batteries is banned or restricted in many jurisdictions. Before such bans, many cameras and lightmeters were designed to use them. Because mercury batteries produced a constant and reliable voltage, these devices were built without voltage regulation circuitry. Unless remedial measures are taken, use of other kinds of batteries gives inaccurate meter readings and therefore incorrect exposures.
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'''Mercury cells''' (also referred to as mercury batteries) are batteries with a mercury oxide electrode. The manufacture, transport or sale of these batteries is banned or restricted in many jurisdictions, though some are still made in Russia. Before such bans, many cameras and lightmeters were designed to use them. Because mercury batteries produced a constant and reliable voltage, these devices were built without voltage regulation circuitry. Unless remedial measures are taken, use of other kinds of batteries gives inaccurate meter readings and therefore incorrect exposures.
  
==Devices requiring PX625==
 
  
Many cameras and lightmeters where designed for and require a 625 mercury cell: [[PX625_cameras|list of cameras]] and [[PX625_exposure_meters|list of exposure meters]]. Some cameras and exposure meters were designed for 625 sized cells but include voltage regulation circuitry and thus do not require a PX625 to function properly ([[non_Hg_devices|list of devices]]).
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==Devices requiring a PX625 battery==
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Many cameras and lightmeters where designed for and require a [[PX625|625 mercury cell]] (see a [[PX625_cameras|list of cameras]] and [[PX625_exposure_meters|list of exposure meters]]). Some cameras and exposure meters were designed for 625 sized cells but include voltage regulation circuitry and thus do not require a PX625 to function properly ([[non_Hg_devices|list of devices]]).
  
==Cell Names and Sizes==
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==Cell names and sizes==
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|image_text= 386, PX625 (x2), PX400 mercury<br />button cells compared<br />to AA batteries
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Mercury batteries came in number of different sizes including the 32, 400, 625, 640, 675 and the like.  Most of the mercury batteries are a single electrolytic cell - usually small and circular. However, the 32 is a set of 4 stacked 640 cells. The greatest number of cameras, finders and light meters were designed for the PX625.
  
Mercury batteries came in number of different sizes including the 32, 400, 625, 640, 675 and the like.  Most of the mercury batteries are a single electrolytic cell. However, the 32 is a set of 4 stacked 640 cells. The greatest number of cameras, finders and light meters were designed for the 625.
 
 
<!-- The table displays at the bottom of the page, even if it is correctly inserted here. I cannot understand why. --rebollo_fr --> <!-- I thought I was a mistake on my part. I will seek a fix in further edits. --~~~~-->
 
 
{|border="2" style="border-collapse: collapse;"
 
{|border="2" style="border-collapse: collapse;"
! Common Number!! Alternative Names || Diameter(mm) || Height(mm) || Mass(g)
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!Common number!!Alternative names!!Diameter (mm)!!Height (mm)!!Weight (g)
 
|-  
 
|-  
| [[PX625 | 625]] || 1124MP, MR9, PX625, PX13, EPX625, RPX625,  KX625, HD625, PN625, RM625, 625, H1560, H-D, MR9<!-- the MR-9 is duplicate? --> || 15.6 || 6.05 || 4.5   
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|| [[PX625 | 625]] || 1124MP, MR9, PX625, PX13, EPX625, RPX625,  KX625, HD625, PN625, RM625, 625, H1560, H-D, MR9<!-- the MR-9 is duplicate? --> || 15.6 || 6.05 || 4.5   
 
|-  
 
|-  
| [[PX675 | 675]] || 1128MP, MR44, PX675, HD675, KX675, RPX675, H-C || 11.6 || 5.35 || 2.6  
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|| [[PX675 | 675]] || 1128MP, MR44, PX675, HD675, KX675, RPX675, H-C || 11.6 || 5.35 || 2.6  
 
|-  
 
|-  
| [[PX400 | 400]] || 1116M, MR42, E400N, EPX400, KX400, PM400R, PX400, RM400, T400N, V400PX || 11.6 || 3.6 || 1.4  
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|| 400 || 1116M, MR42, E400N, EPX400, KX400, PM400R, PX400, RM400, T400N, V400PX || 11.6 || 3.6 || 1.4  
 
|-  
 
|-  
| [[PX640 | 640]] || 1105M, NR52  || 16 || 11.2 || 8  
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|| 640 || 1105M, NR52  || 16 || 11.2 || 8  
 
|-
 
|-
| [[PX32 | 32]]   || 1404M, 4NR52, PX32, E164, TR164, 4NR52, 1404M. HM-4N, V164PX, PX32A, PX32B || 17 || 44.5 || 36
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|| 32  || 1404M, 4NR52, PX32, E164, TR164, 4NR52, 1404M. HM-4N, V164PX, PX32A, PX32B || 17 || 44.5 || 36
|-}
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|}
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<hr />
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
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*[http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-111.html Suggestions] from Rick Oleson (based on ideas from <!-- http://topconcollection.home.att.net/index.html Dead link --> Leon Schoenfeld) to make classic cameras give acceptable meter readings using modern alkaline batteries.
 
*[http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-111.html Suggestions] from Rick Oleson (based on ideas from <!-- http://topconcollection.home.att.net/index.html Dead link --> Leon Schoenfeld) to make classic cameras give acceptable meter readings using modern alkaline batteries.
 
*[http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/batt_adapt_us.pdf The mercury cell problem and its solutions] (PDF file) by F. de Gruijter. Also discusses PX675 and other mercury batteries.
 
*[http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/batt_adapt_us.pdf The mercury cell problem and its solutions] (PDF file) by F. de Gruijter. Also discusses PX675 and other mercury batteries.
 
*[http://www.buhla.de/Foto/eQuecksilber.html The mercury oxide battery problem], at [http://www.buhla.de/Foto/Konica/eKonicaStart.html Konica SLR system], providing information about the PX625 and PX675 battery that is not specific to Konica models
 
*[http://www.buhla.de/Foto/eQuecksilber.html The mercury oxide battery problem], at [http://www.buhla.de/Foto/Konica/eKonicaStart.html Konica SLR system], providing information about the PX625 and PX675 battery that is not specific to Konica models
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*Notes on using zinc-air hearing aid batteries to replace mercury cells [http://silverbased.org/zinc-mercury-replacement/ part 1] and [http://silverbased.org/zinc-air-voltage/ part 2] from [http://silverbased.org/ Silverbased]
 
*[http://data.energizer.com/ Energizer Battery Online Data]
 
*[http://data.energizer.com/ Energizer Battery Online Data]
*[http://www.myoldcamera.com/index.html My Old Camera] Source for 1.35 volt zinc-air alternative to mercury cells 625, 675, 400
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*[http://www.px625.ru/index.html Russian mercury px625 battery] Seller of PX625 mercury batteries.
  
 
==References==  
 
==References==  
  
 
''Popular Photography'', October 1993, p. 130; January 1994, p. 144; September 1994, p. 144; and August 1995, p. 66.
 
''Popular Photography'', October 1993, p. 130; January 1994, p. 144; September 1994, p. 144; and August 1995, p. 66.
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[[Category: Batteries]]

Revision as of 05:33, 17 May 2016

Mercury cells (also referred to as mercury batteries) are batteries with a mercury oxide electrode. The manufacture, transport or sale of these batteries is banned or restricted in many jurisdictions, though some are still made in Russia. Before such bans, many cameras and lightmeters were designed to use them. Because mercury batteries produced a constant and reliable voltage, these devices were built without voltage regulation circuitry. Unless remedial measures are taken, use of other kinds of batteries gives inaccurate meter readings and therefore incorrect exposures.


Devices requiring a PX625 battery

Many cameras and lightmeters where designed for and require a 625 mercury cell (see a list of cameras and list of exposure meters). Some cameras and exposure meters were designed for 625 sized cells but include voltage regulation circuitry and thus do not require a PX625 to function properly (list of devices).

Cell names and sizes

Mercury batteries came in number of different sizes including the 32, 400, 625, 640, 675 and the like. Most of the mercury batteries are a single electrolytic cell - usually small and circular. However, the 32 is a set of 4 stacked 640 cells. The greatest number of cameras, finders and light meters were designed for the PX625.

Common number Alternative names Diameter (mm) Height (mm) Weight (g)
625 1124MP, MR9, PX625, PX13, EPX625, RPX625, KX625, HD625, PN625, RM625, 625, H1560, H-D, MR9 15.6 6.05 4.5
675 1128MP, MR44, PX675, HD675, KX675, RPX675, H-C 11.6 5.35 2.6
400 1116M, MR42, E400N, EPX400, KX400, PM400R, PX400, RM400, T400N, V400PX 11.6 3.6 1.4
640 1105M, NR52 16 11.2 8
32 1404M, 4NR52, PX32, E164, TR164, 4NR52, 1404M. HM-4N, V164PX, PX32A, PX32B 17 44.5 36

External links

References

Popular Photography, October 1993, p. 130; January 1994, p. 144; September 1994, p. 144; and August 1995, p. 66.