sanhuberto Loc: Miami

Looking through the boxes where I store my empty lens boxes, manuals, etc., I found my old Weston Ranger 9 meter (AA Zone 6 modified). At the time I bought this meter I was (still am) a great fan of Ansel Adams and all related to Zone 6 exposure.
Does anyone know where I can get batteries for this meter. The originals where if my memory doesn't fl me, PX-13 (2 batteries in a little cardboard cylinder) or a single PX-14.
Any leads will be appreciated.
Claude

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

30 seconds on Google = http://www.google.com/search?q=px14+battery&oq=PX14+&aqs=chrome.2.69i57j0l5.12939j1j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Even Walmart carries them on line.

sanhuberto Loc: Miami

Thanks, I will invest the few $ to try them and bring my meter to life but according to the extensive research I've done before sending my post, the original batteries where 2.7 volts (PX-14) or two PX13 (1.35V). These are mercury batteries, no longer made. The 3.0V might requiere the meter to be recalibrated (jollinger.com)
Will let you know how it turns out.
Thank you Claude

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

Try BestBatt.com

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

I believe it originally took 2 PX625 1.35 volt mercury batteries. If so, the correct replacements are 2 Wein MRB625 batteries. This adapter takes either a 386 or SR43W battery, and steps the voltage down to 3.5 volts. It may be more practical than the Wein cells. You will need 2:
https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Adapter-Camera-Exposure-Mercury/dp/B00CTNZ9H0

PeterBergh

Try Amazon; I've had good luck with them. You can also try a store specializing in batteries, such as Batteries+ (I don't know if they are a nation-wide chain; they have at least two stores in my area).

sanhuberto Loc: Miami

Found them in Amazon, these are special Wein cells, they make an exact replacement for the PX-13's (non-mercury)
Years back I looked these up with no luck and today did not bother to do a new search until today (when I found the meter statched away).
Thank you all, I will see if I can get juice into this old light meter next week when I receive the batteries.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

B&H and Adorama should have them.. but you can try the other places too. KEH might even have them... but you can also try a hardware store. Walmart, Kmart and Sears don't have a very deep selection. But you might try Best Buy..(not likely but worth a shot). Or many places online.

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

Normally all batteries and electronic devices have a nominal voltage or voltage range listed for correct operation...… batteries, whether re-chargeable or non-rechargeable all have an operating range, as do electronic devices - and internal device circuitry "levels" the voltage of the battery from high (fully charged) down to a predetermined "drop off" point where the device will no longer operate. Using a simple AA to demonstrate - Peak voltage maybe 1.59 to 1.65 v and the battery is generally useful down to around 1.20 to 1.25 v, at that point the device will either no longer operate or be visibly handicapped. You should not have any issues with voltage range unless you go much higher than the peak voltage of the particular battery device. I do not have one of the original batteries (px-13 or 14), but they would work the same way and their nominal operating voltage is 1.35, but fresh out of the package it is probably more like 1.39 to 1.45v, and the meter would probably function correctly down to around 1.00 v. Batteries and battery powered devices basically all work this way, so as long as you are in a reasonable voltage range all will be ok, and it will either work or not (don't be surprised if the device no longer functions, dirt, corrosion, broken solder joints, age can cause problems too). NOW, as to calibration...I have old film light meters too, would be interesting to check them against a new modern meter to see how close, or far off they are...…….. I tried to make this a rather simple explanation, hope it worked.

sanhuberto Loc: Miami

Thank you all , I appreciate the info sent and yes I am curious to find out how a hand held light meter from the 60’s performs vs the meter on my D500.
Claude

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Claude, I have the same meter and use three of these:
https://shop.criscam.com/products/mr-9-mercury-battery-adapter

I also made a small cylinder, sort of, out of an old 35mm film canister. This assured the adapters were lined up correctly within the battery compartment.

A word of caution. These adapters contain a voltage regulator circuit that brings the 1.5 battery voltage to 1.3 volts of the PX-13. There are numerous, and cheaper, copies on the web. Those don't always have the voltage regulator. However, they are notably cheaper. Don't use those.
--Bob

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I tried using Wein batteries in my Nikon F. They lasted a few hours. The adapter I recommended in my previous post works perfectly and the batteries last over a year. How much over? I don't know. I put new batteries, of these sorts, in my cameras and equipment as a New Year's tradition.
--Bob

nadelewitz Loc: Ithaca NY

Wein MRB 625 Zinc-air cell is correct voltage and performance characteristics, equal to what mercury cells had. But they do not have long shelf lives before removing the seal to activate them, and only last maybe six months after removing the seal.

There are adapters that hold a #357 silver cell, a very common buy-it-anywhere battery, and reduce the voltage to what mercury cells and Wein cell have.
I have two of these made & sold by a guy in Holland and they work beautifully, mostly. But I have two Gossen LunaPro meters that can't use them because the contacts for the negative terminal are so wide that there's a risk of shorting-out the positive and negative sides of the battery.

You can use a PX625 alkaline cell short term. They are 1.5 volts so exposure reading MAY be outside the latitude limits for good exposure. But you can adjust ISO setting on the meter, or adjust f/stop to compensate. Problem with alkalines is they drop-off voltage in such a way that you don't know what voltage it's putting out after a relatively short time, so hard to know how to compensate.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

B&H carries the correct replacement Wein Air.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/96457-REG/Wein_W9901201_MRB625_Cell_1_35v_Zinc_Air.html?sts=pi

carl hervol Loc: jacksonville florida

amazon