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Converting M5 to use 1,5 V battery

ernst_leitz
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ernst_leitz

ernst_leitz

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Posted (edited)

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Dear members, 

I have successfully managed to trim my old CL to use 1,5 V batteries, following the instructions here:

https://www.photo.net/discuss/threads/trimming-of-the-leica-cl-lightmeter.167240/

Is there a similar algoritm for M5 that anyone would share here, I'd be most grateful. 

Thanks in advance

Edited by ernst_leitz
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Hintsalae

Hintsalae

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M5 has those adjustments located under the lower strap lug. The circuit board is pretty simple. My guess is that procedure is applicable if you can find which screw adjusts which stage. The fork- shaped lever is battery check actuator.

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Helge

Helge

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vor 4 Stunden schrieb ernst_leitz:

Dear members, 

I have successfully managed to trim my old CL to use 1,5 V batteries, following the instructions here:

https://www.photo.net/discuss/threads/trimming-of-the-leica-cl-lightmeter.167240/

Is there a similar algoritm for M5 that anyone would share here, I'd be most grateful. 

Thanks in advance

Either the camera‘s lightmeter is independent, then an adjustment is either not necessary (since it is a small voltage difference from 1.35v for mercury cells to 1,5v for alkaline)

Or the meter‘s reading is dependent on its supply voltage, then the alkaline battery will never work😉

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The output of an alkaline cell varies over its discharge from almost 1.6v down to less than 1v. You either only use the first part of it (by waiting until it is at 1.5v and replacing it once it reaches about 1.45v) after a couple of months) or you go through that calibration process several times per year. The amazing constancy of the mercury cell‘s output at 1.35v is one of the reasons for their usage (together with an extremely low self-discharge).

I would definitely recommend to go with silver cells and an adapter or with zinc air cells (aka Wein cells).

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Huss

Huss

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This adapter has been recommended by a few techs as better than Kanto’s.  It is also cheaper, I am very happy with mine.  It regulates voltage as it has a diode in it, it is NOT a dumb adapter.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/130646083632

I use it in my Pen FT.  I had my M5 modified by DAG to use regular cells.

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Helge

Helge

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vor 30 Minuten schrieb Huss:

This adapter has been recommended by a few techs as better than Kanto’s.  It is also cheaper, I am very happy with mine.  It regulates voltage as it has a diode in it, it is NOT a dumb adapter.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/130646083632

I use it in my Pen FT.  I had my M5 modified by DAG to use regular cells.

Hmm? Kanto‘s adapter looks at least like that, if not better. Kanto‘s adapter uses also a diode to create 1.35v out of the silver cell‘s 1.55v (probably the same type, a shottky) and Kanto’s is less expensive (2762¥ = ~20$).

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Helge

Helge

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Posted (edited)
vor 11 Stunden schrieb ernst_leitz:

Dear members, 

I have successfully managed to trim my old CL to use 1,5 V batteries, following the instructions here:

https://www.photo.net/discuss/threads/trimming-of-the-leica-cl-lightmeter.167240/

Is there a similar algoritm for M5 that anyone would share here, I'd be most grateful. 

Thanks in advance

The linked how-to article is a permanent change of the built-in meter in order to use 1.55v silver cells instead of 1.35v mercury cells (it is NOT about 1.5v alkaline). It is also requiring a constant voltage (just a different value).

Even if you are considering to use silver cells with a non-converting (pure mechanical) adapter, I wouldn’t recommend it, since you are eliminating the potential usage of Wein cells for good.

Edited by Helge
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Matlock

Matlock

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15 minutes ago, Helge said:

Hmm? Kanto‘s adapter looks at least like that, if not better. Kanto‘s adapter uses also a diode to create 1.35v out of the silver cell‘s 1.55v (probably the same type, a shottky) and Kanto’s is less expensive (2762¥ = ~20$).

I agree,  I got one of those from ebay and it did not have a diode,. Stick to the genuine MR-9, I got mine from Small Battery Company. more expensive but at least I know it has the required diode. 

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Huss

Huss

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10 hours ago, Matlock said:

I agree,  I got one of those from ebay and it did not have a diode,. Stick to the genuine MR-9, I got mine from Small Battery Company. more expensive but at least I know it has the required diode. 

There are many on ebay that are just ‘dumb’ adapters that all they do is physically allow a battery to be used.

This is not one of those, the diode in it adjusts the voltage from 1.5 to 1.35v

It is a higher quality piece than the Kanto one as this one is gold plated for better conductivity.

Edited by Huss
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Helge

Helge

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Don‘t overrate the added value of such a type of gold plating 😉

I‘m pretty confident, that Kanto’s has no contact issues either😉

Both are probably of equal quality…

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Matlock

Matlock

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1 hour ago, Huss said:

There are many on ebay that are just ‘dumb’ adapters that all they do is physically allow a battery to be used.

This is not one of those, the diode in it adjusts the voltage from 1.5 to 1.35v

It is a higher quality piece than the Kanto one as this one is gold plated for better conductivity.

The one I bought had gold plating, it means nothing at all. The ones with the diode are fairly easy to spot but, of course, only when you get to handle them.

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Matlock

Matlock

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Further to this discussion see this review of the Thai adapter from Amazon.

"Arrived in the mail today. I started with the correct battery (A386) and measured its voltage -- 1.56v. I also got an A76 battery and measure its voltage -- 1.6v. Both batteries new.

Placed the 386 into the adapter and measured voltage -- 1.51v. Placed the A76 into the adapter and measured the voltage -- 1.55v. In each case the adapter did not reduce voltage to 1.35v as advertised, and as needed by PX625 devices. The 0.04v reduction in voltage is insignificant.

The adapter is pretty. It is a shiny gold color (advertised as gold plated) and feels solid; perhaps too solid?

This item comes from Thailand "

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250swb

250swb

Posted
Posted (edited)
14 hours ago, Huss said:

This adapter has been recommended by a few techs as better than Kanto’s.  It is also cheaper, I am very happy with mine.  It regulates voltage as it has a diode in it, it is NOT a dumb adapter.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/130646083632

I use it in my Pen FT.  I had my M5 modified by DAG to use regular cells.

I got one of these recently for my Yashica Mat 124G and it works great. But it doesn't have a diode, yet all is not lost!

If I put 1.5v battery in the adapter it still reads 1.5v across the poles so the voltage is not being altered. However, the sneaky thing is that many of these adapters are marketed to recommend or to include a set of zinc hearing aid batteries, and despite saying 1.45v on the packet under load these all read 1.35v whether in or out of the adapter, so again no voltage change but the perfect voltage!! One thing to be careful of when using zinc hearing aid batteries is to take the sealing tab off and let them 'breath' for five minutes or they will under-read. For nearly all my P&S cameras I use Kanto MR-9 adapters which do convert the voltage.

Edit - I should add it's the 675 hearing aid battery that is needed.

Edited by 250swb
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Huss

Huss

Posted
Posted (edited)
11 hours ago, Matlock said:

Further to this discussion see this review of the Thai adapter from Amazon.

"Arrived in the mail today. I started with the correct battery (A386) and measured its voltage -- 1.56v. I also got an A76 battery and measure its voltage -- 1.6v. Both batteries new.

Placed the 386 into the adapter and measured voltage -- 1.51v. Placed the A76 into the adapter and measured the voltage -- 1.55v. In each case the adapter did not reduce voltage to 1.35v as advertised, and as needed by PX625 devices. The 0.04v reduction in voltage is insignificant.

The adapter is pretty. It is a shiny gold color (advertised as gold plated) and feels solid; perhaps too solid?

This item comes from Thailand "

Can you provide a link to that Amazon review/listing?  There are many gold adapters, many are dumb adapters.  I want to see if it is the same one that I have.

 

edit - saw the post above.

Edited by Huss
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Huss

Huss

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10 hours ago, Matlock said:

Probably. This is the item reviewed and is obviously the same one Huss got from ebay.

 
 
 

Very interesting.  I'm wondering if some are defective or they changed the product.  This was recommended IIRC correctly by TLC camera repair.  With my Olympus Pen FT the meter reads perfectly.  I'm not disputing the reviews on Amazon, maybe I got lucky?

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250swb

250swb

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12 hours ago, Matlock said:

Probably. This is the item reviewed and is obviously the same one Huss got from ebay

It's probably like most of the adapters of all types coming from the Far East whether battery adapters, lens adapters, filter adapters, etc. there is one company turning each out and they are distributed to retailers who can seller then as they are or badge them for higher retail price bracket. You see names people recommend such as Rayqual, but trawl the internet and exact copies are marketed by other companies. Maybe Rayqual takes the cream of the crop and other people sell the duds, but battery adapters are pretty dumb things, it either has a diode or it doesn't. 

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