Battery for Canon F-1

[Tony-S]

I need a new battery for my F-1 and I'm having trouble finding one with the right voltage. The manual calls for a 1.35V Eveready EPX-625 or Mallory PX-625 mercury battery (which are no longer made). I've found an LI battery that is supposedly replacement for these, but it is 1.5 V. The manual specifically states "Do not use 1.4V mercury batteries." I wonder if the problem with the 1.35V is that higher voltage mercury batteries might leak in the camera, thus causing a mercury exposure hazard? Would the use of 1.5V LI battery obviate this problem? This is all just WAG, but I don't want to damage the light meter.

Thanks for any help.

Tony

[Wilt]

Look for the Wein air cell batteries. These are using same technology as for hearing aid battery. Once activitated, the battery puts out 1.35v constant, just like the old mercuric oxide technology. But the air cell has a fixed 6 month life once activated, unlike the mercurix oxide which only ran down if the camera meter was actually being used.

Mercurix oxide fell out of use due to the environmental impact of mercury, not due to danger of leakage in the camera per se.

So-called 'replacement' using alkaline technology ARE NOT true replacements for use in camera meters! That is because the meter requires a fixed 1.35v to work reliably for measuring light, but alkaline starts at +1.5v and declines as it ages to 1.2v or less during its entire life.

[Tony-S]

OK, thanks for the info. The one I found was a lithium ion, but still 1.5V.