Battery check light on Electro 35 GSN

[Retrotech68]

Hi all,

I just picked my Electro 35 GSN (last time I used it was two months ago and everything worked just fine) and noticed something that never ocurred before since I had the camera CLA'd by Mark Hama in 2010. When I pushed the red battery check button, the caractheristic greenish light failed to illuminate the frame counter. Despite this, the "slow" and "over" lights warning of under/over exposure on top of the camera seem to be working OK...
I kept trying but to no avail: the battery check light does not come on.
Should I take this as an indication the battery no longer has sufficient power left?

Thanks in advance!

Cheers,

Alex

P.S.: Btw, the camera still has in it the 4LR52 / TR164A 6 Volt alkaline battery supplied by Mark Hama.

 

[btgc]

Alkaline battery works this way - still enough to run meter, not sufficient to "check".

 

[c.poulton]

Mines exactly the same - seems to work just fine though...

 

[Retrotech68]

Thanks! I also thought the behaviour could be related to the alkaline battery voltage drop. In any case, this is a reminder that I must get new batteries soon!

 

[monopix]

Just another excuse to mention my article on Electro batteries at http://www.monopix.co.uk/gtbattery.shtml

Should explain all.

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

As others have said, this is typical. Your battery check light will most likely return when you put in a fresh battery.

Monopix, thanks for the battery article. I like the silver oxide battery, on the theory that it holds voltage better over its lifetime than any of the alkaline options.

For more info than you probably wanted about batteries, F. de Gruijter has a very nice article that's posted in several places. Google Gruijter battery to find it.

 

[kanzlr]

mine works this way:
if the battery is inserted the correct way, the exposure meter works, but the battery check lend never lights up. If I put it in upside down, the exposure meter does NOT work, but the check led does...

 

[Retrotech68]

Just another excuse to mention my article on Electro batteries at http://www.monopix.co.uk/gtbattery.shtml

Should explain all.

Thanks, Peter, for the comprehensive article. Your text article also confirmed the soundness of Mark Hama's battery choice.

Colonel: yes, I am confident the battery check light will return once I replace the old battery with a fresh one.

Kanzlr: well, that's weird! Are you using a silver oxide battery? I am asking this because the battery behaviour you describe doesn't seem 'normal', at least not for a fresh battery. Mine lasted through many rolls before the issue became noticeable.

Alex

 

[kanzlr]

I am using CR1/3 lithium batteries. Fresh ones at that 🙂

 

[nparsons13]

The battery check light is on a separate circuit from the exposure circuit. If there's a break, bad wire, or bad contact in the battery check circuit, the exposure circuit may still work as it should, but the battery test light will not.

 

[b1bmsgt]

Or it might be as simple as a blown light bulb.

Anyway, in my experience, if the exposure lights still work, you're good to go.

Russ