Light meter needle swinging wildly

[seany65]

Hello all,

I've goit a Jessops D-IIIB light meter. It is cds meter which takes LR44 or SR44 batteries and I've noticed that much of the time the needle swings wildly while taking a reading, even if the light nor the direction in which I point changes. It seems to be in good condition and I can't see any corrosion in the battery compartment. Do I take it this is probably down to loose wiring or something?

Thanks for any help anyone can provide.

 

[Retro-Grouch]

I recall having a CdS meter that took that size battery. It would begin to behave in that manner when the batteries got old and weak. Try using some batteries that you know are fresh and full strength. I generally avoid the LR44 alkaline batteries in any device, as their voltage declines gradually as they are discharged. SR44 silver batteries are more stable, with a longer lifespan, and I find them much more resistant to cold. Overall, for high-drain devices, the SR44 is worth the extra cost.
Then again, it might be loose wiring. Some experimentation is in order...

 

[seany65]

Thanks for the info Retro-G. The battery is an SR44 (I use silver-oxide ones for the same reason you do), has hardly been used and was bought new within a couple of days after getting the meter, which I'd tested with another SR44 from one of my cameras. I'll try it with the other SR44 I bought at the same time as the other battery.

 

[cdnguyen]

Either the battery or the cds cell is ready to die.