Gossen CDS Super Pilot meter [Archive]

colyn

01-12-2008, 16:24

My last 625 mercury battery finally gave up the ghost last week so I had to switch to Wein cells but this meter required a modification to the negative contact since its prongs are too large in diameter for the smaller negative cap of the Wein.

After modifying it I tried one of my silver oxide adapters but will have to shim it a bit so it will make contact with the positive contact.

Has anybody else had this problem with this meter??

This is the best meter I have for very low light metering and don't want to retire it..

Trius

01-13-2008, 06:22

I have one too and can't tell if I haven't shimmed it properly or if it's dead. I think it's dead. But if you figure a fix I'm anxious to know how.

Joe Brugger

01-13-2008, 09:21

I'm down to one PX625 in the meter and one more in reserve -- if you can track down Gossen they offered a modification for contemporary batteries but I can't remember what it involved.

payasam

01-13-2008, 10:01

Try to find Frans de Gruijter on the Net. I bought three adapters from him and just swapped two for film and sold the third with the camera it was in. They are hollowed out 625 shells which just take SR44 cells. When I was searching for a solution, this was the best and least expensive option. [edit] If you want to make your own, I have a PDF file which tells how.

Trius

01-13-2008, 11:52

Don't know if this is still valid info: http://nemeng.com/leica/srcs/whoswho.php?id=fdgI1JT

colyn

01-13-2008, 13:50

I have one too and can't tell if I haven't shimmed it properly or if it's dead. I think it's dead. But if you figure a fix I'm anxious to know how.

To get the adapter working I had to cut a small piece of plastic to fit inside the battery cap (approx .005 thick) to press down onto the adapter in order for it to make contact with the positive contact.

colyn

01-13-2008, 13:51

I'm down to one PX625 in the meter and one more in reserve -- if you can track down Gossen they offered a modification for contemporary batteries but I can't remember what it involved.

Re-calibrating the meter to the useless 625 alkaline battery is their fix..

colyn

01-13-2008, 13:52

Try to find Frans de Gruijter on the Net. I bought three adapters from him and just swapped two for film and sold the third with the camera it was in. They are hollowed out 625 shells which just take SR44 cells. When I was searching for a solution, this was the best and least expensive option. [edit] If you want to make your own, I have a PDF file which tells how.

This is the adapter I have except I made it myself..

polaski

01-25-2008, 04:58

http://cgi.ebay.com/FINALLY-A-PX-13-MERCURY-BATTERY-SUBSTITUTE-THAT-WORKS_W0QQitemZ290200004039QQihZ019QQcategoryZ2996 7QQcmdZViewItem

Steve Serota used to have a storefront shop near my workplace. Among other cameras he overhauled for me was a Minolta Autocord CDS. He adapted the meter perfectly, which was why I knew I could count on him to solve the battery problem I had with my Pentax H1a attachment meter.

colyn

01-25-2008, 18:12

http://cgi.ebay.com/FINALLY-A-PX-13-MERCURY-BATTERY-SUBSTITUTE-THAT-WORKS_W0QQitemZ290200004039QQihZ019QQcategoryZ2996 7QQcmdZViewItem

Steve Serota used to have a storefront shop near my workplace. Among other cameras he overhauled for me was a Minolta Autocord CDS. He adapted the meter perfectly, which was why I knew I could count on him to solve the battery problem I had with my Pentax H1a attachment meter.

He has a fairly good idea but it requires carrying several zinc-air cells when out shooting and I don't agree with him in his assessment of the diode fix. I've been using it for several years with excellent results.