I bought a card full of approx forty assorted LR button cells marked
"silver oxide" for a pound (not even two US dollars).

I didn't expect much but to my sheer total astonishment they seemed
to work quite well! So far.

Then I got to thinking that maybe they will leak horribly when
exhausted. So I figured I should see what the designation "LR"
means. As you can see below, I am not much wiser!

Can someone offer some real facts on the difference between LR and SR
button cells.

---------------

I have found lots of contradictory info on the web about the
difference between LR44 and SR44 button cells. Or just LR and SR
cells.

(1) Some say that the LR44 is ALKALINE, others say it is SILVER
OXIDE. Some same it is both!

(2) Another says LR44 and SR44 are designations used by DIFFERENT
MANUFACTURERS. For example: http://www.tic-toc.co.uk/chart.htm

(3) Some say that a silver oxide cell has greater CAPACITY than the
equivalent alkaline. http://www.sr44.com/

(4) Others say that the silver oxide SELF-DISCHARGES quickly other
say slowly. http://members.iinet.net.au/~fotoplot/accbatcc.htm

(5) Some refer to RATE OF DRAIN and say the silver oxide can take a
heavy load. Others say the alkaline can deliver more.

(6) One says that some SR44s are EQUIVALENT to type 357 but that some
different SR44s are equivalent to type 303. Weird.
See http://snipurl.com/lmcf

(7) Most seem to say that the silver oxides deliver a constant
voltage until they pack up whereas the alkalines deliver a declining
voltage.

All that truly confuses me now. Oh dear! What of the above is true?

-------------------

As I recall, LR44 is alkaline and SR44 is silver oxide. Silver oxide gives
a more constant voltage.

357 is like SR44 but with lower internal resistance. Some Olympus cameras
are much happier with 357 than with SR44.

I have found lots of contradictory info on the web about the
difference between LR44 and SR44 button cells. Or just LR and SR
cells.

(1) Some say that the LR44 is ALKALINE, others say it is SILVER
OXIDE. Some same it is both!

It is alkaline. A lot of people are confused nowadays.

(2) Another says LR44 and SR44 are designations used by DIFFERENT
MANUFACTURERS. For example: http://www.tic-toc.co.uk/chart.htm

No, they are the same mfr., alkaline and silver oxide respectively. At
least that was the case when I was researching camera batteries about 5
years ago.

(3) Some say that a silver oxide cell has greater CAPACITY than the
equivalent alkaline. http://www.sr44.com/

Depends on the load current, probably.

(4) Others say that the silver oxide SELF-DISCHARGES quickly other
say slowly. http://members.iinet.net.au/~fotoplot/accbatcc.htm

Slowly.

(5) Some refer to RATE OF DRAIN and say the silver oxide can take a
heavy load. Others say the alkaline can deliver more.

Hard to say unless quantified. Also depends on whether you are willing for
the voltage to drop as the battery gets used up. Alkaline drops a lot more
than silver oxide.

(6) One says that some SR44s are EQUIVALENT to type 357 but that some
different SR44s are equivalent to type 303. Weird.
See http://snipurl.com/lmcf

When I looked into it, 357 was an SR44 with lower internal resistance than
an MS76, which is also supposedly equivalent to SR44. Olympus cameras tend
to prefer 357 to MS76. (OM-2S and OM-4T SLRs, that is.)

(7) Most seem to say that the silver oxides deliver a constant
voltage until they pack up whereas the alkalines deliver a declining
voltage.

Right.

MC:

Do you have a source for your information? I was very happy to learn
that what I had guessed was apparently correct, but would like to
read/learn more.

H. R.(Bob) Hofmann

On 16 Jan 2006 15:31:38 -0800, put finger to
keyboard and composed:

MC:

Do you have a source for your information? I was very happy to learn
that what I had guessed was apparently correct, but would like to
read/learn more.

H. R.(Bob) Hofmann

http://www.maxell.co.jp/e/products/i.../sr/index.html
http://www.maxell.co.jp/e/products/i.../lr/index.html

- Franc Zabkar
--
Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

In message
Jax wrote:

I bought a card full of approx forty assorted LR button cells marked
"silver oxide" for a pound (not even two US dollars).

I didn't expect much but to my sheer total astonishment they seemed
to work quite well! So far.

Then I got to thinking that maybe they will leak horribly when
exhausted. So I figured I should see what the designation "LR"
means. As you can see below, I am not much wiser!

Can someone offer some real facts on the difference between LR and SR
button cells. snip

I don't believe that answers relating to major/reputable brands would be
of much relevance to the '40-ish for a pound' Chinese ones from
market-stalls, etc.
I've used them for some years, from cards with various obscure makers'
names and a motley collection of sizes and type-designations, but have
always taken the word 'silver' (or an SR or AG prefix) 'with a pinch of
salt'.

That said, they're certainly good value for money: occasional cells
'dead on arrival' (and with external corrosion) apart, they've lasted
pretty well and have never later leaked.
Certainly, IMO, fine for anything but an expensive analogue watch which
one doesn't wish to take the back off more frequently than essential
(risk of dust/dirt) ...

--
Peter Duck