394 Battery Equivalents and Replacements: LR936, SR936, SR936W, SR936SW, AG9, SG9, LR45, SR45 Batteries

394, LR936, SR936, SR936W, SR936SW, AG9, SG9, LR45, SR45, etc. batteries are small and compact button/coin-cell batteries commonly used in toys, micro-flashlights, watches, wearable electronics, remote controls, and similar.

These very popular batteries come in alkaline and silver-oxide chemistry, often sharing the same labels, leading to certain confusion among the users. But, with the most reputable brands producing excellent silver-oxide models, end-users should not have issues in getting the new 394 battery replacements.

Updated: June 17, 2024.

394/LR936/SR936 Batteries Features and Specifications

394/LR936/SR936 are button/coin cells featuring physical dimensions of 9.5 x 3.6 mm (0.3740 x 0.1417 inches), and they come in two chemistries: alkaline and silver-oxide.

Alkaline 9.5 x 3.6 mm batteries feature a nominal voltage of 1.5 volts, a cut-off voltage of ~0.9 volts, and a nominal capacity of around 45-50 mAh.

Nominal capacity depends on the drain current, battery temperature, battery age, and similar.

Alkaline 9.5 x 3.6 mm batteries are commonly labeled as LR45, LR936, and AG9, but some manufacturers often add their custom labels.

LR936 batteries usually feature a shelf life of 2-3 years. Also, during discharge, their output voltage drops over time.

Silver Oxide 9.5 x 3.6 mm batteries feature a nominal voltage of 1.55 volts, a cut-off voltage of 1.2 volts, and a nominal capacity of 60-85 mAh - nominal capacity depends on the drain current, temperature, battery age, and similar.

Silver Oxide 9.5 x 3.6 mm batteries are commonly labeled as 394 (low-drain), 380 (high-drain), SR45, 1161SO, SG9, SR936, SR936W (high-drain), SR936SW (low-drain), etc.

Low-drain silver-oxide 9.5 x 3.6 mm batteries may have a higher standard current than high-drain batteries, but they are not designed for the strong pulse currents required by some devices.

But, thanks to the developments in technology, most modern silver-oxide 9.5 x 3.6 mm batteries are multi-drain 394/380 batteries suitable for various applications.

When compared with alkaline LR936 batteries, 394/380 batteries have longer shelf-life and much more stable output voltage.

394/380 Battery Cross Reference Chart

The following cross-reference chart lists some of the most popular silver-oxide 394/380 (SR936, SR936W, SR936SW, SG9) batteries with their most important features and specifications:

While their nominal voltage is 1.55V and a cutoff voltage is 1.2V, the nominal capacity of the silver-oxide 9.5 x 3.6 mm batteries depends on the drain current and temperature.

Self-discharge rate depends on the temperature, but it is usually given for storage at room temperature (20-25°C) and varies between 2 and 10% annually.

The standard discharge current is ~0.1 mA, but silver-oxide 394/380 batteries may provide currents up to or even more than 10 mA but with certain capacity loss.

394/380, LR936, SR936 Batteries Safety Issues

As with all similar small batteries, 394/380, LR936, and SR936 should be kept away from kids and pets - batteries are small, shiny objects that are small enough to be swallowed.

Although modern 394/380, LR936, SR936 batteries feature 0% of mercury and other heavy metals (cadmium, lead, etc.) and as such, they are not poisonous, button/coin cell batteries when swallowed can cause electrolytic reactions creating chemical burns inside human/pet body.

If 394/380, LR936, SR936, or any similar battery gets swallowed, contact the nearest emergency center, explain what happened, and act according to their instructions.

How to Properly Dispose of LR936, SR936, 380 and/or 394 Batteries?

When disposing of LR936, SR936, 380, and 394 batteries, it's important to follow the correct procedures to ensure environmental safety and compliance with local regulations. Here’s a guide on how to do so properly:

• Check Local Regulations: Regulations for battery disposal vary by location. Contact your local waste management authorities to get the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding the disposal of batteries. They can tell you whether these batteries need to be handled as hazardous waste.
• Recycling Centers: For SR936 (silver-oxide) batteries, it’s advisable to take them to a recycling center. Silver-oxide batteries can be recycled, recovering silver and other materials. Many retailers and public facilities offer collection bins for small batteries.
• Special Disposal Services: If you’re disposing of large quantities of batteries, such as from a business or an extensive personal collection, consider contacting a professional battery recycling service that can handle larger volumes safely.
• Proper Packaging: When disposing of or recycling batteries, ensure they are properly packaged to prevent short-circuiting. Tape the ends or place each battery in separate bags.
• Never Incinerate or Compact: Batteries should never be incinerated as they might explode and release toxic substances. Similarly, they should not be placed in compacting trash bins.
• Educate Others: Share this information with others to promote responsible disposal practices. Proper disposal not only helps in waste management but also in the conservation of resources and the reduction of environmental impact.

Long Story Short: Both alkaline and silver-oxide 9.5 x 3.6 mm batteries are fairly cheap and easy to find batteries.

Silver-oxide batteries offer more stable voltage, which is very important for watches, calculators, and similar devices.

Also, they feature higher capacity and generally longer shelf-life.

If You are looking for a 394/380 battery replacement, go for 394/380, SR936, SR936W, SR936SW or similarly labeled silver-oxide battery from some of the most reputable brands with good reviews - such batteries have already been tried and tested by numerous users in real-life situations.

Some of the most popular models are (Amazon links, the links open in the new window):

• Renata 394 SR936SW Watch Battery
• Energizer 394/380 Silver Oxide Battery
• UOGTNON 394 SR936SW Watch Battery

When replacing old batteries with new ones, always be sure to dispose of old batteries properly.