386 battery equivalents
The 386 is a 11.6 × 4.2 mm silver-oxide cell, used in large quartz watches, especially older and thicker ones. It's sold under several names: SR43SW, SR43W, 301, LR43, AG12, 186, L1142, SR1142, SR43.
Equivalents
| Sold as | Type | In a watch |
|---|---|---|
| SR43SW, 301 | Silver oxide, low drain | Best for an ordinary analog quartz watch |
| SR43W, 386 | Silver oxide, high drain | Works in any watch, and suits one with a backlight, alarm or chronograph |
| LR43, AG12, 186, L1142 | Alkaline, 1.5 V | Fits, but runs down sooner and the voltage sags; use only in a pinch |
| SR1142, SR43 | Older or alternative codes | Same size; check the chemistry on the pack |
Look-alikes that won't fit
These are also 11.6 mm across, so they look right in the pack, but the thickness is different. They aren't substitutes.
- 366 SR1116SW1.65 mm thick (-2.55 mm)
- 381 SR1120SW2.05 mm thick (-2.15 mm)
- LR1130 SR1130SW3.05 mm thick (-1.15 mm)
- 344 SR1136SW3.6 mm thick (-0.6 mm)
- LR44 SR44SW5.4 mm thick (+1.2 mm)
Never use a lithium coin cell in its place. Lithium cells run at 3 volts, twice what a silver-oxide watch movement expects.
Getting a 386 changed
Watch shops in our directory list battery changes from $4.99 to $115, with a median of $15, usually done while you wait. A shop has the tools to open a screw-down caseback without marking it, and can replace the gasket and pressure-test a water-resistant watch. 455 shops in the directory list battery replacement. To do it yourself, follow how to change a watch battery.
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Questions
- Is 301 the same as 386?
- They're the same size (11.6 × 4.2 mm) and the same silver-oxide chemistry. The 301 (SR43SW) is the low-drain version for ordinary analog watches; the 386 (SR43W) is high-drain, for watches with a light, alarm or chronograph. The 386 works in any watch that takes a 301.
- Is LR43 the same as SR43SW?
- Same size, different chemistry. LR43 (also sold as AG12) is alkaline and SR43SW is silver oxide. The alkaline cell fits, but it holds about 80–100 mAh against 110–125 mAh and its voltage drops as it drains, so a watch runs a shorter time on it.
- Can I use a 344 instead of a 386?
- No. Both are 11.6 mm across, but the 344 is 3.6 mm thick and the 386 is 4.2 mm. A thinner cell won't press against the contacts, so the watch won't run reliably.
- How long does a 386 battery last?
- In a typical analog quartz watch, two to five years. It holds about 110–125 mAh; a running chronograph, a backlight or an alarm drains it faster. Unused cells keep for several years in the pack.