397 battery equivalents
The 397 is a 7.9 × 2.6 mm silver-oxide cell, used in small and mid-size quartz watches. It's sold under several names: SR726SW, SR726W, 396, LR726, AG2, 196, LR59, SR59.
Equivalents
| Sold as | Type | In a watch |
|---|---|---|
| SR726SW, 397 | Silver oxide, low drain | Best for an ordinary analog quartz watch |
| SR726W, 396 | Silver oxide, high drain | Works in any watch, and suits one with a backlight, alarm or chronograph |
| LR726, AG2, 196, LR59 | Alkaline, 1.5 V | Fits, but runs down sooner and the voltage sags; use only in a pinch |
| SR59 | Older or alternative codes | Same size; check the chemistry on the pack |
Look-alikes that won't fit
These are also 7.9 mm across, so they look right in the pack, but the thickness is different. They aren't substitutes.
- 346 SR712SW1.25 mm thick (-1.35 mm)
- 341 SR714SW1.45 mm thick (-1.15 mm)
- 315 SR716SW1.65 mm thick (-0.95 mm)
- 362 SR721SW2.1 mm thick (-0.5 mm)
- 329 SR731SW3.1 mm thick (+0.5 mm)
- LR41 SR41SW3.6 mm thick (+1 mm)
- 393 SR754SW5.4 mm thick (+2.8 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 397 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 397 the same as 396?
- They're the same size (7.9 × 2.6 mm) and the same silver-oxide chemistry. The 397 (SR726SW) is the low-drain version for ordinary analog watches; the 396 (SR726W) is high-drain, for watches with a light, alarm or chronograph. The 396 works in any watch that takes a 397.
- Is LR726 the same as SR726SW?
- Same size, different chemistry. LR726 (also sold as AG2) is alkaline and SR726SW is silver oxide. The alkaline cell fits, but it holds about 18–25 mAh against 27–33 mAh and its voltage drops as it drains, so a watch runs a shorter time on it.
- Can I use a 362 instead of a 397?
- No. Both are 7.9 mm across, but the 362 is 2.1 mm thick and the 397 is 2.6 mm. A thinner cell won't press against the contacts, so the watch won't run reliably.
- How long does a 397 battery last?
- In a typical analog quartz watch, two to five years. It holds about 27–33 mAh; a running chronograph, a backlight or an alarm drains it faster. Unused cells keep for several years in the pack.