394 battery equivalents
The 394 is a 9.5 × 3.6 mm silver-oxide cell, used in men's analog quartz watches, including many chronographs. It's sold under several names: SR936SW, SR936W, 380, LR936, AG9, 194, LR45, SR45.
Equivalents
| Sold as | Type | In a watch |
|---|---|---|
| SR936SW, 394 | Silver oxide, low drain | Best for an ordinary analog quartz watch |
| SR936W, 380 | Silver oxide, high drain | Works in any watch, and suits one with a backlight, alarm or chronograph |
| LR936, AG9, 194, LR45 | Alkaline, 1.5 V | Fits, but runs down sooner and the voltage sags; use only in a pinch |
| SR45 | Older or alternative codes | Same size; check the chemistry on the pack |
Look-alikes that won't fit
These are also 9.5 mm across, so they look right in the pack, but the thickness is different. They aren't substitutes.
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 394 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 394 the same as 380?
- They're the same size (9.5 × 3.6 mm) and the same silver-oxide chemistry. The 394 (SR936SW) is the low-drain version for ordinary analog watches; the 380 (SR936W) is high-drain, for watches with a light, alarm or chronograph. The 380 works in any watch that takes a 394.
- Is LR936 the same as SR936SW?
- Same size, different chemistry. LR936 (also sold as AG9) is alkaline and SR936SW is silver oxide. The alkaline cell fits, but it holds about 45–50 mAh against 70–80 mAh and its voltage drops as it drains, so a watch runs a shorter time on it.
- Can I use a 395 instead of a 394?
- No. Both are 9.5 mm across, but the 395 is 2.7 mm thick and the 394 is 3.6 mm. A thinner cell won't press against the contacts, so the watch won't run reliably.
- How long does a 394 battery last?
- In a typical analog quartz watch, two to five years. It holds about 70–80 mAh; a running chronograph, a backlight or an alarm drains it faster. Unused cells keep for several years in the pack.