Energizer Silver Oxide Coin Cell Batteries (386/301)

The Energizer 386/301 is a silver oxide coin cell rated at 1.55 volts. The two figures are alternative codes for the same cell, and one of them is usually stamped on the face of the battery you are replacing. Silver oxide is the chemistry chosen where a steady supply matters more than raw capacity: it holds its voltage close to flat through most of its working life, then falls away quickly at the end rather than sagging slowly. That is why a quartz movement keeps good time almost until the moment the cell is spent.

Cells in this format go into things too small to take a cylindrical battery: wristwatches, slim calculators, key fobs, digital thermometers and small test instruments. Matching is done by code rather than by eye, because several coin cells share a diameter but differ in height, and one that is a fraction too tall will stop a case closing properly. Read the code from the cell you remove, or from the back of the case where the maker has printed it, and match 386 or 301. If a watch case has never been opened before, a repairer will open and reseal it without marking the back.

This listing is priced and sold per cell, so a single unit is one battery rather than a pack. The minimum order is ten, in multiples of ten, which suits a repair bench or anyone who would rather keep a few spares of the sizes they change most often than hunt for one on a Sunday. The manufacturer does not state a shelf life for this cell, so we quote none. It sits alongside our wider range of Energizer cells, including alkaline and lithium coin cells and AA, AAA, C, D and 9V sizes.

How many cells do I actually receive?

One unit of this listing is a single cell. The minimum order is ten in multiples of ten, so the smallest purchase brings you ten individual cells.

Is 386 the same battery as 301?

Yes. The two numbers are alternative codes for the same silver oxide cell, so either figure printed on the battery you are removing points you here.

What voltage does it give, and does that stay steady?

It is a 1.55 volt cell, as marked on the battery itself. Silver oxide chemistry holds its voltage close to level for most of its life rather than tapering off gradually.

Could I fit an alkaline coin cell of a similar size instead?

An alkaline cell of similar dimensions will drift downwards in voltage as it discharges, which suits small gadgets more than timekeeping. Check what the maker of your device specifies before substituting.

Does the manufacturer state a shelf life?

No shelf life figure is stated for this cell, so we do not quote one. Spare cells are best left in their packaging so the contacts stay clean and cannot bridge against loose metal.

Are there any handling precautions with cells this small?

Coin cells are small enough to be swallowed, so keep them well away from children and pets and treat any suspected swallowing as an urgent medical matter.