Socketing the SRAM batteries on SNES carts

[vxbinaca]

I had some CR2032 sockets I was going to use for a Dreamcast project (ML2032's are expensive and hard to come by so I scrapped it and ill just use 2 AA's in a socket instead.). Thank rock the SNES doesn't apply 3 volts constantly to the SRAM battery like the Dreamcast does to it's internal clock battery.

The sockets too large to fit into the carts PCB so I thought about getting some smaller, more flush ones:

http://mouser.com/Search/ProductDetail. ... 71-1205911

and a few of these and modifying them to fit if necessary:

http://mouser.com/Search/ProductDetail. ... AT-HLD-001

on my next order to build some TV-B-Gones.


I don't want to get batteries with PCB tabs spot welded to them as it would require eventually just changing out the battery again. I would rather socket it so in a decade I can just open it once it stops saving and put a fresh battery in.

Do any of you have any links to drop-in CR2032 sockets for SNES carts?



Edit:

MY problems are:

- The socket won't fit so I need a more flush one (simple, I think I solved that problem)
- I need the PCB tabs to line up with the large rectangular holes on the carts PCB with little to (preferably) no modification needed.

[Hobie-wan]

I hadn't found any flat enough ones yet. The Chrono Trigger I did a replacement on is using a regular tall one from a dead PC motherboard. Since the PCB doesn't fill the cart, I have the holder wired to it, then the holder is stuck down with a little tape in the empty space so that the wires and the tape keep it still. But that won't work for Mario Kart since the board fills the cart.

[vxbinaca]

I think the ones I linked to will be flat enough. They look to be about a 2 millimeters thicker than the battery when soldered to the PCB.

My main problem at this point is actually getting the sockets soldered to the board. Like I said the PCB's are made for those tabbed batteries and not sockets. The sheet metal socket on Mouser looks like it will do I just have to wait for them to get back into stock.

This one is made by Tyco:


And this one by Linx (it looks the most promising):




I'll get a small batch of both and test it out on Super Mario World. Then do Zelda 3.

[Hobie-wan]

I did look at the links you provided.

That page for the black one has a ton of links for product info and pictures, but I can't see that a single one provides dimensions. I have a white scavenged one that is 6 mm tall, and IIRC it won't fit. That metal one will be thin enough, but there aren't 2 places to solder the sides and the board doesn't have a contact pad for the bottom of the battery. So you'd have to add a leaf for the bottom and somehow deal with sticking down the 2 sides of the holder.

[vxbinaca]

I recognize those style sockets though and I'm pretty sure they'd fit (the Tyco one I mean). I've seen them on PC mother boards and hated having to replace batteries on them.