Cartridge Batteries Made Easier to Replace??

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artphotodude
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Cartridge Batteries Made Easier to Replace??

Post by artphotodude »

With RetroN 5 and similar systems out, Cartridge EPROM batteries are getting to be less necessary all the time, but in cases were you do still need them (i.e. N64 Games and Controller Packs) they might have just got WAY cheaper and easier to replace. For those mailing carts off to have this service done, this won't be helpful, but for those who are Do-It-Yourselfers who every 7-years or so hunt down 2032 batteries with Solder Tabs, this becomes like a gaming "Class Reunion". You take all your Carts apart, realize half of them don't need batteries, then you go to the ones that do and realize just how much you forgot about soldering since the last time. After a few hours, the problem is solved and you promptly forget what a hassle this is. Well, to make matters worse, batteries with said solder tabs are harder to get in new condition, and the configuration of the tabs isn't always doing you any favors when it's time to put them in.

Well, here is a new product that might just have made this WAY easier. BUTTON BATTERY SOCKETS - that can be permanently soldered to the Cart-Boards and then normal 2032 Button Cells like you find in PCs and Dreamcast VMUs can be slipped in as needed! See this eBay auction for an example: ( https://www.ebay.com/itm/5XCR2032-CR202 ... 3789176897 ). Then all you really need is just a Nintendo socket tip to keep all your games ready to work indefinitely.

This is reasonably easy to do, but for anyone who might want to have it done, am happy to quote a price based on how many games/controller-packs and shipping. :D
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Re: Cartridge Batteries Made Easier to Replace??

Post by marurun »

20 for $8. Start yourself a little business. ;)


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Re: Cartridge Batteries Made Easier to Replace??

Post by pierrot »

I'm fairly certain these have been on the market for a few years or so. I feel like I remember running into these while doing some parts acquisitions some time ago. Looks like there would be a couple issues with that particular style though:

- The footprint doesn't match most of the batteries I've seen in cartridges.

- The straight-pin design would put the battery perpendicular with the board.

I don't know for certain that the dimensions would work for this one either, but this seems like it would be the preferable design for this kind of application: ebay

Personally, I don't really mind just changing out a battery or two every handful of years. It's pretty low stress for me, and I kind of assume I wouldn't end up having to change out a battery on a game after putting in a socket.
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Re: Cartridge Batteries Made Easier to Replace??

Post by artphotodude »

pierrot wrote:I'm fairly certain these have been on the market for a few years or so. I feel like I remember running into these while doing some parts acquisitions some time ago. Looks like there would be a couple issues with that particular style though:

- The footprint doesn't match most of the batteries I've seen in cartridges.

- The straight-pin design would put the battery perpendicular with the board.

I don't know for certain that the dimensions would work for this one either, but this seems like it would be the preferable design for this kind of application: ebay

Personally, I don't really mind just changing out a battery or two every handful of years. It's pretty low stress for me, and I kind of assume I wouldn't end up having to change out a battery on a game after putting in a socket.


Perhaps, but the pins can be set to the right angle and probably easier than most of the Batteries with built-in tabs.
A bend-over approach with a dot of epoxy to fix to the board will likely work great.
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Re: Cartridge Batteries Made Easier to Replace??

Post by pierrot »

Yeah, I have no doubt that it could be made to work. There's certainly a lot less extra bulk to those ones, compared to the one I linked. It seems like the negative contact on those might only go to the center lead, though. So, it might still require a jumper wire, or something else, unless the leads are actually a bit longer than they appear in the pictures.
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Re: Cartridge Batteries Made Easier to Replace??

Post by artphotodude »

pierrot wrote:Yeah, I have no doubt that it could be made to work. There's certainly a lot less extra bulk to those ones, compared to the one I linked. It seems like the negative contact on those might only go to the center lead, though. So, it might still require a jumper wire, or something else, unless the leads are actually a bit longer than they appear in the pictures.


If it didn't reach I'd just jump over with a piece of LED lead.
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Re: Cartridge Batteries Made Easier to Replace??

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artphotodude wrote:Perhaps, but the pins can be set to the right angle and probably easier than most of the Batteries with built-in tabs. A bend-over approach with a dot of epoxy to fix to the board will likely work great.

Those holders nice, and easy way to slide the coin batteries out. Could be an issue of battery sliding out if air gap inside when a game cart dropped. That could fry the chips should the coin battery rattle around inside. An easy fix would be gluing a plastic stop inside the upper cart shell above the battery holder to keep the coin battery in check.

I used surface mount holders; the top cart shell keeps the battery from popping off. I'll quoted your OP to my Guide.

Game Cart Battery Holder Replacement Guide - viewtopic.php?f=52&t=46908&p=897989#p897989

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