Re: IIGS Battery Backup...

[nathan@cco.caltech.edu (Nathan Mates)]

In article <4gc8o6$kq2@yama.mcc.ac.uk>,
Duncan Entwisle <duncane@jumper.mcc.ac.uk> wrote:
>What's the best way to replace the battery in a IIGS?

>Snip the pins and solder a new battery on?

   That'll work. 

>Is there a better way that would allow me to replace it again without having
>to snip and resolder again (some for of battery holder?)

   There was a company, Nite Owl Productions, that had some sort of
clip-on battery holder; that way you could swap out the battery just
like a walkman. If you can find such a thing, that would be best.

>Will the machine run sans battery? That way I could snip it out and look what
>voltage/ampage it runs at :-) without sacrificing my use of the IIGS while
>waiting for a new battery.

   Yes, but your clock will be reset, all color preferences, etc.  If
you want to examine the battery, the best way to do so is to pull the
power supply partway out. Pull out the power cord in back, and release
the clip at the front of the power supply. The power supply will then
be connected only by wires to the motherboard; the batter under where
the power supply was. You should be able to read any writings on the
battery.

>Is the heat from the iron likely to cause damage to the board (so should 
>I snip as far away from the board as possible - how do I stop the new 
>battery from wobbling if its not directly pressed against the motherboard)

   Wobbling batteries is not a problem if the connection is
electrically sound. If you're worried about heat, you can use
needle-nose pliers as a heat sink. Just put the motherboard end of the
wire between the pliers (not enough to cut it, just enough to get a
good contact), and heat will go to the pliers before the motherboard.

>Will the heat from the iron make the battery go boom?

   Not from a quick soldering. It should take a few minutes in flames
to blow up a battery; 30 seconds of heating from the soldering iron
should be fine.

Nathan Mates



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<*> Nathan Mates http://www.ugcs.caltech.edu/~nathan/      <*>
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