Re: IIgs battery life

[spector@vax2.concordia.ca (Mitchell Spector)]

In article bjbernstein@miavx1.acs.muohio.edu (Brian J. Bernstein) writes...

>  Rather pointless question, but I remember almost 10 years ago that they 
>said the IIgs's lithium battery was going to last about a decade. Were they 
>right? Can you still replace them? Anyone still use their IIgs enough to 
>notice? (uh oh.. flame on that last one, eh?)

	The longer you keep your IIgs powered-on, the greater the life of
the Lithium battery. The battery is only drained when the machine is off,
when it's in use the Control Panel/clock settings remain intact by drawing
power from the internal supply (well, in a sense). Very roughly speaking, if 
you left a IIgs boxed and never used, the battery may last about 5 years. 
If you used the machine daily, there's a good chance it'll last up to 10 
years. Again is is _roughly_ speaking, many people out there will tell you
different stories. I've owned and used quite a few IIGSes, I've not yet 
found one with a dead battery. My oldest GS is about 9 years old and
is still running fine with it's original Lithium battery last I checked.

	As for replacing them, how easy that is depends on which IIgs
model you own. The original ROM 00/01 motherboard has the Lithium battery
soldered-in and hidden underneath the powersupply. When it goes, your best
option is to order the "Slide-On" replacement battery kit from Night Owl.
It costs about $10-$15 and all that is required is a pair of nail-clippers
(clip out your old battery, cutting as close as possible, then pop in a new).
If you own a ROM 3, the battery is in plain sight when you lift the lid and 
merely inside a plastic snap-enclosure. Changing it should be as simple as
changing the batteries in your TV remote control. :-) Night Owl sells a 
replacement battery for the ROM 3 as well, or you can purchase one from
your local Apple dealer or other computer shop (is it a Lithium as well?).

>MrAmericaWalkOnByYourSchoolsThatDoNotTeachMrAmericaWalkOnByTheMindsThatWon'tBe
>[] Brian J. Bernstein                        In Memory of Frank Zappa       []
>[] bjbernstein@miavx1.acs.muohio.edu        Dec 21, 1940 - Dec 4, 1993      []
>[]    //     "Never hit your grandmother with a shovel, for it leaves       []
>[]  \X/       a bad impression on her mind..." -Tiny Tim                    []
>ReachedMrAmeri-> http://www.sas.muohio.edu/~bernstbj/ <-ceYouFindThatTheWayYou

Mitchell Spector
spector@vax2.concordia.ca