Re: Serial-Pro card in a coma!

[dempson@atlantis.actrix.gen.nz (David Empson)]

In article <3uoe7d$oen@news.tamu.edu>,
John Donald Baker <jdb8042@tam2000.tamu.edu> wrote:
> 
> My problem turned out to be what I expected.  The Varta MemPac
> 3.6V cell was now registering 2.88V and this condition was enough
> to keep the 6818 clock chip "confused" even when system power
> was on.  I removed the old power cell and everything operates normally.
> 
> Now my only problem is that I need to know exactly what kind of cell
> it was.  NiCd?  Lithium?  What?  I want to replace it, but don't know
> where to get an appropriate replacement.
> 
> In the interrim, I scavenged a perfectly good 3.6V lithium cell from
> a dead GRiD Systems' 286 laptop and soldered it in in place of the
> old Varta cell. My SerialPro now retains its setup but the clock
> runs slow when run by the battery (system power off).

Warning: if the old battery was a NiCd (or other rechargeable), the
circuit is probably designed to recharge the battery, and it is very
dangerous to put a lithium battery in its place.  The battery is
likely to leak or explode.  Lithium is rather nasty stuff.

However, I don't think that is likely in this case.  I haven't seen a
Serial Pro, but memory and clock backup batteries are usually lithium.
-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand