Re: Clock card batteries

[mjmahon@aol.com (Michael J. Mahon)]

John wrote:

>Quadrajet1 wrote:

John wrote:

>>>I have a Time II clock card from AE that I bought some new batteries 
>>>for.  It uses one battery to keep time when the system is off.  The 
>>>problem, I am having is that the old battery was 3V and the new one is 
>>>about 3.8V although the battery is labeled 3V and the time can't be set 
>>>via software.  Does the battery being too high of voltage cause this 
>>>problem?  The old battery I had didn't do this but it didn't keep time.
>>>
>>>Thanks
>>>
>> 
>> 
>>   I am not familiar with that clock card specifically, but regular alkaline
>> batteries put out 1.5v and NiCd and NiMh out out 1.2v.  Now, you are going
>to
>> measure a little higher voltage when fresh and no load on them.  My 18V
>DeWalt
>> tool batteries measure out at just over 20 volts fresh off the charger,
>when
>> all the cells are good. 
>> 
>>   What was the old battery, and what did you replace it with? Maybe you
>> replaced an alkaline with a NiCd.
>
>I could try some alkaline batteries.  The new one is a NiCad. I just 
>know that the old battery was less than 3V when I removed it and I could 
>set the clock via software (a BASIC program).  I may try lowering the 
>voltage using regular batteries.

The battery is nominally 3.6v. Your replacement is fine.

It is extremely unlikely that the slightly higher voltage of the new
battery has anything to do with your problem, since the battery
is overridden by the +5v supply when the computer is on.

The most likely scenario is that the "set enable" switch or jumper
is not in the position that allows the clock to be set.  (Most clock
cards have such a mechanical interlock to prevent accidental resetting
of the time.)

If it's not the "set enable", then I'm afraid that your clock chip may
have suffered ESD damage during the replacement operation.

-michael

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