 I can't move to the Fediverse properly until I reproduce my famous pinned post from the birdsite, so here it is: P.S.A. To all vintage computer and video game collectors: Go through your collections and GET THE DAMN BATTERIES OUT! Now! Don't wait! Seriously, put down the phone, go to your collection and take out all the batteries. Right now! Even if they look "okay" they are NOT SAFE after this much time. 76 comments
@MightyOneSam @48kRAM I once saw a few packs of new Varta batteries in a supermarket. I ran out of the shop, screaming....  @48kRAM The *real* horror is a system board with a battery-backed NVRAM loaded with irreplaceable firmware or factory calibration data. If you don't know how to extract it from software, accepting the time bomb is the only "safe" option... :oh_no: @niconiconi @48kRAM
Carefully grind the package off these. You can then solder a new battery on to it on flying leads.  @niconiconi @48kRAM In those situations, it might work to add a second fresh remote battery in parallel, and then clip the first battery out.
@48kRAM That reminds me, I think I do have a GBC cart or two with batteries in them that I need to replace.  @48kRAM is this something to worry about for a PCjr? I haven’t had the time or space to open that one up to take a look inside, but it’s been in office use mostly so it’s probably in decent condition internally @48kRAM after reading this I’m glad I don’t have any hardware like this at the back of my loft 😝  @hacknorris Lithium ion batteries can and do leak and swell. I separate all my LiIon batteries from devices I have packed away @48kRAM I have an SE/30. It does *not* have a battery in it anymore. Why they moved it from the back case (where damage would be noticed and contained) to the mainboard (which can only be reached with specialist tools) is beyond me. @48kRAM We've been wanting old stuff like that, but don't have anything yet... bet the Wii's new enough to be safe. I think the only battery it has is a CMOS battery in a little compartment. What's dangerous about old tech's batteries? Something about the batteries themselves, or? @48kRAM also applies to some types of capacitors. They can be also very harmful when they start to leak.  @48kRAM How vintage are we talking here? The oldest computer I have is a Dreamcast, I think @hazelnot Dreamcast has a rechargeable coin cell battery that you're going to want to replace sooner or later. It's in a location that's not likely to damage the main PCB, but could damage the controller ports. It's actually safe to run the DC without this battery at all -- I've removed it from my console and I just set the time on the occasions that I drag it out to play.  @48kRAM@oldbytes.space just removed the batteries from my old gameboy color i had as a kid.  @Alexis_Krier @48kRAM yes.  @48kRAM das gilt übrigens auch für „modernere“ Geräte. Telefone, Radios, Spielzeug. Mittlerweile sind dampft LiIo oder LiPo Akkus drin. Die zerstören nicht nur das Gerät, sondern Fackeln im Zweifel auch die Bude ab! Do the same also with batteries in your old radios, (wireless) phones, toys. There are often Lithium batteries inside, who Not only destroy your device, they can probably burn down your house! @48kRAM I've got a case where I have replaced the related boards that had damage, but there's also related wiring and physical connectors that took damage. Replacing the connectors is non trivial. Any suggestions for repairing/de-crudding the metal bits on the connectors? 1980 Black Hole pinball (possibly my Waterloo)  @aradiogurl @1Bit Good move! I've labeled my Tandy slabs for the battery replacement date but I still sometimes forget which ones I'm actively using with batteries. Especially after a computer show @48kRAM My partner protests that if he takes the batteries out of his old SNES cartridges, they won't save anymore :ablobcatcry: @48kRAM Hum… Thank you for the reminder. I was aware of that but preferred to ignore that.  @48kRAM I've got a TRS-80 model 100 in storage that USED to work great. Sadly, I'm sure the internal battery has leaked and probably ruined the motherboard. I haven't had the courage to open it up and find out. Sigh. @jstevenyork It might not be too bad. And there are folks (including myself) who are pretty good at saving them, so open it up and feel free to reach out. It needs a full recap as soon as possible. @48kRAM Thanks for the advice! I'll add it to my to-do list (though that list is very long at the moment). Now to remember where I put it... @48kRAM Just curious. Were the backup batteries in these nicads? How corrosive is the leakage on these things? @jstevenyork one of the shots on my pinned post is from an m100 - the one with the blue crystals that got under the solder mask. They are pretty bad. And, yes, they are NiCd @48kRAM It strikes me I should probably investigate the garage today. There's a couple of PCs I'm not too bothered about (though I perhaps shouldn't be quite so blasé as one is a means of connecting to 8-bit SCSI) plus some ageing cameras and PDAs, including a rather lovely Psion 7. Mostly I'm worried about my Vax workstations though. The 3176 is already poorly but I'll be distraught if the 4060 gets it… I'm guessing the mainboards are multi-layer and not amenable to repair. @48kRAM ...oh, and that VT320, I'd assumed it wouldn't have one but all those millions of "just how complicated can RS232 be?" settings need to be remembered somehow. And the Acorn Archimedes-of-some-description. And possibly the BBC Micros, but hopefully not the Dragon nor the Electron. @48kRAM Good advice - here is an Apple Macintosh SE/30 after its battery exploded all over the PCB. I ended up restoring it onto a new PCB by removing all the custom ICs from the damaged board and replacing the others with new parts. Quite a lot of work involved but got it working in the end! |
Gregory's Server
@48kRAM Defeat Varta, destroyer of boards