Battery Replacement FAQ
Author: Kirby Freak101
Version: 2.0
E-mail: [email protected]

DISCLAIMER: This FAQ is Copyright (C) 2003-2005 Kirby Freak101.  You may NOT use
this FAQ for anything other than personal use, unless permission granted by
me.  This FAQ should not be published in any magazines, books, articles, etc.
It shouldn't be posted on any websites except for the ones listed below.  I
will not be held responsible if you get in trouble for breaking any of these
Copyright laws.  ONLY the following websites may currently use this guide:

http://www.gamefaqs.com/


-End Disclaimer


--------Version History--------
-Uploaded Version 1.0 to the site
-Uploaded Version 2.0 to the site
-------------------------------



--------Contents--------
A. Introduction
B. Replacement FAQ
  1. What you need
  2. What causes batteries to die
  3. Removing the old battery
  4. Methods to replace dead batteries
    a. Soldering
    b. Electric Tape
    c. Professional help
c. Credits
------------------------



------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A. Introduction:

 This FAQ is used to explain what happens when you're game can't save
anymore, or it doesn't save too well anymore.  The reason for this is the
lithium battery inside your SNES cartridge has died out.  In this FAQ I will
explain how you can get your battery replaced, and the many methods to doing
it.  So if you want your old game to save like brand new, then continue to
read on.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------



------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B. Replacement FAQ:

 Ok, here is the part you have all been waiting for, the replacement guide.
Here I will tell you the many ways to replace your battery, and what exactly
causes your battery to wear out, and also the materials needed.

 1. What you need:
    Before you decide what you need, you need to decide what method you want
  to use to replace your battery.  There are two commonly known methods people
  use.  Soldering and electric tape.  These are things you need no matter what
  method you plan to use:

    -3.8mm Security Screwbit($3 at www.mcmelectronics.com or eBay)
    -New CR2032 battery($3 at Radioshack)

  a.  Soldering:
      If you want to solder then you need the things listed above as well as
      some other things listed:

    -Soldering iron, and some solder($10 at Radioshack)
    -Wire(At Radioshack)
    -Battery Holder($1 at www.mcmelectronics.com)

  b.  Electric Tape:
      For electric tape you only need the two things listed at the top as well
      as some:

    -Electric tape(duh!)



 2. What causes batteries to die:
    Very simple actually.  The reason a battery dies is just like any
  battery.  It wears out over age, and you need to buy a replacement.  The
  only problem is, SNES batteries are a little harder to replace, and that
  is what this FAQ is for.


 3. Removing the old battery:
    This isn't that hard.  To start, get a flathead screwdriver or a thin
  knife, or whatever is thin and sturdy.  Now you will need a 3.8MM
  Gamebit to open the cartridge up.  Take off the 2 screws and remove the cover
  and you will notice the backside of the chipboard.  Turn it over, but to
  not damage the chipboard, ONLY hold it by it's edges(like you would a CD).
  Flip it over, and you will see the CR2032 Lithium battery.  Now what you
  need to do, is take the knife, flathead screwdriver, or other flat object,
  start to pry at the Solder points.  Keep wiggling and slowly pushing it
  further on the top tab.  After enough wiggling and pushing it should come
  loose.  Make sure you take it slowly, cause you don't want to break the
  top tab, doing so would make it totally broken, and you won't be able to
  save anymore.  Do so for the bottom tab too.  After that you are done, you
  can start on the replacing.  Read on...


 4. Methods to replace dead batteries:
    Let's replace this battery!  I will list
  both ways of replacement, you pick what you want(Soldering or Electric
  tape).  Read on:

  a. Soldering:
     This is the method Nintendo used to add the batteries, and is the most
   reliable.  It is also the most hardest and tedious way as well.  To start,
   heat up your Soldering iron, and wait about 2 minutes or so.  Now connect
   a few inches of wire from the bottom tab and connect it to the negative
   side of the battery holder.  Now take some solder and the soldering iron
   to solder the wire onto the bottom tab and the end of the wire to
   the negative side of the battey holder.  Do the same thing with the top
   tab to the positive side of the battery holder.  Once you are done with
   that, pop the battery into the battery holder.  Then you can take some
   tape(electric tape, anyone?) and turn the tape into a two sided piece
   and stick to the wall fo the cartridge, and stick the battery holder to
   it.  This is to prevent the battery from rattling around in the
   cartridge.

  b. Electric Tape:
     This method is a lot easier then soldering.  However it is not as reliable
   and the tape wears out after a while.  If you want to use this method,
   however, just hold the new battery and the bottom and top battery tabs
   all together, and wrap a piece of electric tape around it.  Use another
   piece for more reliability.  Then take some pieces, and start taping it
   all over the battery.  Keep doing this until you the battery can't move
   anymore.  In the end it may take about 7 or 8 pieces of tape.  This method
   gives satisfying results, but the tape sometimes randomly lets go and causes
   your save files to erase from time to time.

  c. Professional help:
     Are you having problems with either of the methods?  If so, you can
   contact Nintendo themselves and send the cartridge with the bad battery in
   it, and they will professionally solder a new one in there.  However, it's
   not free.  I have seen them charge from around $15 - $20 for the job.  Not
   including shipping costs!  So use this option only if you just absolutely
   give up on the above methods.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------



------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C. Credits:

 There are a few people I would like to thank for this FAQ.

-CJayc, for posting this FAQ on GameFAQs
-Nintendo, for making it possible for home replacement, even though they don't
 like it ^_^;
-Everyone who read my FAQ and needed it, for making this FAQ worthwhile
-Me, for making the FAQ

Any questions or concerns, or can't fully comprehend some things I said?  Feel
free to e-mail me at [email protected], and hopefully I will reply.

Copyright (C) 2003-2005 Kirby Freak101

-The End

You are viewing proxied material from gopher.endangeredsoft.org. The copyright of proxied material belongs to its original authors. Any comments or complaints in relation to proxied material should be directed to the original authors of the content concerned. Please see the disclaimer for more details.