A Battery Replacement Success Story (SNES)

[Kriegspire]

Previous topic here: http://www.thecoverproject.net/forums/index.php?topic=11745.0

So, in short, I wanted to replace some batteries in games, never really done any soldering whatsoever in my life. Bought a cheap set (10€) and some battery holders, got to work...

PICTURES TIME!



Getting the old battery out



Removed entirely



Nice and flush



Bottom, can't really see it, but the batteryholder pins come through a little



Soldered the bottom, battery in now.



Closing up the cart, holder fits perfectly.

Yes, I used a cheap BoFII SFC cart, since I didn't want to mess up any of my good games. But, I've tested the game, it still works, and it SAVES!
Once again, I've soldered once, maybe twice before in my life, so... try this at home?

[wiggy]

Good job!

[SnesGuy]

Congrats! Soon you'll end up fixing/modding everything.

I taught myself to solder by recapping a game gear... 6 hours later =P
Now i can recap + LED mod in 1 - 2.

[Kriegspire]

Congrats! Soon you'll end up fixing/modding everything.

I taught myself to solder by recapping a game gear... 6 hours later =P
Now i can recap + LED mod in 1 - 2.

I'll have to get some more experience soldering first, I dont feel confident enough to attempt anything big

[quickfingers818]

Nice! I kinda wish I had the  the mechanical aptitude do this this cause a few of my snes games won't save anymore

[ShoothimNow]

I really want to do this, but I don't know how to solder and I have no free time.  Thank you for the pictures!  With no soldering experience, was this a pain in the ass?

[Kriegspire]

I really want to do this, but I don't know how to solder and I have no free time.  Thank you for the pictures!  With no soldering experience, was this a pain in the ass?

Trust me when I say to just give it a try.

Use a game that you don't really care about if it fails, or pick up a low price sports game with a battery (there's some) to try it.
The soldering isn't hard at all, I watched this video for the how-to's, and didn't really have a hard time

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYFXNEH_vvk

[palmer6strings]

Or better yet, Just try to solder 2 wires together or a wire to a small piece of metal. Cheaper, more effective, and you will learn easier without the thought of maybe ruining something.

My first soldering experiment was on my truck. Had some break light issues. Come to find out someone that owned it before I did had done a horrible splicing job. So I soldered all the bad wires back together. Haven't had any issues since.

Since then, I've done many battery replacements in SNES, NES, GB, and GBA carts. A Sega CD fuse relocation mod, LED mods, ETC…..

[e_brugal]

I have never try to solder something but in this case (video games) I think that the difficult part is desoldering, that's the part I think someone could damaged a game. Am I wrong?

[Kriegspire]

I have never try to solder something but in this case (video games) I think that the difficult part is desoldering, that's the part I think someone could damaged a game. Am I wrong?

I suppose you could say that. Probably the hardest part.

I used a knife to pry the tabs off the battery, then pulled the tabs (that are still connected to the board) while heating the other side.

Clean holes for the new holder, and I guess the easiest way.

[irvgotti452]

Don't forget you need the right tools for the right job.
Small soldering projects like this you need a 15-35watt (max) soldering iron, 60/40 rosin core solder, some flux or soldering paste (big difference maker in soldering but DO NOT INHALE that crap). 

For desoldering: some desoldering wick (or braid) or you can use a desoldering iron with pump (should usually be sold at 35w range in radio-shack).

And most important of all keep the iron clean. I love to use on of these tip cleaners, (http://www.ebay.com/itm/271183421738?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649).

These are thing I use for my projects. Battery replacement (minus iron heat up time) just under 5 min .

[razielleonhart]

ok the biggest thing i need to know is will i lose my saves if i do this

[Arseen]

ok the biggest thing i need to know is will i lose my saves if i do this

Yes.

I suggest you try to find thast retrode thing that lets you play SNES games from real carts on PC as I think that the ability to transfer save files aswell, right?

[wiggy]

^^^ Yup!

Don't forget you need the right tools for the right job.
Small soldering projects like this you need a 15-35watt (max) soldering iron, 60/40 rosin core solder, some flux or soldering paste (big difference maker in soldering but DO NOT INHALE that crap).  

For desoldering: some desoldering wick (or braid) or you can use a desoldering iron with pump (should usually be sold at 35w range in radio-shack).

And most important of all keep the iron clean. I love to use on of these tip cleaners, (http://www.ebay.com/itm/271183421738?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649).

These are thing I use for my projects. Battery replacement (minus iron heat up time) just under 5 min .

You don't need all of that for just doing batteries. Flux you can definitely do without as long as you're using lead/tin rosin core solder. If you're using lead-free, well stop using it because it sucks beyond belief and you'll need to heat that crap to like a thousand degrees before it starts to flow. No need for wick or desoldering iron in this instance. Put the tip to one of the battery leads, then just pull it out when the solder has melted.  Repeat for the other leg.

[Blumpkin]

Man, I really can't wait for the RetroN 5 so I don't need to worry about cart batteries anymore.