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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: new2amga on June 19, 2008, 05:28:44 AM

Title: An A2000 with a battery that hasn't leaked?? Yet..
Post by: new2amga on June 19, 2008, 05:28:44 AM
Hello, I've just recently got back into playing with Amiga computers and had the good fortune to win myself an A2000HD and an A4000/40(?) with an A3640 card in it.  I was marveling at the motherboard the other day and catching my drool as I stared, and noticed that the battery for the clock is still on the motherboard for the A2000.. It doesn't appear to have leaked, but it looks kind of grubby, and I was wondering what kind of effort and tools it takes to remove these batteries?  It's a Barrel shaped looking thing with what looks like two arms that connect to the board.  Can anyone help me?  I appreciate the assistance.  Thank you.

Nathan

EDIT :  The grubbiness appears to be the gunk build up that appears on some electronics while in houses with smokers.  There does not appear to be any bulging or cracks in the battery I can take a picture if anyone likes.  Just let me know.  Thanks.

Nathan
Title: Re: An A2000 with a battery that hasn't leaked?? Yet..
Post by: Tenacious on June 19, 2008, 06:15:16 AM
Hi Nathan

Best to un-solder it or cut it out with some snips. Don't use anything that generates metal particles. Do it soon!

There are literally dozens of threads about this topic here.  Have a look.
Title: Re: An A2000 with a battery that hasn't leaked?? Yet..
Post by: Tenacious on June 19, 2008, 03:29:16 PM
OT:  I was in Kansas City a few weeks ago, stayed in the Plaza district.  It is one of my favorite North American Cities for the way it was planned.
Title: Re: An A2000 with a battery that hasn't leaked?? Yet..
Post by: Darrin on June 19, 2008, 06:13:13 PM
My A2000 battery hasn't leaked either.  Meanwhile,  I have an A3000 and A4000 with removed batteries.  I guess they don't build them like they used to.  :-D
Title: Re: An A2000 with a battery that hasn't leaked?? Yet..
Post by: new2amga on June 19, 2008, 08:41:21 PM
So I can use my metal nippers to cut it off the board?  And this won't hurt the board in any way?  Does anyone have a tutorial for this sort of thing?  I'm terrible with a soldering iron, which is why I didn't go for an electrical engineering degree. :-P Thanks for the info.  I really appreciate the help.

Nathan
Title: Re: An A2000 with a battery that hasn't leaked?? Yet..
Post by: Nostalgiac on June 19, 2008, 09:03:27 PM
Quote
I can take a picture if anyone likes.


please don't, I want to keep my dinner in :-)

seriously, only one advice... cut its legs and get it out.
Whether you solder in a new one or not... get the old {bleep} out :-)

Tom UK
Title: Re: An A2000 with a battery that hasn't leaked?? Yet..
Post by: davideo on June 19, 2008, 09:16:36 PM
Have a look here for a tutorial on a 4000D http://amiga.serveftp.net/battery.html

It does show you a picture of a 2000 leaky battery though  :crazy:

It's better to remove it than finish up with a knackered board. You can fit a rechargeable lithium button cell in its place. It's been discussed on this site recently  :rtfm:



Dave G  8-)
Title: Re: An A2000 with a battery that hasn't leaked?? Yet..
Post by: TjLaZer on June 19, 2008, 11:02:49 PM
I just did this the other day.  Just use some snips to cut the legs off and rock it out.  Be careful and dont pull on it.  Should come right out.  You can also use a soldering iron and remove it without removing the system board. (from the top)  Of course the right and hard way is to remove the whole board and unsolder from the bottom.
Title: Re: An A2000 with a battery that hasn't leaked?? Yet..
Post by: QuikSanz on June 20, 2008, 02:30:20 AM
Quote

new2amga wrote:
So I can use my metal nippers to cut it off the board?  And this won't hurt the board in any way?
Nathan


Not a problem as long as those nippers are of the "thin" variety.

After that get an old CD Audio cable and snip off the connector at one end and solder it to the left over tabs on the motherboard, red to the + and black and shield to the - terminals. Then take a small piece of electronic "perf" board and mount a new battery to it with a few pins for the CD Audio cable with the connector on it. Add 2 stand offs and screw it to the front plate somewhere. I put the one I made in front of the PC slot "never use that one anyway". Now your battery is "Permanently" off the board and very easy to get to, unplug and change.

Chris
Title: Re: An A2000 with a battery that hasn't leaked?? Yet..
Post by: Tenacious on June 20, 2008, 03:07:05 AM
Simply put, you don't want to stress anything.  If your cuts are not complete, don't pry or force.  Much better to cut the battery tabs than mangle the traces on the motherboard.

As already pointed out, if you want a new battery, get one with leads so you can mount it away from the MB. You will have to solder the new ones on, red to +, black to -.   Rechargable phone batteries work well.  You can read voltage and capacity (in mA/Hours) of the original from it's body.  Your new battery should be rated for the same voltage.  The capacity should be at least equal to or greater than (can be several times more) the original.

Gee, we've nearly recreated the procedure again.  Grin.