Does replacing the battery in carts devalue them?

[Mason P.]

I have a SNES Chrono Trigger and the battery died. Now do you think it would effect the value of the cart if the battery is replaced or it doesn't matter? I guess the only way a person would know is if they opened it up. Would you buy a copy of a "valuable" game such as an Earthbound or Chrono Trigger knowing the battery has been replaced?

Please let me know.

[jb143]

I can't speak for serious collectors here but for the general public I'd say that you'd get more for a game with a new battery than a dead one. It might also depend on the quality of the repair. if it's <gasp> glued in there instead of soldered, as I've heard of some people doing, and the buyer knew this, then it may not get as much as well. I'm mainly going by my experience selling on Ebay btw.

[Ze_ro]

I would think that a successful battery replacement would actually INCREASE the value of the cartridge, since it should last another 10-20 years after being replaced. I would think that any collector who was opposed to this would be those that had no intention of playing it in the first place (ie, sealed collectors and such).

--Zero

[Draven]

I collect, but I am a gamer first. I don't care about manuals, sleeves, boxes, etc. As long as the game works. If the battery's been replaced I'd be more open to buying it (wish someone would have changed the battery in my Super Metroid...spent 4 hours playing, saved, then discovered it wasn't any good).

[Bratwurst]

Keeping the original batteries in your games at this point is asking for trouble anyway, of the games that I've been opening up and inspecting/cleaning/whatever and featured a save function I would say 25% of them had leaking or corroded batteries. Leave something like that in there long enough and the acid contaminates the rest of the circuit board, with migrating corrosion.

In five or ten more years people won't be asking if the original battery is intact, (assuming this was ever an issue,) they'll be asking if the game still saves and more importantly, if it still works at all.

[Vectorman0]

This is a good question.

Personally, I don't mind having a new aftermarket battery installed in a cartridge, as long as it was done well by someone knowledgeable who would do a good job. If someone was selling it to me, I would like to know up-front. A new battery wouldn't devalue it in my eyes, and while it wouldn't significantly increase the value to me, it would definitely be a plus.

[Trade-N-Games]

I would say 25% of them had leaking or corroded batteries. Leave something like that in there long enough and the acid contaminates the rest of the circuit board, with migrating corrosion.

In five or ten more years people won't be asking if the original battery is intact, (assuming this was ever an issue,) they'll be asking if the game still saves and more importantly, if it still works at all.
Can anyone back up this claim? I have opened 1000's of nes and SNES and I can remember 2 having this problem but it was clear as day they were bad before I opened them due to no label and cart had holes. Has anyone found the batt less than $10 each that have the little feet on them?
I do agree value with be lower if dead but really no higher or you could tell everyone who buys it "its new".

[FABombjoy]

Has anyone found the batt less than $10 each that have the little feet on them?

$10? Are you serious?

http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Cat=393247;keywords=2032

Most expensive one there is 1.73 for one, prices drop starting w/ quantity 10.

I've seen a lot more damage from Alkaline & Nicad over Lithium, but that's in arcade hardware. Haven't opened up that many carts w/ batteries. I know that I have many battery-backup cartridges that amazingly still work after 20+ years.

[Trade-N-Games]

$10? Are you serious?

http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Cat=393247;keywords=2032

Most expensive one there is 1.73 for one, prices drop starting w/ quantity 10.

I've seen a lot more damage from Alkaline & Nicad over Lithium, but that's in arcade hardware. Haven't opened up that many carts w/ batteries. I know that I have many battery-backup cartridges that amazingly still work after 20+ years.

Thanks- going to place an order for a bunch as soon as I open a few up and see what one I need.

[Daria]

ummm...

saving is good.

[Bratwurst]

Can anyone back up this claim? I have opened 1000's of nes and SNES and I can remember 2 having this problem but it was clear as day they were bad before I opened them due to no label and cart had holes. Has anyone found the batt less than $10 each that have the little feet on them?
I do agree value with be lower if dead but really no higher or you could tell everyone who buys it "its new".

Battery leakage most often looks like a powdery white residue, and its not necessarily going to immediately spell the death of a cart, but if left alone will only get worse. Here are some pictures of recent 'pulls' of CR2032s from Sega Genesis cartridges. A clean cell, one with moderate corrosion and then an extreme example of leakage.

http://home.carolina.rr.com/rberube/cells/cell1.jpg

http://home.carolina.rr.com/rberube/cells/cell2.jpg

http://home.carolina.rr.com/rberube/cells/cell3.jpg

http://home.carolina.rr.com/rberube/cells/cell4.jpg

Stay away from generic brands and knock-offs! They leak even faster than a good brand.

[Gameguy]

As long as the battery is changed carefully and properly, I really wouldn't mind. I would be concerned if the new battery was just taped in place, I wouldn't want it to come loose if I dropped the cartridge.

I'm kind of worried that all of my older games will need new batteries installed, I can't solder well and if I had to get them all replaced it might be expensive. The only carts I've come across with dead batteries so far are copies of Pokemon Silver and Crystal. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

[FlufflePuff]

I would personally rather have a replaced battery if I knew it was replaced by someone with knowledge.

On the subject though, in all my collecting I've never had a game with a dead battery. I still fire up my copies of Zelda, Dragon Warrior, and Final Fantasy with no issues to this day. Are dead batteries really that common now?

[Iron Draggon]

see, this is why I've always believed that games with battery saves were a bad idea... sure, it's nice to not have to keep track of passwords, but it's even nicer to not have to open up carts to solder new batteries in them... at least Jaguar carts have EEPROMS in them that can be flashed more times than anyone would ever need to do so in order to save their game without a password... so why didn't Sega & Nintendo use this method? too expensive?

[Gameguy]

see, this is why I've always believed that games with battery saves were a bad idea... sure, it's nice to not have to keep track of passwords, but it's even nicer to not have to open up carts to solder new batteries in them... at least Jaguar carts have EEPROMS in them that can be flashed more times than anyone would ever need to do so in order to save their game without a password... so why didn't Sega & Nintendo use this method? too expensive?

I actually prefer carts with passwords for this exact reason, I think long term when I make purchases.

I assume Nintendo and Sega didn't plan for their games to last this long, they only cared that they last until the next system was released. Most consumers don't think long term, they want to use something now and when something newer is available they get that instead(most people trash their computers when they're "obsolete", same with trashing VHS tapes to upgrade to DVD).

[FxMercenary]

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_As2kgMdqwmU/RlOFtaNhMII/AAAAAAAABe4/tcOvkOJrMYE/Arguecat.jpg

I have opened up about 200 carts now, and have not seen any damage from batteries, but now that I have seen that pic of white residue on a battery, I am beginning to see it on 1985-1990 nes carts. over 90% are showing acid-like powder forming around the top solder joint and the bottom edges.

Thanks for the heads up, I own a nice soldering gun. I will buy batteries and begin the replacements.

I feel bad for the people who keep games sealed now...

[Xander]

Stay away from generic brands and knock-offs! They leak even faster than a good brand.

I just bought 20 for 2.99$ from a canadian seller on ebay. You make me worry. Do you know of any good brands at affordable price?

[FxMercenary]

I just bought 20 for 2.99$ from a canadian seller on ebay. You make me worry. Do you know of any good brands at affordable price?

ebay for sony cr2032. Regular and lithiums show up. Usually you can pick up lithiums for $1 each or less.

[Bratwurst]

ebay for sony cr2032. Regular and lithiums show up. Usually you can pick up lithiums for $1 each or less.

Maxell, Sony and Energizer are good brands, but there are knockoffs of these you have to watch out for. Maxell recently implemented holograms in their packaging to help stand out above the fakes. Stay away from Hong Kong suppliers.

[RASK1904]

I've had to change one battery. It was Legend of Zelda Oracle of Ages. I think I took it out of Mario Tennis. Both for gameboy color. Also once I bought Metroid Zero for GBA off Ebay and got it and the battery was dead. I opened this up and I don't unedstand where the battery is? So I went to EB games and bought another one. Then returned the broken one to them.:shameful: (I don't like them.) I didn't want to pay for return shipping.

I would think one with a new battery would be worth more. Kinda like a NES with a new 72 pin connector. Also it's a service your paying for.
Thanx RASK1904:rockets:

[CosmicMonkey]

I'd rather have a CPS2 game with a battery that's been changed recently. Even better, I'd have a battery-free Phoenix CPS2 cart. Having Progear or AvP die really isn't a good thing.

[Cauterize]

I would think that a successful battery replacement would actually INCREASE the value of the cartridge

It seemed to for me... I sold about 3 or 4 Pokemon Golds/Silvers that I placed a new battery in on ebay. In the auction title I stated this too.
I was flooded with lots of questions and eager buyers instantly. They all sold within a day or two...

Mind you, Pokemon Gold/Silver/Crystal has a reputation for housing the worst battery in the world.

[Trade-N-Games]

I have over 20 Pokemon Gold/ Silver and a few Crystal in a box at my store all dead. I will fix them soon now

[mailman187666]

the only battery I've ever had to replace was the one for my Sega Saturn. Those don't seem to last long at all and makes owning a memory cart almost essential to being a Saturn collector. As far as old games go with battery saves, I've got the original Dragon Warrior that I got pretty much when it first came out, and the old saves are still on there. I didn't realize that people were having them die on them so much already. Its also something to look into as far as buying rare/expensive carts with battery saves too, maybe should always ask a seller if the game still saves or not before purchasing. How shitty would it be to get a complete copy of Earthbound for market prices and find out that it doesn't save?

[Draven]

Pretty much all my NES games still work. Super Metroid is the only thing I've had problems with (I've had 2 copies, both dead). Does the more you play/save affect battery life?

[AllP0werToSlaves]

Pretty much all my NES games still work. Super Metroid is the only thing I've had problems with (I've had 2 copies, both dead). Does the more you play/save affect battery life?

Super Metroid isn't nearly as old as some other titles using batteries to save, namely NES carts. I'm actually quite surprised you have two copies of the game and BOTH don't save. I don't think the amount of play time affects the battery, I'm almost positive things like temperature and storage have more of an effect. Even though your NES/SNES may get a little warm after hours of play, I don't think that's going to effect the game as much as a humid closet would.

[Aussie2B]

This topic is too anal even for me. :P I imagine the vast majority of people wouldn't replace a battery until it's already dead, so when the choice is between a game that doesn't save and one that does, the latter will always be more valuable.

There are a few collectors out there that may turn their nose up to a cartridge that's not in its original state, and some may be wary of questionable replacement jobs (the aforementioned tape method). All in all, though, if I was selling the one cartridge in which I've replaced the battery, I'd advertise it as a plus.

[jb143]

Pretty much all my NES games still work. Super Metroid is the only thing I've had problems with (I've had 2 copies, both dead). Does the more you play/save affect battery life?

I know this has been discused before and I think the gereral conclusion was that, if anything, playing a game will increase the battery life some becasue the system will be powering the ram durring that time rather than the battery.

I've only had 2 batteries die on me. My original Zelda from way back when and just in the past couple months Super Mario Land 2.

[Daria]

With my collection, the only game I've run across with a bad battery was Super Mario World. It's obviously not even one of my RPGs. And in that case it was easier to second game than it was to look into replacing the battery.

[Icarus Moonsight]

If your interested in doing a battery repair to increase value/desirability then you need to solder on to the PCB a slot socket (You know how you replace the cr2032 in a Saturn? That's a slot socket back there). To change a battery you just open the cart case flip out the old battery and slide a new one in and close her up. It's really slick and super easy even for iron rookies. :)

EDIT: They are actually called coin battery sockets. Slot socket is how I shortened it up in my own head I guess.

[Mason P.]

I tried to do one of those battery sockets in a Lufia cart. Worked well. Now if and when it dies, i can just replace the battery and not have to do any soldering.