Genesis owners...the time to change your batteries is now.

[bust3dstr8]

I opened up around 20 or so carts over the last few days and noticed that more than 50% of them
where starting to leak. They ranged from slightly corroded to completely trashed.

I took a look at my SNES games also, they seemed to have a much higher quality battery.
None of them had leaked and only a few where just starting to oxidize.

So if you have any beloved Genesis save carts I'd remove that old battery sooner than later :)


http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/9949/corrode.jpg

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/3158/photo10d.jpg

[Parodius Duh!]

I dont even bother buying carts that have battery save functions anymore....Ive encountered this problem way to often, after paying $75 for a corroded Earthbound, never again, Ill stick to emulators and buying carts with newly confirmed battery swaps only.

[DK1105]

I have never opened any of my games. When I get some free time I'm going to have to take a look soon.

[Aussie2B]

I guess we were about due for yet another topic that's going to turn into a huge debate over battery life spans and if batteries should be replaced preemptively or not. :P

[bust3dstr8]

I wasn't intending for a debate. More like a friendly reminder...sorta like when your doctor tells you it's
time for another prostate exam :ass:

[wiggyx]

Damn, I didn't even think there were 20 Genesis games with a battery backup LOL!

That's lame. I've never had this issue, but I don't even think I currently own a Genny game with a backup. Gotta go check...

[Aussie2B]

While it really sucks that that happened to your games, I don't think it's necessarily a sign that everybody else could be facing the same problem. For that many batteries to not only die but also leak acid, I would guess that some environmental factor came into play. If you take a look at, say, this topic, you'd see that most collectors can count on one hand the number of bad batteries they've encountered, and these are people who have handled hundreds/thousands of games:

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?144415-How-are-your-games-with-batteries-in-them-holding-up

[wingzrow]

What Genesis carts have save batteries? Landstalker & phantasy star 2 are the only i know of.

[Atarileaf]

What Genesis carts have save batteries? Landstalker & phantasy star 2 are the only i know of.

I would think all the sports games would use save batteries wouldn't they? Certainly not a crisis considering the sheer number, low desirability, and cheap prices of Genesis sports games.

[sloan]

For that many batteries to not only die but also leak acid, I would guess that some environmental factor came into play.

This.

In fact, the OP reminds me of alarmist politics we often see from government leaders, where a singular event prompts calls for massive legislation.

I have bought thousands of games at yard sales, goodwill, etc. Every one of those is taken apart and cleaned inside and out. I have never seen an internal battery in the condition shown in those two pictures. They literally must have been submerged in a flooded basement to be in that condition.

[BlastProcessing402]

What Genesis carts have save batteries? Landstalker & phantasy star 2 are the only i know of.

You know of Phantasy Star 2, but didn't think of Phantasy Star 3 and 4? @_@

Anyway, most RPG's would have a battery ie Super Hydlide, Sword of Vermillion, Shining in the Darkness, Shining Force 1 & 2, etc

People might think of the SNES as the RPG system of its day, but Genesis really had a decent amount as well.

[Greg2600]

There's usually an environmental reason as to why so many of your games are leaking.

[Gameguy]

I would think all the sports games would use save batteries wouldn't they? Certainly not a crisis considering the sheer number, low desirability, and cheap prices of Genesis sports games.
Not all of them, plenty use EEPROMS instead. Of the Genesis games that use EEPROMS more sports games do than non-sports games.


For a list of Genesis games that use batteries(or EEPROMS) there's the list below. I've previously bookmarked the thread that was in as I found it useful.

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?134961-NES-SNES-Genny-Games-with-Battery-Back-up-Save-feature&p=1614576&viewfull=1#post1614576

[Kitsune Sniper]

This.

In fact, the OP reminds me of alarmist politics we often see from government leaders, where a singular event prompts calls for massive legislation.

I have bought thousands of games at yard sales, goodwill, etc. Every one of those is taken apart and cleaned inside and out. I have never seen an internal battery in the condition shown in those two pictures. They literally must have been submerged in a flooded basement to be in that condition.

It's still a good reminder of what may happen to batteries eventually. We've all picked up old battery-powered toys and LCD games filled with acid inside, haven't we?

I'll probably start doing this with the few cart games I own in the near future.

[bust3dstr8]

There's usually an environmental reason as to why so many of your games are leaking.

There may be as these games where all gathered from one place.
A buddy of mine owns a small game shop and he gave me few boxes of shit games from his
overflow storage room. Most of them where sports games with batteries.

This was a fairly good sample size (70ish) of battery carts all stored in the same place for years.
The Genesis carts leaked and the SNES did not.

[Orion Pimpdaddy]

I opened up around 20 or so carts over the last few days and noticed that more than 50% of them
where starting to leak.

I'm curious. Did you happen to buy your games all from one source? If so, wherever they were stored may have had an effect on the condition.

I haven't come across a Genesis game with a dead battery in my entire life, but I guess it wouldn't hurt to check.

[Aussie2B]

It's still a good reminder of what may happen to batteries eventually. We've all picked up old battery-powered toys and LCD games filled with acid inside, haven't we?

I'll probably start doing this with the few cart games I own in the near future.

I've come across tons of leaking batteries, but they've always been your standard AAs, AAAs, Ds, etc., never coin cell batteries. It seems far less common with coin cell batteries.

And even then, there have been very few devices I couldn't save by merely removing the batteries and cleaning the area in which they leaked, so even if a game has a leaking battery, I wouldn't automatically write it off as unsalvageable.

But I'm not worried about my game batteries dying in any shape or form any time soon since even the oldest of games with batteries still have the vast majority of their original batteries functioning just fine. When and if the apocalypse comes to The Legend of Zelda, then I'll start to worry about what the future will bring to my SNES and Genesis games. :P But I expect most coin cell batteries to die cleanly, with a simple replacement being all that's needed to keep it going for decades more.

[RP2A03]

I'm not even sure that battery leaked as most of the damage is away from the battery and I can see no evidence of electrolyte attacking the silk screen. In fact, aren't coin cells dry?

[CatTehBus]

Just wondering how easy is it to replace batteries? Like Gameboy games, any solder needed?

[wiggyx]

^^^ Yup, just like GBA and SNES.

[IHatedSega]

Luke Mors got a NEO GEO cartridge and had to replace the battery when it opened it up. That really sucks, glad the news is getting around.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QU07qAjtw-M

[Drixxel]

I'm curious. Did you happen to buy your games all from one source? If so, wherever they were stored may have had an effect on the condition.


There may be as these games where all gathered from one place.
A buddy of mine owns a small game shop and he gave me few boxes of shit games from his
overflow storage room. Most of them where sports games with batteries.

This was a fairly good sample size (70ish) of battery carts all stored in the same place for years.
The Genesis carts leaked and the SNES did not.

You may not realize this, Pimpdaddy, but the OP answered your question (to the best of their knowledge), before you asked it, in the post immediately above yours that was posted an hour and a half before you posted. No snarkiness intended, just kind of funny!

[xelement5x]

Not all of them, plenty use EEPROMS instead. Of the Genesis games that use EEPROMS more sports games do than non-sports games.


For a list of Genesis games that use batteries(or EEPROMS) there's the list below. I've previously bookmarked the thread that was in as I found it useful.

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?134961-NES-SNES-Genny-Games-with-Battery-Back-up-Save-feature&p=1614576&viewfull=1#post1614576

Nice link, and pretty helpful!

I guess at the least I should look at my high profile games like Phantasy Star and Crusader of Centy to make sure they're doing okay still.

[wiggyx]

I'm not even sure that battery leaked as most of the damage is away from the battery and I can see no evidence of electrolyte attacking the silk screen. In fact, aren't coin cells dry?

Pardon me if I'm out of my depth with regards to battery tech, but aren't normal alkaline betteries considered dry as well? I know they have a minute amount of moisture to allow them to do their thing, but not enough to be considered "wet", which virtually nothing aside from lead-acid car batts are as best I know.

Are coin cells packed with something significantly different? I always assumed they were very similar being that they behave very similarly.

[dendawg]

Pardon me if I'm out of my depth with regards to battery tech, but aren't normal alkaline betteries considered dry as well? I know they have a minute amount of moisture to allow them to do their thing, but not enough to be considered "wet", which virtually nothing aside from lead-acid car batts are as best I know.

Are coin cells packed with something significantly different? I always assumed they were very similar being that they behave very similarly.

The primary difference between a button cell battery and the cyndrical "dry" cells is the size. The other is that the electrolyte in a convential AA/AAA, etc. cell is actually a paste. The electrolyte in a button cell battery has a much higher moisture content.

As I pointed out in the beginning of my post, a button cell battery is smaller. Combine that with the more liquid electrolyte and heat, and you have a potential explosive hazard on your hands if you attempt to solder to it, as the electrolyte will most likely boil before the external casing reaches the temperature needed for good soldering. The cell exploding, while unlikely, is still a safety concern. This is why soldering to a button cell is discouraged.

[CelticJobber]

What Genesis carts have save batteries? Landstalker & phantasy star 2 are the only i know of.

Many RPG and sports games had batteries.

[bust3dstr8]

As I pointed out in the beginning of my post, a button cell battery is smaller. Combine that with the more liquid electrolyte and heat, and you have a potential explosive hazard on your hands if you attempt to solder to it, as the electrolyte will most likely boil before the external casing reaches the temperature needed for good soldering. The cell exploding, while unlikely, is still a safety concern. This is why soldering to a button cell is discouraged.

Dude...you could save like $0.29 per cart if you soldered to the battery.....what's wrong with you?

[dendawg]

Dude...you could save like $0.29 per cart if you soldered to the battery.....what's wrong with you?

Spoken like someone who's never attempted to solder to a battery before. :frustrated:

Be cheap if you want. I'd rather not take the risk of an acid burn.

[Gameguy]

Spoken like someone who's never attempted to solder to a battery before. :frustrated:

Be cheap if you want. I'd rather not take the risk of an acid burn.
I'm pretty sure that's a joke referencing someone who recently asked how to solder directly to the batteries because he was too cheap to buy holders, and wanted to charge other people to fix their games...all improperly and without any actual experience.

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?165689-Needp-advice-and-help-with-changing-batteries-in-games

EDIT: Just noticed that you both posted in that same thread, it's clear both of you recommend using proper holders. I only remembered bust3dstr8 posting in that thread before.

[sloan]

Easiest and safest way to attach new coin cell batteries to the on-board clips is a hot glue gun. Just a small glob of hot glue over the clip will keep the coin cell battery in its place.

[xelement5x]

Easiest and safest way to attach new coin cell batteries to the on-board clips is a hot glue gun. Just a small glob of hot glue over the clip will keep the coin cell battery in its place.

Maybe the easiest, but that sounds like it's only a step above using tape on the whole thing. The safest way to ensure a good connection and that your game saves well for another 10 years or so is to either solder in a new tabbed battery, or put in a battery holder.

[wiggyx]

^^^ This. It's not like it's difficult. Learn to freakin' solder. It takes like 10 minutes.

[RP2A03]

Pardon me if I'm out of my depth with regards to battery tech, but aren't normal alkaline betteries considered dry as well? I know they have a minute amount of moisture to allow them to do their thing, but not enough to be considered "wet", which virtually nothing aside from lead-acid car batts are as best I know.

Are coin cells packed with something significantly different? I always assumed they were very similar being that they behave very similarly.


I've been doing some research and yes they both contain a moist paste, so disregard my dry comment. However, coin cells (not the smaller, thicker button cells) use an organic electrolyte that is apparently far less prone to leakage than the alkali in alkaline batteries.

[sloan]

Maybe the easiest, but that sounds like it's only a step above using tape on the whole thing. The safest way to ensure a good connection and that your game saves well for another 10 years or so is to either solder in a new tabbed battery, or put in a battery holder.

Sorry, but hot glue holds a lot better than tape.


^^^ This. It's not like it's difficult. Learn to freakin' solder. It takes like 10 minutes.

Only that 'freakin' soldering on a battery is an explosion waiting to happen. Wise up.

[Aussie2B]

For the one and only dead battery I've had to replace in a game, I removed the old battery with its prongs, soldered a coin cell holder to the board with its prongs going where the old prongs were, and popped the new battery inside when it was all done. No contact between the battery and soldering iron, and it was pretty easy.

[wiggyx]

Sorry, but hot glue holds a lot better than tape.



Only that 'freakin' soldering on a battery is an explosion waiting to happen. Wise up.

I never said to solder directly to a battery, did I? Wise up indeed.

[InsaneDavid]

Only that 'freakin' soldering on a battery is an explosion waiting to happen. Wise up.

Indeed, way to troll. I'm pretty sure Wiggyx, dendawg, and xelement5x are all talking about using replacement batteries with attached leads. That's the best, most stock solution, especially when the price difference is usually non-existent between tabbed and non-tabbed coin cells.

But if you want to continue to spread half-assed repair advice...

Anyway, while coin cell leakage in cartridge games isn't some huge epidemic on the horizon, it is something to start to consider to keep in mind, right along with the cleaning we do as second nature. You can be damn sure that any expensive or valuable cartridge that has a battery gets the battery replaced as a preventive measure when I acquire it. Others I've only replaced when they develop saving issues.

[Jack_Burton_BYOAC]

I dont even bother buying carts that have battery save functions anymore....Ive encountered this problem way to often, after paying $75 for a corroded Earthbound, never again, Ill stick to emulators and buying carts with newly confirmed battery swaps only.

This must have been a few years ago, because $75 for an Earthbound with a bad battery is still a great deal today.

Question:

When you put batteries in a remote and leave it laying around for a year, they will corrode.

Put them in the same remote, but use it once a week and the batteries will be fine.

Does this hold true for cartridges? If you "charge" them up in the system every once in a while will it prolong the battery life?

[bust3dstr8]

This must have been a few years ago, because $75 for an Earthbound with a bad battery is still a great deal today.

Question:

When you put batteries in a remote and leave it laying around for a year, they will corrode.

Put them in the same remote, but use it once a week and the batteries will be fine.

Does this hold true for cartridges? If you "charge" them up in the system every once in a while will it prolong the battery life?



Cart batteries don't charge. The battery is off when the RAM is getting +5 from the console or is turned on when power to the RAM is lost.

[Jack_Burton_BYOAC]

Cart batteries don't charge. The battery is off when the RAM is getting +5 from the console or is turned on when power to the RAM is lost.

Yeah, I know they don't literally charge, but I've always observed the phenomenon that unused, but connected batteries tend to corrode in the socket much faster than ones that get used every once in a while.

So does using the battery every once in a while extend its lifespan?

[Gameguy]

Yeah, I know they don't literally charge, but I've always observed the phenomenon that unused, but connected batteries tend to corrode in the socket much faster than ones that get used every once in a while.
It's dead or dying batteries that usually corrode. Or if you have more than one battery in series, if one is weaker than the other they tend to reverse charge which can cause them to fail. Batteries in a remote are always being used somewhat too, universal remotes would forget their codes unless they're using the batteries to remember them. Plus the batteries in carts are lithium so they don't really corrode as much as alkaline ones, that and the game ones are constantly being used by the SRAM so they are being used as you're describing.

Capacitors are what needs to be used every so often, they'll fail quicker if not used somewhat regularly.

[Orion Pimpdaddy]

You may not realize this, Pimpdaddy, but the OP answered your question (to the best of their knowledge), before you asked it, in the post immediately above yours that was posted an hour and a half before you posted. No snarkiness intended, just kind of funny!

Oh, my bad. @_@ I did glance at that post, but thought it was someone else telling their own story.

I wonder what the conditions are in the overflow storage room.

[sloan]

Indeed, way to troll.

Mmmm Hmmm. Just as suspected.

[scaleworm]

Mmmm Hmmm. Just as suspected.

Damn, regarding disc rot and NOW battery leakage.... ARG!
I have a lot of work to do now. On top of my real work....

Never a dull moment here......

Thank you for the link of games, very helpful. I don't understand Haters... or Trolling, never will I guess.

[Griking]

People who collect sealed games are going to have a dilemma soon...

[Leo_A]

People who collect sealed games are going to have a dilemma soon...

Most of them are perfectly content with just trusting that what's supposed to be in there is and have never put any thought into something like this situation

Since it's unlikely to ever destroy enough to become visibly evident from the outside, I don't see it as a concern for such types.

[Buyatari]

wow so all those factory sealed copies out there.........

[xelement5x]

Most of them are perfectly content with just trusting that what's supposed to be in there is and have never put any thought into something like this situation

Since it's unlikely to ever destroy enough to become visibly evident from the outside, I don't see it as a concern for such types.

Yeah, acid would have to leak all the way from inside the battery, plus the packaging, to the box to really effect them. Plus, the amount of corrosion that a coin cell could cause is relatively minimal. I did hear of a fellow who collected sealed Gameboys though, and he had quite a conundrum when the AAs bundled in the package started leaking though.

[RP2A03]

Yeah, acid would have to leak all the way from inside the battery, plus the packaging, to the box to really effect them.

Yeah, it seems unlikely that would ever happen. According to my calculations a CR2032 battery contains no more than approximately 0.3896 mL of electrolyte.

[Oldskool]

This.

In fact, the OP reminds me of alarmist politics we often see from government leaders, where a singular event prompts calls for massive legislation.

I have bought thousands of games at yard sales, goodwill, etc. Every one of those is taken apart and cleaned inside and out. I have never seen an internal battery in the condition shown in those two pictures. They literally must have been submerged in a flooded basement to be in that condition.

Agreed. Never have had a problem.

[recorderdude]

Most genesis owners likely have one game that saves anyhow: Sonic 3 :P

I do own copies of light crusader and super hydlide, as well as Phantasy Star II. Super Hydlide and Light Crusader should be okay for a while but I can definitely see PSII needing a new battery in a few years due to the fact that my cart's REALLY beat up (the label's intact, but not pretty in the least and it's a bitch to boot), even if the current one still works.

[Tokimemofan]

I have actually disassembled a 2032, the electrolyte is soaked into a sponge or cardboard like material. There is no way to get that much damage from that. Looks like water damage, the cases of 2032s are nickel plated steel. BTW NEVER solder a lithium coin cell, solder doesn't stick to nickel or steel, worse the melting point of lithium is much lower than the solder, the electrolyte is rather harmless but the molten lithium will almost certainly short the battery, lithium is a highly reactive metal and on contact with air or water produces a corrosive substance very similar to the electrolyte in Nickel Cadmium batteries. If it were to catch fire lithium is about as bad as magnesium, though an amount this small (for a 2032 it is a disk about the diameter and half the thickness of a US dime) poses only a small danger. Under normal circumstances a lithium cell should never leak, fully drained alkaline cells leak because the steel casing becomes a secondary anode after the zinc is exhausted, when that happens the reaction eats all the way thru the case and the electrolyte oozes out.