battery corrosion

[Quintracker]

Should an electronic be considered dead if the batteries have busted and corroded in it? Or is there a chance it's still salvageable?

[omnedon]

What really matters, after a cleaning, is whether or not the corrosion actually corroded the board, or corroded off any wire contacts. Wires can be re-run. Corroded boards are often trash though.

[SkiDragon]

Slightly off topic, but is it possible (or has it occurred) for the watch batteries in cartidges with battery backed memory to corrode? That is a scary thought. Games being corroded from the inside out...

[Bratwurst]

Eventually, yes a battery will start to leak its contents. No definative date but it's a good idea to start replacing batteries from games after the 5 or 8 year mark.

When a battery leaks it's generally a chalky lime powder surrounding the contact area. You can still clean it off with a brush and some isopropyl alchohol and pray that it hasn't contaminated the metal parts of the circuit board. Contamination could lead to further corrosion of the PCB even after you've long since removed the original battery.

When I replace batteries in my games I extend them out from the board with wires and seal them in a small plastic bag. Probably the best preventative measure.

[MrKitt]

to answer all your questions on how to repair corroded stuff ill try to make guide on it and put it up on my page as soon as i get my paycheck and can buy myself a digicam :)

[Quintracker]

Well I finally got up the nerve to actually take the batteries out of the machine and I was a little surprised. For some reason I was imagining sticky gooey acid to be everywhere ready to burn a hole in my skin at the slightest touch. Instead I get this flaky mess, like the batteries turned into onions and started shedding layers LOL

I'll get around to cleaning it with some alcohol later, unless anyone suggests a different cleaning method. :)

[MrKitt]

well the acid crystals themself dont burn scorch marks in your skin but if they get solved with some sort of liquid compound thats when the itching starts so be carefull when removing the crystals from the board unless you want to get some unpleasant itching and maybe a skinrash :P