Game Gear Battery packs (Powerback)?

[Doom Gaze]

It's obvious that due to the memory effect, my Game Gear Powerback is screwed. It's got about 15 minutes of juice in it (I got it with a lot) but I know I would like it a lot more with real juice in it.

Anyone have a solution? Is there a way to get in there and replace the battery pack, possibly with Lithium Ion batteries?

[Ryaan1234]

Actually, I have opened up several of these. The battery packs will plug into a genesis 3 and you can run it off of one. I'm going to use it in my "portable genesis 3" project. So anyway, the insides of the pack consists of a board with a couple of chips(I have no idea what the chips are for!) and a switch(To turn the device on and off, of course), and a pack of 6 rechargable batteries which plugs into a white connector that looks like the ones you plug a rechargable rc car battery pack into. this plug connects into the board and then into the game gear(or genesis, in my case). I believe that if you can find another battery pack that will plug into this device, then it will be as good as new. Now, about opening the pack, I was desperate and I did not need the plastic shell which covers the internal electronics so I literally pried it open and broke the plastic shell. To open it without damaging it I think you would need one of those tri-wing security bits.

[Doom Gaze]

Actually, I have opened up several of these. The battery packs will plug into a genesis 3 and you can run it off of one. I'm going to use it in my "portable genesis 3" project. So anyway, the insides of the pack consists of a board with a couple of chips(I have no idea what the chips are for!) and a switch(To turn the device on and off, of course), and a pack of 6 rechargable batteries which plugs into a white connector that looks like the ones you plug a rechargable rc car battery pack into. this plug connects into the board and then into the game gear(or genesis, in my case). I believe that if you can find another battery pack that will plug into this device, then it will be as good as new. Now, about opening the pack, I was desperate and I did not need the plastic shell which covers the internal electronics so I literally pried it open and broke the plastic shell. To open it without damaging it I think you would need one of those tri-wing security bits.

I don't really have any modding knowledge, although I really want to learn about it someday. I just love all the cool stuff modders do.

I think I can manage to get it open, but what I don't know is where to find rechargible battery packs? Since there are six, could any six go into a pack? I would love to have the luxury of Lithium-Ion batteries instead of the old Cadmium stuff.

[Ryaan1234]

Actually, I have opened up several of these. The battery packs will plug into a genesis 3 and you can run it off of one. I'm going to use it in my "portable genesis 3" project. So anyway, the insides of the pack consists of a board with a couple of chips(I have no idea what the chips are for!) and a switch(To turn the device on and off, of course), and a pack of 6 rechargable batteries which plugs into a white connector that looks like the ones you plug a rechargable rc car battery pack into. this plug connects into the board and then into the game gear(or genesis, in my case). I believe that if you can find another battery pack that will plug into this device, then it will be as good as new. Now, about opening the pack, I was desperate and I did not need the plastic shell which covers the internal electronics so I literally pried it open and broke the plastic shell. To open it without damaging it I think you would need one of those tri-wing security bits.

I don't really have any modding knowledge, although I really want to learn about it someday. I just love all the cool stuff modders do.

I think I can manage to get it open, but what I don't know is where to find rechargible battery packs? Since there are six, could any six go into a pack? I would love to have the luxury of Lithium-Ion batteries instead of the old Cadmium stuff.

Well, I'm assuming you can use any type of batteries, and maybe any number of batteries(as long as the pack equals the number of volts that you plug into the pack and they fit into the plug). As for finding battery packs, you can get battery packs at radioshack, or even on ebay. I've even seen battery packs at the flea market. So, getting a replacement pack shouldn't be too hard.

[jferio]

It might be worth your while, before trying to open it yourself, to take it down to your local Batteries Plus and ask them if they can refurbish it. Odds are they either carry the battery inside, or can build it on the spot for you. The only complication is whether or not they can open up, but I should think that they can.

I had them build me a PRAM battery for an old Apple Powerbook a couple of years ago, and they just refurbished my power backup unit that I use at work.

[DeputyMoniker]

It might be worth your while, before trying to open it yourself, to take it down to your local Batteries Plus and ask them if they can refurbish it. Odds are they either carry the battery inside, or can build it on the spot for you. The only complication is whether or not they can open up, but I should think that they can.

I had them build me a PRAM battery for an old Apple Powerbook a couple of years ago, and they just refurbished my power backup unit that I use at work.

What did you pay for those jobs?

[c0ldb33r]

This all seems needlessly complex.

Just go get a Li-On battery charger and 6 AA Li-On batteries.

Problem solved. The charger will probably come with 2 AAs, so you just need to buy a 4 pack!

That's what I do with my gamegear and I get hours and hours out of it.