Dreamcast internal battery change?

[Sniderman]

Ok, I've searched here on DP and found no answers, and the answers I've found on the Interwebs is conflicting in 20 different directions with 20 different answers. So, here we go:

Got a Dreamcast that isn't retaining the time/date upon power-up. Internal battery is dead. Left the DC on for 48 hours, hoping to recharge it (it's a rechargable battery according to my research). After 48 hours, I powered down, waited 10 minutes, and turned on the DC. It asked me to input the date and time again.

Internal battery is dead, dead, dead.

1. Can this internal battery be replaced?
2. If so, what size/style battery does it take?
3. Does it have to be a rechargable battery?

I can't believe I'm having trouble finding a straight simple answer to this, as I would assume I'm not the first to encounter this problem. But every web site seems to offer different advice to correct this. Give me one answer. How did YOU deal with this?

[OldSchoolGamer]

Well a quick Google of: dreamcast replace battery

Found a response in one forum like this:
Yeah its a really simple problem, there is an internal battery that gives power to the memory, when the battery runs out the DC forgets the date when you turn off.
Its the same type of battery that goes in the VMU. To replace it open up your DC, look at the board at the front where the controllers plug in, there will be the battery, get it out with a flathead screwdriver (may be a bit hard as it is sometimes glued on) and replace with a new making sure the connections are still the right way round - you want the positive side facing away from the controller ports.

It's a start?....................................

[dendawg]

Don't listen to the above post. CR-2032 batteries are NOT rechargeable, and if used in place of the proper battery, may explode and cause acid damage which may be irreversible! DO NOT use a CR-2032 battery!

UPDATE: http://devcast.dcemulation.com/mods/batteryreplace/battery.php

This URL has info on how to use AA Nicads in place of the internal battery.

[OldSchoolGamer]

Don't listen to the above post. CR-2032 batteries are NOT rechargeable, and if used in place of the proper battery, may explode and cause acid damage which may be irreversible! DO NOT use a CR-2032 battery!

Well, there you go, someone who knows what they are talking about! Good, FYI I wasn't making any claims, just posting something I came across. I hope you find the true answers or more knowledgeable people chime in to advise you properly. Best of luck.

[NinjaJoey23]

I've been very curious about this as well. Hopefully some with vast knowledge of Dreamcast battery replacement will grace us.

[InsaneDavid]

The bottom post (my post) in this thread (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=77226) will answer all your questions.

Other resources with more information...
http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=92604
http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=69385

That last one is the thread that I linked to inside the first thread, where DogP and myself go over some things. You'll need to replace the 2032 and may want to solder in a battery clip to make changing the cel easier in the future.

Remember - CR2032 is a single use cel, it is non-rechargeable and will burst and/or leak if installed in your Dreamcast without further modification. 2032 (no "CR") with "rechargeable" printed on it is what you need, this will recharge itself from the internal DC power as the system runs. Since the stock battery is tacked to the battery clips, you'll probably want to just remove the whole thing and replace it with an easy release battery clip like the Saturn had.

[omnedon]

OSG stocks the rechargeable ones and replaces them in DC's routinely. The rechargeable ones are harder to find, and we had to special order them. They do exist though.

[alec006]

You dont have to but you could just buy another controller board and swap them. But soldering a new coinholder with a 2032 in there (yay i finnaly learned the difference InsaneDavid :)- ) would be nice knowing that it now has a good battery brand in there. Plus another recomendation would be if u have the newer models with just the fan and not the heat pipes,buy those heat pipes so the processers can get proper cooling,i did and it works better now well cooling wise. Hope you get it fixed soon.

[SkiDragon]

I brought this back up because I was looking for a good place to purchase the battery coin holders. Any suggestions?

[Vectorman0]

I brought this back up because I was looking for a good place to purchase the battery coin holders. Any suggestions?

Check jameco.com and digikey.com.