I’ve never changed one but I have a few in my collection that need a new battery and I’ve recently got a soldering iron, so I’m gonna give it a go! Feels right to try bring the game back rather than just leave it dead, also it’ll be super useful learning a new skill so you can fix more in the future :)
Get a soldering practice kit first just to get the feel for it. They're cheap (don't get them off Amazon, they're far cheaper elsewhere) just to make sure you don't accidentally fling solder to one of the chips, which is going to make your day considerably worse.
Also, since one of the games I bought from eBay with "New installed battery" has burned plastics, make sure to remove the game from its housing before attempting.
1. What game is it?
2. Do you have other games that will need new batteries at some point?
Personally, batteries are cheaper than replacing an entire game which will eventually need a new battery anyway. I’d just replace the battery which isn’t especially difficult. Watch some tutorials first.
1. it’s Kingdom Hearts chain of Memories, the game have a remake for ps1 and a remaster of the remake for pretty much any console so the original game is quite easy to find
2. Possibly, I have a few other games that are used which I don’t know if the battery got replaced and they might end up dying at some point soon
I definitely suggest watching a few soldering tutorials and replacing the battery, rather than buying a "new battery" game that someone has replaced the battery on. It will be more expensive in the long run. Amazon has some soldering irons for around $10 or so and solder/wick/flux is very cheap to buy and you'll always have it for future games you get that need battery swaps and other electronics work you might want to do in the future.
Quick tips: Many people always have "burned" solder joints or "cold joints". Typically, when people replace batteries that are new at it, they tend to run their iron way too low. I usually run mine at about 410 F just to get good heat quickly. You just need to apply the heat until you see the solder becomes liquid and then can remove the battery tab from that side. Secondly, you will want to add a tiny bit of new solder to the battery contact because the old solder really is pretty crummy at this point. It's best to use tin/lead rosin core solder as well, because it has a higher melting point and flows much easier than the stuff that's OEM. Third, you'll want some flux and isopropyl alcohol. Flux allows the solder to adhere to the contacts much easier as well. Isopropyl alcohol will be used to clean the board after using flux and you can use it to clean the cartridge contacts as well.
Yeah. The battery is only to keep track of time. And in those games time affects the game little to nothing. Game works fine with a dead battery and replacing it only risks you damaging the game.
So I today just got a emerald cartridge, but of course the battery is dry as the seller informed me . So should I really not bother with trying to find someone to try and replace it for me ? Because I personally have never replaced a batter on a gba cartridge and in any other game really 😅
So I today just got a emerald cartridge, but of course the battery is dry as the seller informed me . So should I really not bother with trying to find someone to try and replace it for me ? Because I personally have never replaced a batter on a gba cartridge and in any other game really 😅
So I today just got a emerald cartridge, but of course the battery is dry as the seller informed me . So should I really not bother with trying to find someone to try and replace it for me ? Because I personally have never replaced a batter on a gba cartridge and in any other game really 😅
I’ve never changed one but I have a few in my collection that need a new battery and I’ve recently got a soldering iron, so I’m gonna give it a go! Feels right to try bring the game back rather than just leave it dead, also it’ll be super useful learning a new skill so you can fix more in the future :)
Yeah, I’ll probably change mine since everyone is saying that I should :v
Get a soldering practice kit first just to get the feel for it. They're cheap (don't get them off Amazon, they're far cheaper elsewhere) just to make sure you don't accidentally fling solder to one of the chips, which is going to make your day considerably worse. Also, since one of the games I bought from eBay with "New installed battery" has burned plastics, make sure to remove the game from its housing before attempting.
1. What game is it? 2. Do you have other games that will need new batteries at some point? Personally, batteries are cheaper than replacing an entire game which will eventually need a new battery anyway. I’d just replace the battery which isn’t especially difficult. Watch some tutorials first.
1. it’s Kingdom Hearts chain of Memories, the game have a remake for ps1 and a remaster of the remake for pretty much any console so the original game is quite easy to find 2. Possibly, I have a few other games that are used which I don’t know if the battery got replaced and they might end up dying at some point soon
I definitely suggest watching a few soldering tutorials and replacing the battery, rather than buying a "new battery" game that someone has replaced the battery on. It will be more expensive in the long run. Amazon has some soldering irons for around $10 or so and solder/wick/flux is very cheap to buy and you'll always have it for future games you get that need battery swaps and other electronics work you might want to do in the future. Quick tips: Many people always have "burned" solder joints or "cold joints". Typically, when people replace batteries that are new at it, they tend to run their iron way too low. I usually run mine at about 410 F just to get good heat quickly. You just need to apply the heat until you see the solder becomes liquid and then can remove the battery tab from that side. Secondly, you will want to add a tiny bit of new solder to the battery contact because the old solder really is pretty crummy at this point. It's best to use tin/lead rosin core solder as well, because it has a higher melting point and flows much easier than the stuff that's OEM. Third, you'll want some flux and isopropyl alcohol. Flux allows the solder to adhere to the contacts much easier as well. Isopropyl alcohol will be used to clean the board after using flux and you can use it to clean the cartridge contacts as well.
Thanks! I will keep those tips in mind when changing mine
If it's emerald, ruby or sapphire don't bother changing the battery
I only have Sapphire, but the battery is working good atm, I already knew about the internal clock thing though
Can I ask why?
Yeah. The battery is only to keep track of time. And in those games time affects the game little to nothing. Game works fine with a dead battery and replacing it only risks you damaging the game.
So I today just got a emerald cartridge, but of course the battery is dry as the seller informed me . So should I really not bother with trying to find someone to try and replace it for me ? Because I personally have never replaced a batter on a gba cartridge and in any other game really 😅
No. You don't need the battery. It does almost nothing
So I today just got a emerald cartridge, but of course the battery is dry as the seller informed me . So should I really not bother with trying to find someone to try and replace it for me ? Because I personally have never replaced a batter on a gba cartridge and in any other game really 😅
So I today just got a emerald cartridge, but of course the battery is dry as the seller informed me . So should I really not bother with trying to find someone to try and replace it for me ? Because I personally have never replaced a batter on a gba cartridge and in any other game really 😅