Perfect drop in replacement for NES batteries?
So, I've been hunting tirelessly for a perfect drop in replacement for NES game batteries so that I can do replacements for people, but to no avail. NES games have a weird spacing that doesn't seem to be readily available. I have found a source, but it looks like I have to buy 200 and there's a lead time of 20 weeks. Alternatively, I've found a place that will custom spot weld batteries(batteries america) but it ends up being some odd 6 dollars per battery. Dantona makes a battery with SMD leads that would probably work, but it doesn't look very substantial to me.
Something tells me it's not worth it :-/
Finding good holders is also proving difficult. The smallest spacing I have found for one is SMD and it has a center to center spacing of about 21mm, but 21.5mm is the maximum distance of the pads from what I can tell. I mean, it'd work but it wouldn't be a nice and tidy fit. I ordered some anyway(they were cheap enough) just to see how it works.
Although, I did come up with a neat idea, and it wouldn't cost too much to add: Put a CR1220 holder on the back of the cart. It'd fit well enough and would allow people to change their own batteries without losing their game saves. You'd only need 4mm of clearance, which is well within the space available on your average NES cart(and probably other systems too) You could change batteries every 5 years if you wanted with no repercussions. You'd just need a CR1220 to pull the weight while you do the change. I wouldn't want to keep a 1220 in there full time though because it only has about 1/5 of the capacity of a 2032. It'd also only work on carts that have pads on both sides(not sure if any of them aren't like that though... maybe some third party carts?)
Nintendo, why did you have to do it like this?
Anyway, I guess there isn't really anything to be helped here. I'm just ranting
Something tells me it's not worth it :-/
Finding good holders is also proving difficult. The smallest spacing I have found for one is SMD and it has a center to center spacing of about 21mm, but 21.5mm is the maximum distance of the pads from what I can tell. I mean, it'd work but it wouldn't be a nice and tidy fit. I ordered some anyway(they were cheap enough) just to see how it works.
Although, I did come up with a neat idea, and it wouldn't cost too much to add: Put a CR1220 holder on the back of the cart. It'd fit well enough and would allow people to change their own batteries without losing their game saves. You'd only need 4mm of clearance, which is well within the space available on your average NES cart(and probably other systems too) You could change batteries every 5 years if you wanted with no repercussions. You'd just need a CR1220 to pull the weight while you do the change. I wouldn't want to keep a 1220 in there full time though because it only has about 1/5 of the capacity of a 2032. It'd also only work on carts that have pads on both sides(not sure if any of them aren't like that though... maybe some third party carts?)
Nintendo, why did you have to do it like this?
Anyway, I guess there isn't really anything to be helped here. I'm just ranting
Comments
Anyone ever try these? http://www.ebay.com/itm/10-SMD-lead-Battery-Holder-CR2032-CR2025-any-20mm-/140396427505?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20b04778f1=
and yeah, that's the battery holder with the 21mm center to center spacing.
Originally posted by: nonameo
1. I believe they are 20.5mm which isn't quite right. 2. They are cheap china batteries.
1. Looks to be holding a 2032 in the picture fine to me, and that size is hopefully a standard.
2. I doubt the Sony or Panisonic ones won't be cheap chinese products.
Although I agree, those ones do sound a little iffy. Mainly the gold plated lead part is my worry.
Originally posted by: 3GenGames
Originally posted by: nonameo
1. I believe they are 20.5mm which isn't quite right. 2. They are cheap china batteries.
1. Looks to be holding a 2032 in the picture fine to me, and that size is hopefully a standard.
2. I doubt the Sony or Panisonic ones won't be cheap chinese products.
Although I agree, those ones do sound a little iffy. Mainly the gold plated lead part is my worry.
1. Well, what I meant wasn't the battery size, it's designed to hold a 2032. That's fine and dandy. What I mean is the spacing of the leads that you solder to the PCB.
2. I can get panasonic CR2032s with no leads for 30 cents each at digi-key, and usually the ones with leads can be had for about a dollar or two, which isn't too bad. It's just a matter of finding ones with the right leads, which I haven't been able to do. Those that you've pointed to are the closest ones I've found though.
I'm not really worried about the gold plating. That'd be fine.
Originally posted by: 3GenGames
There was one on ebay somewhere that fit perfect, I never saved it's model or picture or anything. Shouldn't be too hard to find. I'll look now and report back if I find anything that looks good.
Anyone ever try these? http://www.ebay.com/itm/10-SMD-lead-Battery-Holder-CR2032-CR...
I use these exact battery holders for NES games. They work out great. You will however have to mod the case a little bit to get them to fit. That can easily be done with a dremel. These are the only style that will fit that I have found width wise as well. As for batteries, just watch auctions on eBay. You can pick sony batteries up for very cheap.
Originally posted by: ulasamosa
click my sig, there are most certainly clip-in holders that fit perfectly on SNES/NES/Genesis/SMS. Ive been doing battery replacements for almost 3 years now and have only come across 1 cart with a non standard footprint for mounting a holder.
I don't have any of them in front of me yet, but the ones you are using look like the ones I ended up buying. If they fit nicely then that is great - but the specs in the auction say " "Soldering pad pitch : 21.3mm, Center-Center" and when I measued 3 different NES games, the pads were all about 21.5mm from outside edge to outside edge(super tecmo bowl was ever so slightly wider). But given the source country, I wouldn't be one bit surprised if it has been measured wrong, or if there is some other factor at play. If you say they fit though, I am much more inclined to believe you than to believe the listing.
I still want a through hole drop in replacement, but it looks like I won't be able to get that. Oh well :-/