Topic: Anybody know how to replace NES cart batteries?

[SirSniffy]

I recently dusted off my old NES, and I am trying to find a way to replace the batteries in some old games with batt backup. Does anyone know of a site, or a place (in NYC) that does it, or can show me how to do it?

strange request, I know...but I figured I'd try here.
Thanks

[Stratos]

I've fixed an old GameBoy cartridge's battery. How different is a NES cart from a GB cart?

Here's a site that deals with NES battery replacement.

[Mop it up]

I've never specifically changed the battery in an NES cartridge, but I have changed them in N64 and Game Boy games, and I can't imagine it'd be any harder to do NES.

It isn't hard to do if you have the right tools and are careful. You'll need a 3.8mm GameBit to open the cartridge, which you can get from eBay. The best way to do it is to get a soldering iron, because that's the best way to secure the new battery. Be VERY careful not to drip solder on anything other than the battery holder, or you could ruin the game. Use electrical grade solder.

I myself used electrical tape. If you go this route, make sure you use a big wad so it doesn't slip off.

You'll need a razor blade of some kind to cut the top battery contact off of the battery, but be careful not to break it completely. When you put in the new battery, either solder the contact to it, or wrap it in electrical tape.

The type of battery you'll need is CR2032. You can get them at RadioShack:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3256678

[DAaaMan64]

CR2032s are very common batteries. Any place with watch batteries probably has them. However, Mop_it_up actually has experience in this. haha

[GoldenPhoenix]

I've always been too paranoid to try replacing the batteries.

[rbtr]

I need to do this to my copy of the GB donkey kong.  And inevitably my Game boy camera, which still has photos I need to unload.

Pro-tip, something in the game boy pocket makes it drain the cartridge batteries if you leave the cartridge in while its off.  So be careful out there!

[SirSniffy]

thanks for all the help guys...I think I can do it. I was playing my old copy of Crystalis, and to my dismay...it doesn't save anymore. It was fine a few weeks ago though. I wish Nintendo had the rights to take any game that was on the NES/SNES and put it on the VC...but that is not too realistic due to licensing agreements which expire.

[Stratos]

Sometimes you just have to re-secure the current battery. I had a game that wouldn't save once, I opened it up and saw that the battery was extremely loose. I wedged a piece of paper next to it and closed up the cart and it works just fine again.

You might want to try that first (though I advise something better than paper).

[GoldenPhoenix]

Well I just bought Wario Land 1-4 so I may have to change the batteries for some of them.

[Mop it up]

I've always been too paranoid to try replacing the batteries.

The way I see it, if you can't save your game then that makes it pretty much unplayable. You don't really have much to lose if the game stops working entirely if you messed up.

Pro-tip, something in the game boy pocket makes it drain the cartridge batteries if you leave the cartridge in while its off.  So be careful out there!

Where did you hear about that?

I was playing my old copy of Crystalis, and to my dismay...it doesn't save anymore. It was fine a few weeks ago though.

Just to make sure you haven't forgotten, you need to hold in the Reset button when you turn the power off in order to make sure your save data will remain. This applies to even if you get a blank screen when trying to get the game to work.

Crystalis was re-released on the Game Boy Color, it might be less hassle to track down a copy of that.

Well I just bought Wario Land 1-4 so I may have to change the batteries for some of them.

Probably not. My 23-year-old copy of Zelda still hold saves (I still can't believe that game is older than I am...), and I'm always surprised to hear when a game's battery goes dead. Pokémon Gold/Silver/Crystal are an exception: they all contain a clock, so the battery goes dead after approximately six years.

Technically, Game Boy/Color games contain a CR2025 battery, but you can still replace them with a CR2032. It might even last a little longer, too.

I don't think Game Boy Advance games contain a battery, but they have a different type of screw and can't be opened with a 3.8mm GameBit so I don't know.

Something else which uses a CR2032 battery are computers, to power the clock when the computer is powered off. I had to replace mine a couple of years back. Some TV remotes also use the nickel-sized battery. I would be surprised if the GameCube and Wii didn't use it to power their clocks.