Quick and dirty Dreamcast Internal Battery replacement

Bored of that stupid date imput screen EVERY time you turn your Dreamcast on? This is the solution I came up with (my English is very bad, sorry about that!)

Just need 2 AA rechargeable batteries, 1 2AA battery holder, a couple of wires and solder, and of course, an iron solder.

Step 1 Looking the dead battery

Theinternal date and settings info is keept with a3v battery and they are expensive, so I looked in my junk box (a HUGE box of electronic disposal) and found 2 AA rechargeable batteries from a solar lamp for the garden, plus the wires and the battery holder, priceless)(and just because I didn't pay for that XD)

So you need to look at the dead battery and find out which side is the - and which is the + terminal, but there is a simple way of doing that: just look at it

Comments

[Andy229]

Hi, my first comment here! Shouldn't the original battery be removed? I thought it would either short out or drain the 2 new ones you put in. Also, some insulating tape or something should be used to cover the exposed metal parts and wires. But good idea anyway. I was going to just replace the original battery, but they are SO hard to find and expensive, so I might as well use AAs and improve upon the original anyway!

[kodan50]

Although this may be a special exception (as they always seem to happen when I learn about something), you should remove the battery first. You are correct in that the new batteries will drain into the original battery. I believe that other nice things can happen as well, like batteries might start to leak or, heavens forbid, explode. Or, the Dreamcast won't be able to charge the new batteries because the old one is still trying to charge, and pulling to much of the Dreamcast' charge load.

[Steamdnt]

This isn't required, all you need to do is leave it plugged in for about 8 hours wihout turning it on, its not a battery its a small capacitor.

[opethfan]

As the image shows, it is a battery. Also, being a lithium battery, it eventually requires a replacement, hence this tutorial.

[acaz93]

Good instructable, it's well explained. ...yet i think someone needs to found the macro function on their camera!

[acaz93]

... oh and tin(the misterious silver-colored wire used for soldering) it's called solder in english

[DANCERMACHINE]

Here we call it by the name (it's tin XD) Fixed! thanks

[acaz93]

yeah , here (mexico) we ocassionaly call it solder.

[tecneeq]

We call it Lötzinn (soldertin).

[hellstudios]

the best of both sides.... :O

[lunchboxslayer27]

we call it "the mysterious silver coloured crap that melts when exposed to the tip of a soldering iron" here in Algeria.

[hellstudios]

Lol

[Aegisknight]

After waiting for mine to die, I found that there are almost no shops that stock even a ML battery, let alone the right one.  I tried this the hard way (soldering to the batteries direct) as I felt that being too cheap to buy the battery holder was a good idea.  It works, so as long as your solder doesn't undo itself when the DC is powered on for long periods of time (found out the hard way again).  An alternative to solder is hot glue, but it's more of a pain to remove if you mess up.

[Smoothie101902]

I tried this method, but no luck. Then I tried removing the battery completely and hardwiring the battery holder and still need to set date. Let it run for 5 hours to charge batteries and nada. My question is should it be a certain type of rechargable batteries? I got some Nickle something or other at radio shack and they are AA but with a 1.2v rating where as standard AA should be 1.5. There were other rechargable batteries that were more pricey. Any info would be great. I am just glad that I didn't ruin the thing while soldering. FYI that was my first attempt at soldering and I realized I need to practice on that :)

[Aegisknight]

It is a certain type of battery. It is a ML2020, which can be purchased at http://www.digikey.com/ for a few bucks plus shipping. There are 3 types of the ML2020, you would want the G1AN so the connections line up. Hope this helps. I think the ML is Magnese? Lithum.

[DANCERMACHINE]

I just picked some batteries I had lying around. Please check that the positive wire is on the positive side and the negative... on the negative. perhaps you just missed that.

[Smoothie101902]

The battery holder that I got from Radio Shack had a red wire (+) and a black wire (-) unless I am mixing it up...but I looked inside the holder and the red wire ran to the + and black to the negative. There are only a few things that I can think of: 1) I saw another guide online and it said that there are the 2 + and 1 - spots on the board and the guide said that the one + hole would be empty. Maybe the positive should be split between the two. 2) When I removed the battery I just snapped that piece out and possibly damaged something...however I did have it solder to the battery like your instructions and nothing... 3) I did accidentally touch the board with the solder iron but it still works (console) so I am may have shorted something. In any event, this is a good test piece since it is my first time taking apart and trying to mod something. I kinda want to know what I can do with my original Playstation since I still have that.

[kodan50]

You wouldn't have to worry about filling both holes, since they both are soldered to the same tracer. It looks like the two holes are used simply to make installation of the battery easier, and it could also double as a way to keep the battery upright before the solder is laid down.

[Andy229]

This is good to see. I wonder if a bit of velcro or even just some tape would keep it in place. It looks like it might move around if the console is tipped. It's as though they designed it to hold a AA battery pack!

[crapflinger]

....only one question....who the heck still has and still plays a dreamcast? heheh...kidding of course i still play pong on atari on occasion

[tecneeq]

Soul Calibur and REZ. Do i have to say more?