Removing Battery on Amiga question [Archive]

barney

05-31-2009, 11:28 PM

Everybody says "remove the battery" or it will leak and destroy your motherboard. I understand this and have removed them from my machines. My question is this: Other than keeping the time on your Amiga, is there another function this battery has? Am I sacrificing an important function by removing this battery that I am unaware of? Thanks.

Barney

Chain

06-01-2009, 12:06 AM

A3000 keeps some scsi infos backed-up with battery, otherwise it isnt a sacrifice.

but why not replacing it with lithium button cell with diode?

dougal

06-01-2009, 12:29 AM

barney

06-01-2009, 12:47 AM

What kind of scsi info is backed up on the battery? Am I going to regret removing it from my system? I hope this scsi information isn't that important.

Barney

dougal

06-01-2009, 12:59 AM

What kind of scsi info is backed up on the battery? Am I going to regret removing it from my system? I hope this scsi information isn't that important.

Barney

I don't know about the A3000 and this scsi info as unfortunatly i dont have an A3000.

But as Chain said , you can always replace the battery with a more modern NON RECHARGABLE (but very long lasting) lithiumion battery just like modern PC's motherboards have .

There are plenty of websites and ebay sellers selling these battery kits (holder,diode and battery) ready for the Amiga .

dougal

06-01-2009, 01:03 AM

Also if you DONT remove your battery you WILL DEFINETELY regret it .

It killed an A500+ for me and almost killed 2 others . No Amiga is safe .

I even removed the battery from A4000 and it had no traces of leakage .

It takes nothing for the batter to start leaking and once it does your motherboard is at a very high risk of having its traces damaged , even worse maybe even your custom chips or ram .

Chain

06-01-2009, 04:07 AM

about that A3000:
http://aminet.net/package/util/sys/SetBatt1_0

amiga_user

06-01-2009, 04:08 AM

What kind of scsi info is backed up on the battery?

It's:
- Host Adaptor SCSI ID
- Synchronous Transfer
- Support Multiple LUNs
- Long SCSI Timeout
-That's not all of them but the more important ones.

amiga_user

06-01-2009, 04:10 AM

about that A3000:
http://aminet.net/package/util/sys/SetBatt1_0
It's better to use version 1.2 of SetBatt
http://aminet.net/util/wb/SetBatt-1.2.lha
The others programs for setting A3000 buit-in SCSI are:
http://aminet.net/driver/media/SCSIPrefs.lha
http://aminet.net/disk/misc/SCSI-Prefs.lha
http://aminet.net/util/misc/SCSIPrefsMUI.lha

barney

06-01-2009, 04:31 AM

I'm starting to have regrets for removing my battery. From the looks of it, that battery had a pretty important use. Any suggestions? Should I re-install a different type, or is it necessary?

Barney

amiga_user

06-01-2009, 04:47 AM

Install "coin" shaped battery like in pc mobos.
Normal CR2032 will do.
You can buy socket in every shop with electronic devices.
I'm talking about something like this
http://cgi.ebay.com/AMIGA-4000-LITHIUM-ION-BATTERY-BACKUP-COMPLETED-SET_W0QQitemZ220423329735QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Def aultDomain_0?hash=item33524117c7&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1234|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A13 18|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50

Matt_H

06-01-2009, 05:24 AM

Unless you have an incredibly complicated SCSI setup, losing the battery will have zero effect on the 3000's performance/functionality (apart from the clock, obviously).

And if something bad does somehow happen, just replace the battery.

dougal

06-01-2009, 05:26 AM

I'm starting to have regrets for removing my battery. From the looks of it, that battery had a pretty important use. Any suggestions? Should I re-install a different type, or is it necessary?

Barney

You woudl have regretted it much more if/when the battery would have started leaking and cause damage to your Amiga .

Believe me the damage left on the motherboard by a leaky battery is not a pretty sight .

barney

06-01-2009, 11:57 AM

Nice link. I need to get one of those. I have one question though. When installing this battery, does one need to re-solder it or just simply insert it into the prior battery holes? Thanks.

Barney

motrucker

06-01-2009, 12:23 PM

I would not live without a battery, if just to keep my saved files in order - and be able to date search them.
I just don't use an old style nicad.

@barney
Yes, the new battery must be soldered in.

barney

06-01-2009, 12:44 PM

Would I be able to solder it from above the MB, or do I have to remove the MB and solder from beneath?

Barney

TjLaZer

06-01-2009, 02:19 PM

You can solder it from above, but it's harder and sloppier. If you don't care and are lazy do it this way! Else do it right and remove the MB, and do it right. Also take this opportunity to clean the cases and motherboard, etc...

I did the Lithium Hack on my 3000 that had started to leak...

http://www.amiga.org/gallery/index.php?n=813

AmigaHeretic

06-01-2009, 02:34 PM

No battery in my A3000 and it works 100%.

You're probably pretty safe.

orb85750

06-01-2009, 03:17 PM

about that A3000:
http://aminet.net/package/util/sys/SetBatt1_0

Could someone please clarify -- does this mean that an A3000
running OS2.x has no use for the battery other than the
clock (unlike OS3.x, where SCSI info is backed by the battery)?

smerf

06-01-2009, 03:33 PM

Hi,

Why don't you just go to local radio shack store and buy a 3.6 volt battery with a plug on the end then ask for a connector to fit the battery, they usually have a red and black wire attached, then take the connector and solder it into the old battery holes, then all you have to do is just plug in the battery like a phone. I did this to my Amiga 4000, it holds a charge longer and works great.

smerf

smerf

06-01-2009, 03:37 PM

Hi,

Don't know, except that I run 3.1 on my system and it won't boot till my battery charges up enough. I don't know if it is initializing something in the rom to give it instructions or what, but anyhow after leaving it on for 4 to 6 hours it will usually boot.

smerf

smerf

06-01-2009, 03:39 PM

Would I be able to solder it from above the MB, or do I have to remove the MB and solder from beneath?

Barney

I soldered my jury rigged phone battery right to the top, didn't have to remove the mother board, that is a bear don't you know.

smerf

barney

06-01-2009, 05:12 PM

The lithium battery you linked to on Ebay says it is for the A4000. I take it that it also works for the Amiga 3000?

Barnry

Mark

06-01-2009, 06:07 PM

Unless you have an incredibly complicated SCSI setup, losing the battery will have zero effect on the 3000's performance/functionality (apart from the clock, obviously).

The main effect on performance would be if you had a SCSI device which can do synchronous transfer, but only when it is initiated by the controller. Sync transfer is faster but it isn't used unless either the hard drive or the controller initiates it. Without a battery, the A3000 controller defaults to the slower async mode. Also, the A3000 doesn't initiate sync transfer at all unless it has kickstart 3.1.

barney

06-01-2009, 11:23 PM

How about a removed battery on an Amiga 2000? What does function does the battery have besides keeping time? Thanks.

Barney

orb85750

06-01-2009, 11:31 PM

The main effect on performance would be if you had a SCSI device which can do synchronous transfer, but only when it is initiated by the controller. Sync transfer is faster but it isn't used unless either the hard drive or the controller initiates it. Without a battery, the A3000 controller defaults to the slower async mode. Also, the A3000 doesn't initiate sync transfer at all unless it has kickstart 3.1.

OK, thanks. So does that answer my question about OS 2.x having no real use for the battery at all? I don't plan to upgrade my A3000 beyond OS 2.1 any time in the near future (if ever), so I'm hoping/thinking that I can just remove the battery and forget about it -- as I've done with all my A2000 machines. Thanks.

Mark

06-03-2009, 12:58 AM

AFAIK, OS 2.x makes use of the SCSI time-out, LUN and host adapter ID settings. If you required LUN support you would know it because you have more than seven SCSI devices connected to your A3000, or because you have some weird automatic CD changer that uses a different LUN for each CD. If you're not sure if you need the other settings then you might download SCSIprefs from Aminet and see what your settings are now. Do not make any changes or you could make your hard drive inaccessible.

The default settings with no battery are:

Long SCSI time-out -- not selected

Support multiple LUNs -- not selected

Host adapter ID -- 7

Synch transfer -- (see my last post)

Mark

06-03-2009, 01:04 AM

How about a removed battery on an Amiga 2000? What does function does the battery have besides keeping time?

Nothing, I think.

wlemonds

06-05-2009, 04:22 PM

Hi,

Would this work or would you still need a diode?

http://www.radioshack.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=CR1220&origkw=CR1220

motrucker

06-07-2009, 01:27 PM

Hi,

Would this work or would you still need a diode?

http://www.radioshack.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=CR1220&origkw=CR1220

Still need the diode. They cost under $.10 each so what is the problem?
There is another option - locate the battery in a remote location? I have seen regular Nicad batteries soldered to the motherboard with wire, but located elsewhere inside the case - Velcro-ed to the inside of the case in a small plastic container. It works quite well.

Zac67

06-07-2009, 02:11 PM

Better get a CR2032 instead - they have a capacity of ~200 mAh.

I haven't read anything about how long these non-rechargeable batteries last in Amigas - in contrast to modern PCs (which require battery power only when disconnected from mains), in an Amiga it gets discharged whenever the machine is powered down (due to lack of standby voltage). I'd go for the rechargeable battery with cable solution, probably it will last much longer. And don't forget to relocate the battery to where it can't do any harm.

jsixis

06-14-2009, 08:50 PM

my battery has not worked in my 3000T for over 10 years, just have to set the time when I turn it on

Daedalus

06-15-2009, 03:39 AM

If you're connected to the internet you could always get the OS to update from a time server whenever it connects. Once you run your TCP/IP stack first, you'll always have the correct time. Can't remember the name of the software however, but it's on AmiNet.

As for the CR2032 lasting, if you think of the A1200 accelerators, they use a CR2032 and generally last for many years (I changed mine recently - it must've been 8 years old...), and they have no standby power either.