Sega Genesis Cartridge Battery Holder Mod

[@TimEKish]

Thanks for fixing me up! One of my favorite games of all time.

[@sameash3153]

Based

[@kurniawanwidisusanto3619]

I wonder if there are some developers who develop cartridges using microcontroller, such as rp2040. Using this chip to increase the data memory capacity, save data and reduce the production cost. I hope the chip with 16mb serial flash memory could help the developers create and produce games easier and cheaper

[@BOBSMITH-YouTubeStoleMyHandle]

These are super cheap to do now. As of this post there is a guy on Ebay from China that sells them in a pack of 10 for $1.23 shipped. If you get 10 or more it drops down to $1.19 each shipped. I just bought 150 of them ($17.10) and now I will go through my collection and just replace all the batteries with these holders for the future. Might as well do them all at once. Battery holders don't effect the value of the title, and some think it a plus. Great video!!!!

[@lance16O1]

Is there an updated listing on Ebay for the holders? The listing in the comments is gone.

[@saucetfg7657]

Great video!! Happy I found this. Will make changing battery very easy after the mod

[@ThatTimGuy]

+Sauce TFG Thanks man. Glad you found it useful!

[@michaelanderson8464]

I make a slit in a flat erasier so I can reach the top and bottom of the contact pins works great I have opened a few carts after I cleaned them and the erasier cleaned the pins from top to bottom fine

[@ThatTimGuy]

@Sock Puppet Sounds like it could possibly be a similar issue with the battery having come loose. You're going to need the security bit to open it up to start. A medium duty soldering iron (www.amazon.com/Weller-SP40NUS-Medium-Soldering-Black/dp/B00B3SG6UQ) with the fine point tip should do the trick. The battery holders I grabbed off of eBay. My tip is to be patient, watch a couple of videos on soldering, and make sure that the part is heated before you add solder. With that iron I would heat for about 7-10 seconds depending on the part before applying solder. There are also other options to replacing the battery that don't require the holder. There are some with tabs already on the battery and other people use electrical tape. If you get stuck you're welcome to send it to me and I'll help. Just cover the shipping back & forth. I don't mind helping out the retro gaming community.

[@elinovak3770]

Iam going to try your repair technique on NHL 95 for the genesis with a brand new CR 2032 battery thank you for showing your repair jog through much appreciated

[@elinovak3770]

I believe the game should save with a brand new battery hopefully

[@elinovak3770]

What size torque bit are you using to open up the cartridge I have nothing that can open the cartridge

[@ThatTimGuy]

I was using the Nintendo Security bit. They fit, but if I recall it wasn't an exact match.

[@ThatTimGuy]

Some Sega games didn't use a save battery...was this one of them?

[@elinovak3770]

I ordered a 3.8mm and a 4.5mm torque bits on Amazon.com the torque bits should be able to open up both Sega and regular Nintendo or super Nintendo cartridges

[@bgasman]

hey that tim guy, what tools are you using for the sega genesis cartridge?

[@ThatTimGuy]

Just my typical Nintendo security bits to open them and a soldering iron.

[@9ElevenGamer]

Is there anyway of swapping the battery out for an EEPROM?

[@bivosacanagi]

where can these battery holders be bought? I looked for them on Ebay but could find nothing. Thank you for the video!

[@ThatTimGuy]

+bivosacanagi These are the ones I bought. www.ebay.com/itm/140396427505 I've done a few more since then. I might try to source some higher quality ones. Just be careful when bending the tabs because sometimes it tends to come out of the holder and can be easily damaged. Glad you found the video useful :)

[@Eliilizz108]

Amazon

[@brianwalker7771]

what Battery holder did you use? I picked up some on ebay but they jsut don't quite get the job done. I can NOT get the shell together after they are to high up. Thanks

[@ThatTimGuy]

+BRIAN WALKER Look at this on eBay www.ebay.com/itm/140396427505 Just a note though, the tabs can be a pain to bend and might need to be trimmed to get through the solder pads. Just make sure you support the battery terminals when you bend the tabs. I ruined a couple when I first started doing these. Good luck!

[@brianwalker7771]

Thanks for the response Ill give them a shot. I also wont be a bit surprised if I kill a few in the process L.O.L.

[@ThatTimGuy]

Found better battery holders, pins are already pointed down: www.ebay.com/itm/291953521907

[@bigtone7913]

If the battery holder Isn't damaged,Couldn't you just slide the old battery out and the new one in without having to solder anything?

[@ThatTimGuy]

+Big Tone good question. Unfortunately, the batteries are soldered to the holder. Rather the leads that attach to the board are just that. You can buy batteries with the leads already on. Those will work and should be good for another 5-10+ years. I have seen people slide out (more like force out) with a knife and keep it together with electrical tape. A bit hacky, but it will kind of do the job.

[@bigtone7913]

That Tim Guy ok thanks.Im more of a sports gamer so most EA games i get wont save correctly.Im wondering if buying them new and sealed would guarantee a working battery ,or is it a question of the battery just expiring?Sorry for the newb questions.

[@HotPepperBoi]

What would make a game not turn on? I got a cartridge that won’t play at all???

[@ThatTimGuy]

Is it a clean cartridge?

[@drillmusicordie2465]

I cleaned cartridged but i got a blue stripped screen on my atgames flashbakc genesis. Nba jam tourny edition.

[@ThatTimGuy]

Are other carts working? I don't have experience with that revival system.

[@tubias21]

Great video. This battery holder is slim enought to fit in a N64 cartridge?

[@ThatTimGuy]

I think it would work. It's not much thicker than the battery itself. I haven't had a N64 battery die yet but I'll make sure to do a video when I do replace it. Glad you found the video useful! Thanks!

[@michaelanderson8464]

it would be sweet if we could put a rechargeable battery that would charge when played

[@michaelanderson8464]

and a solar cell to keep it from going dead

[@ThatTimGuy]

+Michael Anderson maybe you could try putting in a super capacitor in its place?? I’d be worried that it wouldn’t hold the charge long enough though. Maybe a few months if not played regularly. Otherwise I think you would need a small charging circuit added to it.

[@yjzep9922]

I have nes games that are over 30 years old with original batteries. A recharge is highly unnecessary lol. They last.

[@GRAW2ROBZ]

Cheap skate route to cleaning old cartridges is q-tips. Hot water on one end and rub like crazy. Then use other dry side to dry. But don't rush to try a NES cartridges to play. They a bit touchy to start up for some games. I know. If it don't work and you bought it used. Keep cleaning it first. I cleaned NES Operation Wolf 5 times before it worked which I bought used off of Ebay. Stay calm and keep cleaning it before getting ready for returns and what not for old cartridges. They have to be cleaned! Most likely they haven't been cleaned in like 10 or 20 + years depending on the game system.

[@GRAW2ROBZ]

"The blow the cart route is old school!" It had it's moments but doesn't always work.

[@inputfunny]

Wouldn't recommend hot water. Water can find it's way in the crevices and might be missed where it can sit for years and corrode. If someone can't afford a $2 bottle of isopropyl alcohol; they should probably find a job instead of playing old games quite frankly.

[@GRAW2ROBZ]

@@inputfunny Thank you for the advice. Operation wolf for the NES didn't want to load up. I dipped the q-tip in the rubbing alcohol and rubbed the cartridge left to right and up and down then used the dried end to buff it all. Worked excellent cause operation wolf wouldn't read for my NES until I did this. Also used the rubbing alcohol on my PS2 eye lens. It fixed the reading errors for SOCOM Combined Assault. Since that's back online. You could of scratched off if a person cant afford $2 bottle of rubbing alcohol. That is a bit rude and snooty. But thanks again.

[@archerlu3287]

thanks

[@ThatTimGuy]

+真的假的 You're welcome.

[@ThatTimGuy]

I found better battery holders to use: www.ebay.com/itm/291953521907