Re: How do I replace the BIOS battery?

Hi Kenn !

I'm not sure exactly what board you have, but I also had to recently
"repair" this problem with a PB 450 486 board.

Assuming your board looks like the one in the link below:

http://www.uktsupport.co.uk/pb/mb/450.htm

( and even if it doesn't )

.....this will give you a clue as to what to do.

Remove the jumpers on J30, and attach your battery to pins 1 and 4. 1 is
hot, and 4 is not. :-)

This is actually pretty standard on most motherboards that are "like this".

Just make sure you have the right jumper !

I actually found a bat laying around, 'cause I was getting ready to make the
whole thing. Any old 4 pin connector ( one off of a speaker for example )
and two AA bats will work. If you want to get fancy, get a button bat
holder, and wire that on.

bob


--
bobwatts

Watts Carburetion Service
WhizzBang Computers
" collector of Asian transfat plastic trinkets ! "
EartH // KlaXXoN







"Kenn Caesius" <xiloteak-> wrote in message
news:XZidnZMubLlyd-...
>I have Packard-bell 450M+/4x4 computer and after 13 years of service,
> the BIOS battery has died, causing all sorts of start-up problems.
>
> How would I go about replacing the battery? The user manual gives no
> instructions and it seems that its soldered on to the motherboard. The
> manual mentions jumper J30 for "an optional off-board battery." Since I
> am not at all familiar with soldering, how can I jury rig a new battery?
>
> ---End of message---
>

Hi Kenn !

Inserting comments as I go...


"Kenn Caesius" <xiloteak-> wrote in message
news: m...
> Thank you for searching the motherboard illustration, it is the
> motherboard that my computer uses.
>

No problem. Happy to assist.

> I can already imagine that I will have jury-rig an external battery but
> I still have some reservations because I have never had manipulate my
> computers at this level, e.g. soldering components. Hopefully I will be
> able to find the parts at my local Radioshack.
>

Er, there is no soldering required. Just remove the jumper from J30, and
attach a four pin plug. Or, you can just connect to pin 1 and 4. No need to
solder anything.


> Its a bit a revelation to know that I can use AA batteries as I was I
> had a set a idea that only watch batteries can be used to power the
> BIOS. Can they indeed be safely used and how long to AA Alkaline
> batteries last? Can I substitute other concoctions of batteries like
> lithium or titanium AA batteries?


Anything amounting to 3V is fine. As far as lasting, I personally wouldn't
trust cheap AA or AAA, C or D bats, I have had quite a few motherboards
destroyed because of bats leaking.
But they do work.

bob

Kenn Caesius wrote:
> Thank you for searching the motherboard illustration, it is the
> motherboard that my computer uses.
>
> I can already imagine that I will have jury-rig an external battery but
> I still have some reservations because I have never had manipulate my
> computers at this level, e.g. soldering components. Hopefully I will be
> able to find the parts at my local Radioshack.
>
> Its a bit a revelation to know that I can use AA batteries as I was I
> had a set a idea that only watch batteries can be used to power the
> BIOS. Can they indeed be safely used and how long to AA Alkaline
> batteries last? Can I substitute other concoctions of batteries like
> lithium or titanium AA batteries?
>
> ---End of message---
>
Back in the day, there were cute little battery holders with wire leads
on them to attach to the motherboard. These battery holders used 2, 3,
or 4 AA's, depending on the voltage required.

Rather than kludge up something, why not go to the Fedco web site and
see what they've got? According to Bob Watts, you need a 3v external
battery. And it needs to have two wires going to the outside pins of a
4-pin lead. Save yourself some time frittering around and simply order
the part that fits without modification.

Radio Shack may prove futile because they have really gone mass market
retail and cut way back on parts and accessories. But you never know.

.... Ben Myers

Kenn Caesius wrote:
> I had to bookmark the Fedco website (you were referring to Fedco
> electronics but reviewing their selection of RTC and Memory Batteries,
> they do not a have what I need: a 4-pin 3V lithium battery.
>
> I have been doing Google searches under various strings and under
> "Packard Bell 4-pin CMOS battery", I think I stumbled onto the results a
> another search engine pointed to Amazon Market places as a possible
> source. However, I have several reservations, beginning with their cost
> and ending that each photo of the supposed battery was a stock photo.
>
> At this point, I feel in order to maintain the integrity of my computer
> I would have build a battery holder. Ben Myer is correct in his opinion
> of Radioshack; while they did have wide array of components, a CR2032
> battery holder would either have to ordered online (SKU# 270-009 for $1)
> or purchased from a Radioshack that has four drawers of components
> (which scattered throughout my region, though none are in reasonable
> driving distance.) Most likely I will have to go the way of Robert E.
> Watts with conventional batteries. Is there any way to prevent or
> minimize battery leakage?
>
> ---End of message---
>

Minimize the EFFECT of battery leakage by attaching the batteries to the
outside of the computer, with long wire leads going inside... Ben Myers

Hi Kenn !

This is a very simple job:

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-2-x-AA-3V-Ba...d=p3286.c0.m14

That is one example ( of bazillions ) of a 2 AA bat holder that you can use.
All you have to do is cut off the end of any old 4 pin computer speaker,
splice the connecter to the leads on this case, and velcro the battery
holder to the inside of the case. Use good quality bats, and you won't have
to worry about 'em for years.

I got lucky and found a 3V power cell with the connector already on it, and
velcroed it to the inside of the case. I actually already had one PB 486
Desktop case that someone had already done this exact thing to, with a 2 AA
case holder just like the picture above.

bobwatts



--
bobwatts

Watts Carburetion Service
WhizzBang Computers
" collector of Asian transfat plastic trinkets ! "
EartH // KlaXXoN

Hi "philo" !

And your advice is good also. PLAN on the damn things leaking, and take
precautions.
I too have lost some valuable vintage machines and motherboards.

bob



"philo" <> wrote in message
news:...


>>
> Good advice...
> but still put the batteries in a place where no damage could possibly
> occur if some day they did leak.
>
> I've certainly had to scrap out more than one vintage machine due to
> battery corrosion

Hi!

> Its a bit a revelation to know that I can use AA batteries as I was I
> had a set a idea that only watch batteries can be used to power the
> BIOS. Can they indeed be safely used and how long to AA Alkaline
> batteries last? Can I substitute other concoctions of batteries like
> lithium or titanium AA batteries?

Just get some good quality AA batteries if you want to do this. No sense in
getting all spendy on them. Locate them where any leak won't hurt anything.

Since you're only going to have 3 volts coming into the circuit from these,
the clock may run somewhat slowly. However, it may not be too bad, as these
things usually keep time going up to the bitter end of the battery's life.

For some more "advanced" tinkering, see these:

http://www.walshcomptech.com/ps2/dallasrework.html
http://greyghost.mooo.com/ds1387rework/

Your computer probably doesn't use one of those. Later PB systems did.

William

Hello William !

"William R. Walsh" < m>
wrote in message
>
> Just get some good quality AA batteries if you want to do this. No sense
> in
> getting all spendy on them. Locate them where any leak won't hurt
> anything.
>
> Since you're only going to have 3 volts coming into the circuit from
> these,
> the clock may run somewhat slowly. However, it may not be too bad, as
> these
> things usually keep time going up to the bitter end of the battery's life.
>

Why? Why would the clock run slow ?

You know Bill, I tend to do a little research before I answer questions,
'cause I really dislike being wrong.

Some Packard Bell's use a Pansonic BR1225 3V bat on the motherboard.

http://parts.digikey.com/1/parts/123...m-br-1225.html

If you were actually here, I would point to various Packard Bell
motherboards with this battery on the motherboard. Some used a bat holder
with 2 1.5V AA bats, which my math equals 3V. Have some of those too.

I looked around the internet, and most if not all references were to a 3V
bat on his and other "older" motherboards. Before I responded to the
question.

Taking into consideration the "skill level" of the OP, I carefully
considered my answer, and figured my response would be the easiest course of
action. I could have come up with lots of other ideas, some of them
involving Plutonium U-238 or U-239, and even some Anti-matter suggestions.
But I decided that KISS would get the job done.


> For some more "advanced" tinkering, see these:

If I have to come all the way down to Texas to straighten you out again, I'm
bringing DooM, my cat, and you're not gonna like it !

bobwatts


--
bobwatts

Watts Carburetion Service
WhizzBang Computers
" collector of Asian transfat plastic trinkets ! "
EartH // KlaXXoN

Hi!

> Hello William !

Better late than never.

> Why? Why would the clock run slow ?
>
> You know Bill, I tend to do a little research before I answer questions,
> 'cause I really dislike being wrong.

I don't know that I'm right. :-)

But I know what I've seen on similar vintage PB systems, in the "3x3"
case...and that's a rechargeable, 3.6 or so volt NiCad package battery. If I
still had that 486 board, I'd shoot a picture of it. I'm not sure I can get
at the Accel machine right now, which has a Yuasa brand NiCad onboard.

Run a 3.6V clock on 3V and it might run a little slow. Or maybe not, if the
design can tolerate the battery voltage dropping. That's what I was coming
from, in light of what I knew. I tend to favor things that I've seen
firsthand as valid experience, as long as I understood what was there.

I've seen two other methods, what I'd call later and latest. The "later"
method is a Dallas clock module, and the latest is a CR2032 battery. My
mother's Legend desktop has a Dallas clock module. I am pretty sure that
I've got a P150 tower with a CR2032 battery in it.

> If I have to come all the way down to Texas to straighten you out again,
I'm
> bringing DooM, my cat, and you're not gonna like it !

You have a cat named DooM?

I may not like meeting this cat, but I sure DO like its name!

William

William R. Walsh wrote:
> Hi!
>
>> Hello William !
>
> Better late than never.
>
>> Why? Why would the clock run slow ?
>>
>> You know Bill, I tend to do a little research before I answer questions,
>> 'cause I really dislike being wrong.
>
> I don't know that I'm right. :-)
>
> But I know what I've seen on similar vintage PB systems, in the "3x3"
> case...and that's a rechargeable, 3.6 or so volt NiCad package battery. If I
> still had that 486 board, I'd shoot a picture of it. I'm not sure I can get
> at the Accel machine right now, which has a Yuasa brand NiCad onboard.
>
> Run a 3.6V clock on 3V and it might run a little slow. Or maybe not, if the
> design can tolerate the battery voltage dropping. That's what I was coming
> from, in light of what I knew. I tend to favor things that I've seen
> firsthand as valid experience, as long as I understood what was there.
>
> I've seen two other methods, what I'd call later and latest. The "later"
> method is a Dallas clock module, and the latest is a CR2032 battery. My
> mother's Legend desktop has a Dallas clock module. I am pretty sure that
> I've got a P150 tower with a CR2032 battery in it.
>
>> If I have to come all the way down to Texas to straighten you out again,
> I'm
>> bringing DooM, my cat, and you're not gonna like it !
>
> You have a cat named DooM?
>
> I may not like meeting this cat, but I sure DO like its name!
>
> William
>
>

By the time PB started shipping Pentium systems, it also began using a
lot of Intel branded boards, all with CR2032. It took a long time for
the personal computer industry to standardize on CMOS batteries... Ben Myers