SNES cartridge batteries

[Beldaran]

I have an old SNES game that no longer saves my files, and I believe it is because the cartridge battery has died. Does anyone know what kind of tool I need to open the cartridge? Once it's open, how do I change the battery? What kind of battery do I put in?

[stormwatcheagle]

Yes, I have the same problem.

[Link 101]

I would imagine you just unscrew the screws on the back and take it apart. As for the battery, you'll have to find out when you open it up.

[Yoshiman]

There are no screws on the back. There are two on the front, but they have a different type of screw. If you can get that open, the top part should come undone. Then you should check the battery to see what kind it is. I'd imagine it would be a watch battery inside.

[Link 101]

Oh I thought there were screws on the back. My bad. I would also imagine there being a watch battery.

[System Error]

I imagine there being a different kind of battery...a watch battery probably wouldn't cut it.

[MottZilla]

You need the Star or asterisk shaped tool to unscrew the bits on the back. Next you must locate the battery, and identify its exact type. Then go buy a replacement of the exact same type, replace it, put it back together, and you are done.

[Dart Zaidyer]

I think it's a standard coin battery, like the kind in your PC's motherboard. It may or may not be soldered to the curcuitboard inside the cartridge, though.

[The Savior]

You don't need any special tools to do it, a 1/16 screwdriver will do fine to open the cart.

[Maverick_Zero]

Hmm, my friend was telling me about him doing that with his CT cart, I'll ask him about it.

[The Savior]

Unless they switched the screws, you don't need any special tools. I remember taking apart carts when I was younger without any special tools, and just assumed that they were SNES carts.

[EDIT] After inspecting a N64 cart, they are different screws than what I remember, and I'm 90% sure that the SNES uses the same ones. Still, it would be reletively easy to make a tool using a straight-slot bit and a dremel.

[stormwatcheagle]

you know, they sell hex screwdrivers...

[The Savior]

Yeah, but hex screw drivers won't work for this application. The star wrenches that do work are hard to find and can be expensive.

[MottZilla]

Actually, I've found them not to be that exspensive, but anything that can hold it while you turn is just as good.

[stormwatcheagle]

I just looked at the cartrige, you can get a set of tiny screw drivers with hex heads for like, $1 no more that $5

[KJAZZ]

I would think buying a new game would be easier.. oh well..;p

This never happened to me before on any of my games on SNES. NES, yeah, but not SNES. ;p

[MottZilla]

Why would you buy a new game when it's battery is roughly the same age?

[TheGeepster]

I'm glad Nintendo switched over to separate save cards after SNES. I've never had this trouble yet though.

[MottZilla]

Memory cards use EPROM. When they go bad you have to replace the EPROM chip. However, they last awhile with proper care and protection.