Search Posts:

Time to replace motherboard batteries

SHARE

Return to Threads

  Time to replace motherboard batteries by Bill Degnan - 11/28/2008 13:55


click image for larger version



Post from vintage-computer.com/
"...Anyone have experience cleaning up battery leakage, or should I just trash any system with battery problems? I dread the task of opening everything up that *could* have leaked, but I guess I have to do this asap. I have put aside a lot of 85-95 computers when I get them, they're not really in my area of interest, but at the same time I want to preserve them. I have 15 or so 386-486 systems, probably have 20+ bare motherboards from the e386-486 era, Amiga stuff, etc. All of this I have more or less ignored as "not vintage" - Maybe this is a mistake - whatever you call computers built before the WWW age and after 1985.

Would a basic solution (vs. acidic) and a needle pick do the trick? I have seen some threads on the subject in the board and I will do some more research.

50 years from now working 386 machines are going to be harder to find than 8088's should all of the MB batteries leak. In addition to a battery problem that no one want to "touch", people don't consider 386-486+ systems vintage so they have gone unattended. If you're like me, I'll accept a lot of computers from a donor, but they insist I take "everything" and that's how I have accumulated these newer systems.

Anyone here specialize in the 386-486 as a collector here? I use a Compaq Deskpro 386s with 5 1/4" and 3.5 drives as my bridge system for copying disks and files. The Deskpro has a detached battery.

Despite their external appearance, the 1985-95 era machines require the most attention, at least of what I have. For purists here I will call them "GUI-era vintage" so as not to confuse them with traditional vintage computers. Whatever you call them they need to be preserved NOW. .."

Reply
  Baking Soda and water for battery damage by Bill Degnan - 11/29/2008 22:41
The replies I received from my post in general pointed to baking soda and water as the cleaning agent. A wire brush to remove the battery acid.

In general once the computer has been cleaned of the leak, it should work or at least be repairable. See vintage-computer.com/vcforum for more.

Reply

Resources:


Buy a Commodore Computer Poster

Popular Topics and FAQs


  • Commodore B Series Tips and Tricks
  • Aerocomp TRS 80 M 1 Expansion Unit DDC
  • Items Wanted
  • Lobo Max 80
  • Zenith Z-19-CN
  • Prototype PET 2001 photo
  • Using Toggle Switches to Analyze Memory
  • Commodore Disk Archive Project
  • PET 2001 Prototype at Gametronics 1977
  • Jim Butterfield Photo
  • IMSAI 8080 With Processor Tech. Cutter
  • Secrecy is the keystone of all tyranny
  • Cromemco System Three
  • Northstar Horizon - Boot Problem
  • Computer History and Restoration Links
  • Commodore BX-256-80 - 8088 Co-processor
  • S-100 board testing with Z-80 ICE
  • Donner 3500 - an early portable computer
  • Digital (DEC) PDP 11/05 NC Assembly
  • Univac 1219 rescue
  • IMSAI 1.4 BASIC vs. MITS 8K BASIC
  • Fido BBS listing node list 6-13-1986
  • PDP 8e
  • MITS 88-2 SIO (2SIO) for BASIC
  • Visual Technology Inc Model 1050
  • Amiga 2500 Restoration
  • The Evolution Of IBM Computers
  • Replacement teletype print hammer head
  • Archiving and Copying Software 101
  • Computers Built 1940 - 1950
  • CBM B-520 (a.k.a B256-80 or B500 256)
  • RCA COSMAC Microkit
  • Commodore 64K C-116 Mods
  • MITS 8800b Turnmon 9600 baud
  • Catweasel, 8in and 5 1/4
  • Raspberry Pi as Gateway to Internet
  • Digital PDP11 late 1969 early 1970
  • PDP 11/40 72 inch cabinet model
  • PDP 11/40 Industrial 11 model
  • Digitial MicroVAX 3100 30 System
  • Digital VAX 4000-200
  • Commodore 64 / 1541 DRIVEKNOCK
  • Booting the System Using RL02 drive
  • PACS: Reflections by Kathleen Mauchly
  • Tele-Graphic Computer Systems Inc.
  • Commodore B Series SID Jukebox?
  • Installing Core into PDP 11/40
  • Setting Up OpenVMS 7.1 DNS CLERK
  • Felt-Tarrant Comptometer Model J
  • NextStation Color
  • Digital Rainbow (PC100-B2)
  • 1970 Compusad Compulogical Tutor
  • Archiving Papertapes Using DSI NC 2400
  • 1976 P.C.C. Features the MAI JOLT 6502
  • 1961 Beckman DEXTIR Computer
  • UNIVAC 1 and UNIVAC File Computer 1
  • Past Issues:


    Indigo 2s

    This image was selected at random from the archive. Click image for more photos and files from this set.