Sega Saturn long life battery

Sonic 3 doesn't actually have a battery, it uses an obscure NVRAM called FRAM with 10 years of retention.

 

Just to confirm, the Dreamcast does use a rechargeable battery with solder tags labelled:-

Maxell
ML2032
Rechargeable

You should not use a non-rechargeable battery as its likely to leak (or explode!) when the Dreamcast tries to recharge it.

The Dreamcast manual says its a rechargeable battery that charges when the Dreamcast system is on, taking a few hours to fully charge, and then retaining the charge for up to 14 days (key words being 'up to')

Hope that helps :icon_bigg

 

Sonic 3 as MD cart does not use any battery of any kind, only a FRAM chip... I have no idea why it loses data sometimes...

 

Slghtly OT but I have a quick question about Sonic 3 - is it possible to make it lose the save files on purpose?

I only ask as My Sonic 3 cart has some time trials with 0.01 seconds records that a friend did back in the day - apparently there was some cheat that allows you to get an impossible time?

Anyway, there doesnt seem to be any way to delete the time trial records and its always bugged me alittle. I realise I would lose the main save files aswell.

 

Praise to Thor! I have a save on my S3 cart that has all but the last emerald and some bug that lets me become Super Sonic without it. Downside is there is no level select if memory serves.

 

Im positive that Sonic 3 has a level select, but its trickier to activate than previous Sonic games.
The only problem is I dont believe you can save the game once you have used the level select - although im sure sombody with more knowledge than me well come in and clarify.

 

So if I want to solder in a battery holder in order to place a couple of AAs in my Saturn, would taking out the CR2032 immediately kill my saves?

 

So when plugged in, power does reach the mobo, even with the power off? Just wanted to confirm, the power supply doesn't seem like it would do that, especially after what some have said in other posts and threads.

 

I've never tried myself, but people say that you can change the battery while the system is on. Not just plugued in. But in working condition.
The safest way is with the Backup Cartridge, of course.

 

If you're thinking of soldering a live board, you're an idiot. DON'T DO IT!

Yes, you should be backing up your memory as a matter of course if you have something you want saved. That's just common sense. And if you do that, you won't mind about potentially losing the data. Of course, if you're at a point where you HAVE to change the battery, you'll probably have found it's too late, anyway!

I don't know why you'd want to put alkaline batteries in there, anyway. They aren't long life batteries. Replace your CR2032 and you should get another 8 years out of it!

 

Yeah, I'm smart enough to do that. Just like licking live ATX power supplies and putting my junk in a running fan.

 

Simultaneously? That could be fun hahaha

 

Is there a guide on to how to connect one of those SAFT LSH20 batteries and better place to get them the links in main op are dead or gone.

 

The watchdog circuit that l_oliveira posted? I haven't tried using it myself but the annoyance factor of having to set the clock each and every time is what stops anyone from actually going past the "what is it and how does it work" phase.

 

hmm, reading this thread reminded me of the AA mod I did to my Saturn in 2005. Instead of soldering, I used double backed foam tape to secure a double AA battery holder to the inside of the expansion door, and wrapped a dead Button cell in electrical tape and wrapped that in tin foil at the cells contact points. I taped the leads to the cell at the appropriate places and simply put the dummy button cell in its holder. to test it I used a half dead pair of energizers that were only good for my remote. it worked and I left them in to use em up but they're still working 9 years later. I cant explain why.

With the ease of such a mod and the annoyance of the battery running out Im suprised its not been done more often. at one time I thought of replacing the dead cell with a dummy plastic one and selling the thing but never got around to it.