How do I replace a battery?

Forums › Desktop computing › How do I replace a battery?

zespri

412 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#207809 14-Jan-2017 20:45

Hello, about a year ago, I built this small system that runs linux and lives in my network cabinet:

The motherboard is Gigabyte H97N-WIFI, the manual to it can be found here: https://www.quietpc.com/instructions/gigabyte/ga-z97n-wifi.pdf

Now, every time the system loses power and booted up again it is stuck on BIOS screen, saying "BIOS was reset. Load defaults?"

Since it's running headless, it's a major pain. I think the reason for the message is that the CMOS battery went flat. So I'm looking to replace it. However I'm not sure how to go about it.

This is what the battery looks like:

[see below]

As you can see it's soldered to two wires, which are soldered to a plug that goes to the motherboard socket.

Am I screwed, or is it replaceable? If replaceable, then what do I need to buy (I have no idea what kind of battery this is) and how can I install it?

1 | 2

412 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1703289 14-Jan-2017 20:48

Picture of the battery:

insane

3239 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#1703291 14-Jan-2017 20:51

Perhaps check in with RS components or your nearest real PC store (not eg Harvey Norman)?

Technofreak

6530 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1703295 14-Jan-2017 21:26

What are the numbers on the plastic cover? They're a bit hard to read.

I'd cut the plastic cover off the old battery, this should enable you to see any markings on the battery itself. This way you should be able to identify what battery you will need

I guess it's a standard battery not sure if it's rechargeable. If not I'm guessing it's something like a 2032, 2025 etc. If so just buy one from the likes of Jaycar, cut the wires off the old battery and solder them onto the new battery. You may even be able to buy a battery with spot welded lugs to solder onto otherwise just carefully solder onto the battery. Minimise the time you spend with the soldering iron touching the battery.

Sony Xperia XA2 running Sailfish OS. https://sailfishos.org The true independent open source mobile OS
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
Dell Inspiron 14z i5

robjg63

4096 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#1703296 14-Jan-2017 21:28

Well it looks like a button battery with a heatshrink wrapper.
If it's kaput, why not cut the plastic off and see what's inside?
I would guess the battery will be available, but how they have attached it inside the unit would be the thing...

Oops - too slow

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

zespri

412 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1703297 14-Jan-2017 21:35

robjg63: Well it looks like a button battery with a heatshrink wrapper.
If it's kaput, why not cut the plastic off and see what's inside?
I would guess the battery will be available, but how they have attached it inside the unit would be the thing...

Oops - too slow

That's why I'm reluctant to cut it off, I do not know how to put it back in... It's also attached to the side somehow with a white-ish square... I'm sure it won't stick again if I scrub it off...

I can't read the numbers either, it's how they printed... Somewhat better picture of the numbers:

clive100

236 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#1703302 14-Jan-2017 21:40

Try here to see if anything with similar plug as shown.

https://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?catId=0&initiative_id=AS_20170114003316&SearchText=cmos+battery

I think all cmos bios batteries are same 3V voltage so unless it is a rechargeable battery its just the plug that needs to match or you can cut, swap & rejoin lead with the correct plug fitted to the new battery.

zespri

412 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1703303 14-Jan-2017 21:43

clive100:

Try here to see if anything with similar plug as shown.

https://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?catId=0&initiative_id=AS_20170114003316&SearchText=cmos+battery

I think all cmos bios batteries are same 3V voltage so unless it is a rechargeable battery its just the plug that needs to match or you can cut, swap & rejoin lead with the correct plug fitted to the new battery.

Oh yeah, I think this is it. I'll give it a try! Thank you so much!!!

Equinox IT

Cloud spending continues to surge globally, but most organisations haven’t made the changes necessary to maximise the value and cost-efficiency benefits of their cloud investments. Download the whitepaper From Overspend to Advantage now.

MaxLV

656 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1703305 14-Jan-2017 21:50

zespri:

robjg63: Well it looks like a button battery with a heatshrink wrapper.
If it's kaput, why not cut the plastic off and see what's inside?
I would guess the battery will be available, but how they have attached it inside the unit would be the thing...

Oops - too slow

That's why I'm reluctant to cut it off, I do not know how to put it back in... It's also attached to the side somehow with a white-ish square... I'm sure it won't stick again if I scrub it off...

I can't read the numbers either, it's how they printed... Somewhat better picture of the numbers:

Standard CR2032 cmos battery. Get them anywhere that sells button batteries.

As to replacing it, it looks like they designed it to make it hard as possible for the 'end user' to replace, to generate 'return to base for repair' income when the installed battery dies.

MadEngineer

4271 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1703306 14-Jan-2017 21:51

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/search?sf=cmos+battery

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

Goosey

2829 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#1703308 14-Jan-2017 21:53

you could email pbtech with a picture?

they have; https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/SEVOEM0126/Laptop-CMOS-Battery-3-pin

Technofreak

6530 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1703309 14-Jan-2017 22:11

zespri:

That's why I'm reluctant to cut it off, I do not know how to put it back in... It's also attached to the side somehow with a white-ish square... I'm sure it won't stick again if I scrub it off...

I can't read the numbers either, it's how they printed... Somewhat better picture of the numbers:

Looks like CR 203? probably a 2.

The white square is probably white double sided sticky tape, nothing special there and easily replaced.

The cover is just for insulation purposes, if you bought one without a cover just use a piece of heat shrink to cover the battery.

As the old battery is stuffed, I wouldn't worry about the condition of the cover once you've cut the battery out. Finding out the numbers on the battery may be useful.

The PB Tech link on the post above shows some likely options.

Sony Xperia XA2 running Sailfish OS. https://sailfishos.org The true independent open source mobile OS
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
Dell Inspiron 14z i5

lNomNoml

1807 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1703324 14-Jan-2017 22:45

Probably too late but before you go buy a new CMOS battery, try update to latest version, it's very strange that a 9 series board CMOS battery would go flat so soon, they are supposed to last much longer than that.

Update BIOS

LennonNZ

2459 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#1703368 15-Jan-2017 09:19

It'll be a CR2032H Battery which is says on the outside.

"KTS 443 CR2032H 3.0V"

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Laptop-Motherboard-Backup-PLC-BIOS-CMOS-3V-CR2032-Li-ion-Button-Battery-w-Wire-/172455253150?hash=item282722549e:g:8TAAAOSw-0xYW9lb

http://www.ebay.com/itm/10PCS-CMOS-RTC-BATTERY-CR2032OPP-Laptop-Universal-Cmos-Bios-battery-23-22048-022-/111328643087?hash=item19ebb4480f:g:X8gAAOxyBvZTT5g6

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/PC-CMOS-BATTERY-1215-1215B-1201HAM_1080961346.html

robjg63

4096 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#1703381 15-Jan-2017 09:30

Just to be clear, I was only suggesting you remove the back shrink wrap.
Not cut the wires - it just unplugs from the motherboard.

As mentioned above it will just be attached with a bit of double-sided tape, so that's easy to replace.
And a cr2032 is available at most supermarket battery stands.
I queried pbtech last night and at that point they showed a 2 wire battery - it looks like yours has 2 wires. They are only showing the 3 wire model now.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

richms

28168 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1703444 15-Jan-2017 11:21

Eh? They have this one - https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/SEVOEM0259/OEM-Laptop-CMOS-Battery-2-pin-2-WIRE-CABLE-Plug

Richard rich.ms

1 | 2