John Gilpin wrote: > I have two identical rigs each one comprising Aurora + Super Gold Card + > QuBide all mounted in a Pandora Case with other components - Hard Disk, > PSU, Floppy Drive etc. - Until recently, each rig would self start - > with no need to select F1 or F2 and each maintained perfect time and date. > > However, over the past few days I have noticed that although once they > are up and running they still keep perfect time, once switched off, one > of them comes back with a random time and date at switch on and the same > machine needs F1 or 2 selecting at power up. > > The other machine is still working correctly. > > I understand that there is a battery on the SGC (although I have never > identified it) and I wondered if this behaviour is typical of a battery > needing replacing or perhaps something quite else. If it is the battery > which is at fault, where do I go or a replacement, about how much do > they cost and what do I ask for? > > Are they easy to replace or are special tools required? > > Can someone please help? > >
I recently had the same trouble with my SGC/Aurora rig. The battery was indeed dead. I was not able to find a source for an exact replacement, it seems that battery has been discontinued. My solution was to take the electrical specs of the original battery type, voltage and maH and I found a close equivalent in a more modern and readily obtainable type. This was a coin type cell used in many PC's. I then obtained a coin cell holder and soldered it's leads to the original battery's contacts on the SGC after carefully verifying the polarity. The new holder and battery sits up higher than the original and this would not work in an original QL case but in my situation the system is in a PC case and there were no clearance problems. It's certainly not the prettiest solution but it does work. The battery I used is a CR2032. My system can and does sit powered off for days and even weeks at a time and keeps time and starts by itself after power on. I can take a picture if you want and email it to you. Again, it is not pretty but is functional. Hope this helps! John Impellizzeri _______________________________________________ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
