Capcom CPS-2 Suicide Battery

dboeren · Post by **dboeren** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 2:44 am

Does anyone know a good place that can modify a working CPS-2 board to remove the dependency on the suicide battery? The boards are still working now, but I want to make sure they stay that way in the future.

Thanks!

llaoyllakcuf · Post by **llaoyllakcuf** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 10:59 am

AFAIK, the only way to do that is to replace all the game's original
program ROM chips with special "suicide free" ones.

see this site for details: CPS-2 Shock

Rastan78 · Post by **Rastan78** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 11:59 pm

If the boards are still working, then just change the batteries before they die. Change them every 3-4 years to be on the safe side.

It only takes five minutes or less to change the battery and barely costs you anything. It's not worth rewriting all of an original working game board's program roms just to avoid changing 1 battery. If a board were to up and die on you, then I could understand going to all that trouble.

raiden · Post by **raiden** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 1:26 am

Yep. Before I had a CPS2, I visited the site llaoyllakcuf mentioned, in search for info about the phoenix mod. It turned out the process is rather complicated, involving not only a lot of hardware, but also a thorough understanding of what you´re doing. You can´t just take any romfile, every PCB has a code to which the romfile must be adjusted. You can send your chips or the board as a whole to Razoola, who invented this procedure, but whether you send them insured or not, he always sends them back without insurance, so they might get lost or damaged on the way, but anyway you have to wait a few weeks.

On the other hand, and it´s also described on that side, changing the battery really is a piece of cake even if you´ve never soldered before (well, a little practice wouldn´t hurt). The harder part is opening the board case if you don´t have a fitting Torx screwdriver, but it´s still possible if you have a flat one of fitting size. I´d say the risk you run by changing the battery is lower than what you wager by sending the PCB by mail twice. You actually have one hour to do it, that´s plenty of time for everyone.

The Phoenix mod is a great way to revive boards that died already, but if you have a working CPS2 board, keeping the battery alive is easier, safer, cheaper and more comfortable.

dboeren · Post by **dboeren** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 2:23 am

OK, so where do you get the correct type of batteries?

Kiel · Post by **Kiel** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 4:50 am

Soldering hmmmmmm, I hope its not that tough.

llaoyllakcuf · Post by **llaoyllakcuf** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 6:47 am

As for changing out the battery, I really like this guy's idea:
- link -

(sorry, I don't know who can do this for you)

raiden · Post by **raiden** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 9:08 am

actually, I don´t think this batteryholder is a good idea. Soldering is one of the most reliable forms of electronic contacts, which is pretty appropriate if the "life" of a PCB depends on it. Exchanging that for a less reliable form, together with a slightly risky procedure of drilling holes into the PCB, just to make batterychange easier every 5 YEARS feels like wrong priorities to me. One think I like about CPS2 in contrast with other PCBs is that it´s easy to carry around for meetings and such, but I wouldn´t feel comfortable with that if I didn´t knew the battery inside is really firmly attached to the board.

neorichieb1971 · Post by **neorichieb1971** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 9:19 am

I agree with what the guy says on NG.com, drilling and soldering to play videogames is a bit much. I have a motherboard that ive never used, I keep meaning to buy a CPS2 game but have not done it yet.

raiden · Post by **raiden** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 10:19 pm

I agree with what the guy says on NG.com, drilling and soldering to play videogames is a bit much.

that one made me smile, actually

Over the last two years, drilling and soldering has become an increasingly bigger part of my gaming hobby. Built 4 superguns, customized one so that I can have all PCBs connected to a Jamma plug continuously, built and tuned several joysticks... right now I´m building a "customized cab", and after that I´ll tackle sound specialties like stereo from Seibu and CPS2 boards.

I have a motherboard that ive never used, I keep meaning to buy a CPS2 game but have not done it yet.

I was hesitating for a while, too, because the battery issue was turning me off. But once started, I wished I hadn´t waited so long. There are so many cool CPS2 games out there, except for the battery issue and the large cartridges it´s really a nice piece of hardware, more powerful than Neo Geo, yet more software than PGM, STV or Taito F3.

famitsu1 · Post by **famitsu1** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 10:46 pm

Hi,
thinking about chanaging my battery soon.Anyone here in the UK who could point me to a place that sells these specific type of batteries?What exactly am I after?
I've come across this so far:

http://uk.farnell.com/jsp/endecaSearch/ ... earch=true&

http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/30278.pdf

Seems to check off all the specs of a CPS2 battery,thing is I'am a bit thrown by them calling the battery a lithium thionyl chloride type?????Anyone enlighten me?
Cheers famitsu1

raiden · Post by **raiden** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 2:15 pm

the voltage and measure seems to be fine, but the contacts at the end are a little short. The batteries I bought have a long wire (about 10cm) at the end, so it´s easy to put that through the holes in the PCB, solder them tight and then cut the remaining wire off. With the battery you linked to, this procedure could become a little harder, though definitely possible. If nothing else works, you can solder an additional wire to what is there. Just make sure the battery can´t move inside the case afterwards.

Kiel · Post by **Kiel** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 4:18 pm

Where did you get your battery?

And know of any links on how to do the procedure?

Post by **system11** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 5:48 pm

How to do:

http://cps2shock.retrogames.com/suicide.html

Where to buy batteries in the UK:

www.rswww.com
Part number: 185-5643

famitsu1 · Post by **famitsu1** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 6:34 pm

Hi,
thanks for the info fellas.
Few more questions if you can bare it.
I was looking at the rswww site today and came across:
http://rswww.com/cgi-bin/bv/browse/Modu ... No=4364796
Poduct code:LS14250CNA
Blood&Flowers:
Its the only one I could find with the appropriate legs attached(I take it thats what axial output means?).Is the capacity of 950mAh on this suitable?
I'll take a look now at the item you recommend.Do rswww sell to individuals,I thought they only sold to trade?
Cheers famitsu1

Gozer · Post by **Gozer** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 6:09 pm

Is this battery model correct?

http://www.jascobattery.com/product_inf ... ductID=201

raiden · Post by **raiden** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 9:13 am

it´s looking good. I can´t guarantee anything, but I would use it.

supaT · Post by **supaT** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 9:18 am

Gozer wrote:Is this battery model correct?

http://www.jascobattery.com/product_inf ... ductID=201

Yeah, 3.6V is perfect. You can also buy AA instead of 1/2 AA. There is plenty of space inside your CPS-2.

Pointman · Post by **Pointman** » Mon May 02, 2005 10:43 pm

Sorry to bump this topic, but as I'm in need of replacing the battery in my Progear board this thread has become most helpful. All the technical aspects I'm now sure about but I was just wondering if the site that was mentioned -www.rswww.com- sell to the individual rather than exclusively to companies. If not, are there any other sites in the UK that sell these kinds of batteries to the average joe? Cheers for the assist.

oxtsu · Post by **oxtsu** » Wed May 04, 2005 2:22 am

Might check out Betson in the US, http://www.betson.com/ , for the 3.6V 1/2 AA lithium battery with legs attached. I haven't ordered yet from them, though it's listed in their catalog. Part# 27-1040 at $8.49 each, $7.99 for quantity of 6 and up. Though it's not listed for ordering on their webpage so you may have to call one of their local distributors.

Pointman · Post by **Pointman** » Wed May 04, 2005 5:47 pm

Cheers for rhe reply. I had difficulty registering on rswww's website so I thought 'sod it' and rang em instead. Got the battery through this evening. Now comes the tricky part..........

captain ahar · Post by **captain ahar** » Wed May 04, 2005 10:17 pm

i have a copy of Dimahoo that i bought, despite my lack of a cab, because it was fairly cheap. is there any way i can test it, without playing it? i may sound like a bit of an ignoramoose because i am. alternatively does anyone know anybody in western michigan, who might be able to help me test it?

oxtsu · Post by **oxtsu** » Thu May 05, 2005 12:13 pm

captain ahar wrote:i have a copy of Dimahoo that i bought, despite my lack of a cab, because it was fairly cheap. is there any way i can test it, without playing it?

Yeah, you can test the battery with a multimeter (they cost maybe $10-20 at a local store). It should read 3.7 volts. Also you'll need the torx bit to open up the game case.

p.s. famitsu1 or moderators...can we parse that wide link above please?

captain ahar · Post by **captain ahar** » Tue May 10, 2005 8:35 pm

this is only place i could think to share, didn't seem worth a new topic. apparently, i got a better deal on it then i thought, as an a board was included in the package. now, to find out if the thing works...

dpful · Post by **dpful** » Wed May 11, 2005 6:02 pm

oxtsu wrote:
captain ahar wrote:i have a copy of Dimahoo that i bought, despite my lack of a cab, because it was fairly cheap. is there any way i can test it, without playing it?
Yeah, you can test the battery with a multimeter (they cost maybe $10-20 at a local store). It should read 3.7 volts. Also you'll need the torx bit to open up the game case.

p.s. famitsu1 or moderators...can we parse that wide link above please?

Remember that these batteries give a fixed voltage till they die (I understand), so testing it won't really tell you anything except that it's still working. I suggest you just replace the thing if your going to open it anyways- or maybe not even bother (how old is progear?- I use the 5 year method)
You could mail me your progear and I could test it on my cab for a bit ha ha.

Post by **Dave_K.** » Sat May 14, 2005 8:09 pm

Anyone know how long these lithium batteries last when stored at room temp? I just found some at a local electronics store
(the full size version) and it has a 12/99 date on it. Also when I install it, can I safely assume its good for 5 years (being the full
size version)?

SAM · Post by **SAM** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 12:56 pm

bloodflowers wrote:Where to buy batteries in the UK:

www.rswww.com
Part number: 185-5643

They got branch all over the world.

There is even one on a nearby island.

I think order one with Axial Leads, which I think would make the battery swooping job easily.

Ord · Post by **Ord** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 2:21 pm

I just phoenixed my Progear board, and it was a doddle. Razoola was very helpful and postage was quick. The whole process of me sending the roms away and recieving them back from Razoola was about 1 week. I don't have to worry about changing batteries again.
Highly recommended.

iatneH · Post by **iatneH** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 6:49 pm

Hey Ord, how much did the Phoenix mod cost, base plus shipping? I'm thinking of sending in my Great Mahou Daisakusen..

Ord · Post by **Ord** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 8:22 pm

Razoola charges 20 euros which is about $25. It's very straight forward and he answered all my e-mails and questions really quickly. That price includes the return shipping.

shmups.system11.org

Capcom CPS-2 Suicide Battery

Capcom CPS-2 Suicide Battery

CPS-2 batteries