Black VARTA PRAM battery

[just.in.time]

Battery in subject line is soldered to logic board of my SE. Still at 2.99 volts out of advertised 3 volts on label.

Cut it off or leave it attached? I'm leaving towards cut it off since it is so old.

 

[Themk]

I'd leave it attached, those black vartas are cool, and are not prone to leaking, unlike some, um, red colored batteries. YMMV, but I think it would be cool to keep it attached, it still probably hold the PRAM info.

 

[just.in.time]

Can confirm, it is still maintaining the PRAM settings.

It has 1088 stamped by a yellow dot matrix on one side. I'm assuming that may indicate October of 1988 manufacturing date.

 

[just.in.time]

Has anyone ever experienced a black VARTA leak? I know the red Maxell batteries are bombs, and the purple/green tardirans will rarely leak gently, but all of them are long dead in my experience.

 

[Carboy7]

I have seen Vartas leak just as well as MaxellBombs, though I think Vartas are pretty solid.

YMMV, though. These are 20~ year old batteries so they could leak like any other battery.

 

[NJRoadfan]

The black Varta in my IIgs is of similar age and still keeping time. No leaks that I can see.

 

[techknight]

Yep, I had an SE with a black varta that had blew up and damaged the board. 

GOTTA GO! 

 

[Johnnya101]

Was gonna say that, ANY old battery CAN and WILL blow! Its not worth keeping it in there... Think of the damage it will cause when it does.

 

[just.in.time]

Got one confirmed kill from techknight. One is enough for me to clip it.

That said, well done to VARTA for making a battery that has been consistently been powering something since the 1980s! Think about that for a second. So much has changed in this world since 1988 and yet it continues to run the clock and maintain PRAM. Impressive.

 

[Themk]

Okay, cool! I've always wanted a black Varta, never had one though. Would you mind selling me the one you clipped of the SE board? Weird request I know, don't feel obligated to honor it! lol

 

[Johnnya101]

Hehe... Ive got two fully intact maxells if anyone wants them...

 

[Themk]

I've already got intact maxells covered!

 

[techknight]

Yep, right in the garbage can! haha. 

I have had 1 black varta still hold a charge, 1 dead one in a IIgs, and one kerploded one in an SE. 

 

[Compgeke]

Oddly I have 4 good Black Vartas, none bad. One's the black\gold variant and three the black\white ones. I still clip 'em just to be safe but I do still check them every now and then and they still seem to be holding their charge fine.

 

[Scott Baret]

I have a 29 year old Varta, made in West Germany, still keeping time in my SE.

How tough is it to solder in a battery holder? I like to keep working batteries in a few of my Macs and actually just bought a pile of them from a going out of business Radio Shack. I have a dead LC II board to pull a holder from (recapping couldn't save this one).

 

[techknight]

I just bought the lista-clone drawers from ratshack finally. I missed my shot in 2015 but finally got a chance. 

 

[jack]

I've got an SE with a Varta in it, still holds a charge... I've been considering buying a battery holder and just swapping it out (to reduce risk), but haven't gotten around to it yet.

techknight, what part # did you get from radioshack?