Desparation! I might need help changing a lithium battery in a CPSIII board

[motorfish]

I have a problem, and I'm reaching out to the BYOAC for a possible solution:

I've got a CPSIII board that I've had for several years, and right now I feel like it's on borrowed time. I've heard that the CPSIII board has a suicide chip on it, just like the CPSII board does. I've done some reasearch and I've heard that there are two different kinds of CPSIII boards. One kind that uses a cart on the PCB and a CD to work, and another that just needs the cart on the PCB, and no disc.

I have a Red Earth board that doesn't need a CD to run. Supposedly, the lithium battery in these things is supposed to last about six years. This one is nine years old. Very borrowed time. Too much. Which brings me to another question:

I've also heard that it is possible to convert a CPSIII board to work so that the suicide battery is no longer needed, hence, no suicide.

I'm not sure if the CD-less CPSIII boards are debug boards or not, but I've been told that the CD-less boards are incredibly hard to come by.

I've noticed that the bottom of my CPSIII board has some wiring along the bottom of the PCB that looks like it was done after the fact.

What I'm wondering is this:

Is there anyone out there who knows how to change the lithium battery in a CPSIII board? I've been on the phone with Capcom this morning, and they have told me that they cannot service any arcade board anymore, as their arcade devision in the US has been terminated, so going to the direct source is no longer an option. I am willing to of course pay a fair price to get this done if need be, as I would like to preserve this game for as long as possible.

Also, is there anybody who can tell me if this wiring on the bottom is standard in a CPSIII board or not? Is this board I have a bootleg? It says Red Earth on the front of the cart, but on the back it says "for use in Asia only" It's difficult to compare this to another board because, well, I've never seen another one.

Is there anyone who might be able to answer some of these questions?

[motorfish]

Save the image files to your desktop to view them as full size to see better details if neccessary.

[dennis808]

Maybe this link will provide some usefull info?

http://www.jammaboards.com/guides/CPS2_Suicide_Battery_Replacement_Guide.pdf


or this one:

http://www.bitwalk.com/index.php?p=7

[Witchboard]

I don't know much about CPSIII, but I do think I recall that you have to have the game powered up while the battery swap is being done unlike the CPSII.  I'll try to find more info on it since I've run across it before.

OKay, found it.  Here is a guide to change the battery.  It's lycos, so be ready for all the adverts.  Here is a general CPSIII FAQ.

Good luck to ya. 

[RayB]

Could the mod already have been done? Maybe that's what the extra wiring is?

[motorfish]

RayB

Could the mod already have been done? Maybe that's what the extra wiring is?

That's what I was thinking. Anyone else have a CPSIII board with wiring on the bottom?


dennis808

Hmmm...it's CPSII, but it might be useful. Thanks!


Witchboard

Very helpful. Thanks! I'm not sure if I have the balls to do this myself though. ^_^

[Q*Bert_OP]

The "Hot-Swap" method. (I have done this successfully before)

Have 2 batteries ready.

Solder wires on one of the new batteries. Solder those wires on where the old battery is(don't remove old one yet)

Make sure the wires are on at all times, Remove old battery with wires of new battery still on the board.

Prepare 2nd battery. Solder new battery onto board.

Remove the battery with the 2 wires while making sure the battery on the board keeps contact at all times.

If everything was done correctly, the game will work for many more years, if not, grab security cart, remove new battery,toss in garbage and replace it! 

[motorfish]

The "Hot-Swap" method. (I have done this successfully before)

Have 2 batteries ready.

Solder wires on one of the new batteries. Solder those wires on where the old battery is(don't remove old one yet)

Make sure the wires are on at all times, Remove old battery with wires of new battery still on the board.

Prepare 2nd battery. Solder new battery onto board.

Remove the battery with the 2 wires while making sure the battery on the board keeps contact at all times.

If everything was done correctly, the game will work for many more years, if not, grab security cart, remove new battery,toss in garbage and replace it! 

Sounds scarry...I'm not sure I've got the rocks to attempt that.  -_-