Game Boy Game Battery Retainer by HDR (updated)

While tabbed batteries are pretty cheap, there is still something to be said for using a battery retainer and "off the shelf" batteries. HDR made a mod that you can solder in to your cart and add your own retainer relatively pain free.

To DIY these, you need the flex PCBs and the battery retainer listed in the notes of the oshpark project.

If you need more help than that, I'd recommend joining one of the many discord servers linked there and posting in the various troubleshooting channels. I do not respond to emails or DMs with troubleshooting requests.

Tools I regularly use (and recommend)

Soldering Supplies

The links provided are NOT affiliate links. I have a new affiliate code for RGRS, however. Use code "makho" at checkout for 10% off your order.

Please do not feel obligated to contribute, what funds I make there will almost entirely be put towards junk food or cat treats or other non-youtube related bullshit I don't need since I run this channel as a hobby anyway.

[theskipster]

This is awesome! All the mods I've seen with a holder for the battery to easily swap it either don't fit or can only hold a CR1616, which lasts way less time than a CR2025. Great mod!

[peterj]

I would wager tabbed batteries are not as commonly used as non-tabbed, so there is maybe some benefit to the longevity of the cart to switch to the retainer and use coin cells that probably aren't going away

[kylel]

I want this gameboy advance SP shell so bad! It's beautiful!

[WhatsOnMyShelf]

3:40 I've purchased sheets of those yellow sheath batteries from bulk suppliers and many ended up being less than 10% battery life when tested under load. You mutlimeter check isn't the best way to test life on batteries. I now purchase name-brand stuff which lasts long and doesn't puff up.

[Pandidand]

Really thanks for the video and also the link to the assembly. For me in the EU it would be painful to order the PCBs separately.

[Ductape]

Solid video, I think this is something I would do if I were working over a cart for someone else to make it easy in the future for someone who doesn't have soldering skill. Also you mentioned a Digikey part number for the tabbed batteries you recommend?

[Ice-edqk]

I actually don’t mind replacing tabbed batteries but the issue comes to the voltage hold qualities of those tabs. They can’t even hold a charge for more than a month and the things die. Better settle for higher quality but longer installation batteries with retainer than cheap short life but easy to install tabbed batteries.

[DarkBowser]

Ah, excellent. I should like to install retainers in all my cartridges simply as a matter of preventative maintenance. Changing out the battery in the future will be easier, as name-brand, quality batteries that are not tabbed are easier to find, AND it won't run the risk of a beginner to soldering destroying the cartridge PCB
. Which, if all the posts I've seen of Gen 3 (and some 1 and 2) Pokémon carts being destroyed due to people trying to replace the battery on it are any indication, happens far too often. Cartridges change hands all the time and the less killed the better.

[guitaristtom]

That Crystal Clear cart looks really neat. I'm guessing it was a custom build?

[ZyferWarriorPrime]

To be fair, you can buy the coin batteries online. I like Panasonic ones.

[Jamessheffield]

It has been like four or five videos and I have now forgotten whom my auntie is....Bill?...Brandon?....

[luizeduardosouza]

i want one of these for gba carts (pokemon ones), they have so tiny space

[npenplz]

I opted to replace all of my games with the retainers because the pre-tabbed yellow batteries were dying on me *way* too quick, in the span of about a year and a half i had a few die. Being able to use Panasonic or other name brand batteries is the real benefit, especially since they're really cheap on places like digikey

[pedrocaricchio]

Thanks again for another greatly helpful video! Glad I waited a bit and this version of the retainer came out, definitely going to get these for the 2 original games I have.

So, just to be clear, it does hold a CR2032, right? But would the case close properly with it? I'm thinking about Pokémon Crystal and Mario Tennis (GBC) og cartridges.

[bitsamurai]

Do you have to use pokemon to make a flash cart or can you use a cheaper cart? And is this even useful now adays. Whags the best affordable flashcards for making ur own carts thay can rtc?

[BlazingKhioneus]

is there a possibility there will ever be those top-loading battery slots for this? like the ones you find in keyboards for the settings and stuff? or will this bulgy one be all we get?

[VideoGameJNPoop]

2:05 - Face revealed on the Game Boy reflection.

[xXhikashiXx]

It's not about the convince of replacing but let's say if you make a mistake while soldering and break the whole thing if you don't have to solder the less chances of you breaking it

[moo]

Hey there Makho, is there a PCB solution out there for making an MBC3 flashcart and reusing the SRAM chip from an original cart (a Sharp LH52256CN-10LL)? I botched a removal of the ROM chip on a cart the first time around so the PCB was hosed, but I recently got the MBC3 and everything else off with hot air. HDRs boards are great but they swap it out for an FRAM chip and some additional hardware. Can those be made compatible or am I forced to ditch the SRAM and get the FM18W08?

[MrStompingshadow]

I just noticed I can’t do this on my yellow because the battery is smaller and they don’t sell these tabs oh well