DoDonPachi DOJ PCB owners thread. CHECK YOUR BATTERIES

[emphatic]

If you do get stuck I could always send one back with your other bits emph.

Cheers!

[spadgy]

OK. I've desoldered my battery successfully, cleaned the board with bicarbonate of soda, wiped it down, and done the same to the blue DOJ case. I've also covered my flat and my face in the bicarb. It tastes very odd neat.

All this leaves me with a few questions:

1) I used a generous amount of dry bicarbonate of soda and a toothbrush. I've heard some people make reference to a paste (of bicarb and water I presume). Have other people used the dry method. Is this OK?

2) In my eagerness to get rid of the acid, I put on a hell of a lot of bicarbonate of soda, which got rid of the acid brilliantly. I cleaned most of it off, but after the clean I'm convinced that there's a residue of bicarbonate of soda under some of the components and in the tiny gaps where I'll never get a cloth. I'm aware that the bicarbonate of soda is a fairly strong alkali, so my question is this: Will a residue of bicarbonate of soda cause the PCB any damage?

3) Is there any reason that once the PCB is all acid-free, dry and working, I shouldn't re-install it in the case? Would people recommend leaving it bare when in use?

4) Is it true that on non-Black Label boards, flicking the brown/red switch by the battery kills the board? I didn't flick mine, but I came damn close during the clean!

Thanks!

[spadgy]

Thanks man!

Now who dares answer questions 1 and 2?

[Dave_K.]

I have no idea if its bad or not leaving that residue behind, but you could get a can of compressed air and blow it out (like ones used for cleaning keyboards).

[spadgy]

Cool - it's only a tiny amount. I have some Isopropyl alcohol, which can be used for cleaning pcbs, but I think I've made enough of a chemical cocktail on that PCB for one day without the need for more!

I'm now waiting for the board to dry, and I'll try an pick up some compressed air tomorrow.

That said, if anybody else has any information, that would be great.

Thanks!

[spadgy]

My DOJ board works lovely! Phew...

[JAMMArob]

Another Doj saved!

[spadgy]

Another Doj saved!

I hope so!

Actually Rob - you know a lot about this. Could you help with my two questions (pasted from above):

1) I used a generous amount of dry bicarbonate of soda and a toothbrush. I've heard some people make reference to a paste (of bicarb and water I presume). Have other people used the dry method. Is this OK?

2) In my eagerness to get rid of the acid, I put on a hell of a lot of bicarbonate of soda, which got rid of the acid brilliantly. I cleaned most of it off, but after the clean I'm convinced that there's a residue of bicarbonate of soda under some of the components and in the tiny gaps where I'll never get a cloth. I'm aware that the bicarbonate of soda is a fairly strong alkali, so my question is this: Will a residue of bicarbonate of soda cause the PCB any damage?

Thanks!

[cools]

http://forum.arcadeotaku.com/viewtopic. ... ine#p72313"

[spadgy]

http://forum.arcadeotaku.com/viewtopic. ... ine#p72313

Wow! Thanks Cools - so whatever happens, I need to get rid of every last speck of baking soda as it is potentially corrosive! I wish I hadn't been so generous with applying the baking soda!

But more importantly - has it been confirmed that these Varta's are actually leaking acid and not an alkaline? If like most NiMh batteries they leak alkaline, the strategy suggested in this thread is useless. I'll read that whole other thread on the train home, and research these batteries tonight.

Hopefully though, Rob can confirm my worries are unneeded!

EDIT: So, the first post confirms these are definitely lithium battery's, and not NiMh. Does that mean it's an acid leak?

[JAMMArob]

The original batteries might be NiMH, but I honestly don't remember. My Doj board has been using a lithium coin battery for over a year now.

[SuperPang]

You won't, I couldn't even find any on a UK site when my BL needed resurrecting.

[LoRez]

These any good? : http://cpc.farnell.com/1/1/299-battery- ... varta.html"

[cools]

Group order!

[LoRez]

These any good? : http://cpc.farnell.com/1/1/299-battery- ... varta.html"

Yep, thats them, but they want £6 delivery.

How many could be sent within that £6 charge? I'm sure others would want one or even a couple as spares

[thechop]

Gotta check mine Might need a few.

[johnbud]

why not get some litmus paper, you know the stuff you used at school to test for ph. it would then indicate whether it was an acid or alkaline that you have left. im sure you are aware of the damage both of these can do to metal etc. as another suggestion why dont you all send them to 1 person who can do it without leaving behind a mess. it doesnt sound like a big job or a long job, im sure somebody could do a batch in a day. but please kids remember an alkaline is not the same as an alkaloid. so dont try ingesting it, this will result in damage to your digestive system. instead of your head cheers.

john bud

[spadgy]

The original batteries might be NiMH, but I honestly don't remember. My Doj board has been using a lithium coin battery for over a year now.

I hope the original was lithium, or we might of been wasting our time with that bicarb! I'm actually going to get my original battery out the bin tonight to check!

That said, your board has been ok for a year now
so it looks like your technique works!

[spadgy]

The original DOJ Varta batteries were Ni-MH, meaning that if this post is to be believed, the baking soda approach will do nothing good at all!

So is it in fact vinegar you need for the clean?

Help!

[JAMMArob]

Interesting. I'll edit the first post as needed.