Thread
Best PRAM Battery?
Yeah, I know. Its been awhile... 
Anyways, my current "collection" of PRAM batteries pulled from other machines is starting to die on me left and right. For some of my computers (notably several older macs), they absolutely need working batteries to even boot up! So, I'm off to buy some.
But which brand is best (If any)?
I usually find Tadiran batteries in ~50% of the machines. Should I continue using said brand, or does it even matter at all?
Thanks
Anyways, my current "collection" of PRAM batteries pulled from other machines is starting to die on me left and right. For some of my computers (notably several older macs), they absolutely need working batteries to even boot up! So, I'm off to buy some.
But which brand is best (If any)?
I usually find Tadiran batteries in ~50% of the machines. Should I continue using said brand, or does it even matter at all?
Thanks
I find the Saft LS-14250 to be most reliable, personally, followed by the Tadirans.
Battery quality is much of a muchness, the only really important question is how much damage they'll do if they leak, and how fast it'll happen.
Battery quality is much of a muchness, the only really important question is how much damage they'll do if they leak, and how fast it'll happen.
i wonder if you can still buy those VARTA ones? made in germany… most of those in the SE/s and IIgs's still work..
Maxell are way on the bottom of the list, somewhere below listening to Justin Bieber 24/7 on a deserted island.
My SAFT batteries are rock solid.
Where would be the best place to buy these batteries?
Alright ... google shopping came through for me again 
http://www.batterystore.com/varta-6127101301-cr1-2aa-battery-1-2-aa-3v-950mah-lithium/
6.95
http://www.batterystore.com/varta-6127101301-cr1-2aa-battery-1-2-aa-3v-950mah-lithium/
6.95
I've just given up on 1/2AA batteries and instead use two lithium AA or AAA batteries in a battery holder held with double sided foam tape. In place of the alkaline cube batteries, I use three AAA and a diode.
@Uniserver: I thought PRAM batteries were rated at 3.6V?
Well, if Bieber was actually with you on the island crooning away, at least you could roast him and eat him when you got hungry...
I have not checked in a while, but the last time I did, Frys actually kept the 1/2AA in stock on the shelf. So, if you need a battery in a hurry and have a local Frys, give them a try. They were $6 - $7 the last time I saw them at Frys.
Frys also had the 1/2AA batteries with actual wire leads on the ends in stock, a few years ago. Again, I don't know the current state.
Frys also had the 1/2AA batteries with actual wire leads on the ends in stock, a few years ago. Again, I don't know the current state.
Varta just does it that way. its how they roll i guess.
^ Weird. I pulled a soldered Varta battery from my old Compaq Prolinea 4/66 (Just in time too- it literally just started crystalizing and leaking onto the board, so cleanup was pretty simple). It was rated at 3.6V. I guess perhaps its for specific computers? Who knows
I went to radio shack to see if they carried the battery and they do at $20 a pop, so I passed. I happened to be at meijer's the other day and saw a battery a CR2 same size and shape as the 1/2AA only rated at 3.0v though seems to be working in my Q700, no double boots and the clock is keeping time. The batteries came in a two pack for $9 and change.
5 bucks says, if you used the VOM, it would say 3.6v
its just like when you go to buy 6v 5ah lead acid batteries for the Mac portable … They are acutely 6.8v.
That Varta replacement, is the exact same part number as the ones apple used in the Mac SE and IIgs, the ones that most of the time are still good even though all these years have passed… I have yet to have any battery last longer then a Varta.. That's why i decided to add this to the " Best Pram Battery Thread " --- Plus i have seen dead Varta Batteries. Never a leaky one.
its just like when you go to buy 6v 5ah lead acid batteries for the Mac portable … They are acutely 6.8v.
That Varta replacement, is the exact same part number as the ones apple used in the Mac SE and IIgs, the ones that most of the time are still good even though all these years have passed… I have yet to have any battery last longer then a Varta.. That's why i decided to add this to the " Best Pram Battery Thread " --- Plus i have seen dead Varta Batteries. Never a leaky one.
But anyways, I'll give them (or Saft/Tadiran) a try.
I am talking about Apple here not a compaq.
That batt there is a whole different form factor… pretty sure Amiga might have used that same form factor.
I will say spcifically for the 1/2 AA kind.
/monthly_09_2014/post-2498-0-20341900-1410147497.jpg">View attachment 4082
ones that look like this.
As far as i'm concerned Varta is going to be the best. But if we want to get super technical.
they will all leak… given enough time.
That batt there is a whole different form factor… pretty sure Amiga might have used that same form factor.
I will say spcifically for the 1/2 AA kind.
/monthly_09_2014/post-2498-0-20341900-1410147497.jpg">View attachment 4082
ones that look like this.
As far as i'm concerned Varta is going to be the best. But if we want to get super technical.
they will all leak… given enough time.
Maxel - those are always leaking
saft - made in france - i have seen many leaking
Tard - made in Israel - i have seem many leaking
Vatra - made in Germany - never a leaky one yet.. and i have seen a lot… SICK amounts of MB's. Some are still good, keeping time, even from 1985 - 1987 ish.
saft - made in france - i have seen many leaking
Tard - made in Israel - i have seem many leaking
Vatra - made in Germany - never a leaky one yet.. and i have seen a lot… SICK amounts of MB's. Some are still good, keeping time, even from 1985 - 1987 ish.
Also: Does anybody have a list of Macs that require a PRAM battery to start up correctly? (Some won't unless reseted, some won't at all, etc).
The "best" PRAM battery is one mounted outside of the case. A two AA holder mounted outside of the case and connected to the machine's PRAM battery terminals is the safest solution long term. The added bonus is the batteries are cheap to replace and can even be rechargable.
The photo of the Varta battery posted above is from my Macintosh SE. Although the battery was still working fine, I removed it, just to avoid any chance of leakage. The best solution I've found is to solder a CR2032 battery holder in it's place, allowing for easy future battery replacement, and pretty much eliminate any chance of leakage. So far (it's been about 3 or 4 months), the CR2032 3V battery has proven to work fine in my Macintosh SE. Not sure if it's a suitable replacement for later Macs that use removable 3.6V batteries, but I'd say it would be worth a try.
I raise you one leaked Varta battery!
Granted that example has barely leaked, and was in a mac that was stored in what was essentially a shed for probably more than 10 years. But there where a few more mac II's and IIx's with much worse battery damage which I suspect had Varta's
But as you said, no 20+ year old battery should be trusted - but I just couldn't help it when I saw that statement
freak things to happen all the time. There are always variables that cause varying results.
Just like I had a MaxellBomb in my SE/30 that hadn't leaked or exploded.
Yeah, and the Varta's seemed to have a less spectacular failed mode, they don't spray acid over the board like the maxell's. the IIx that battery came from was resurrected
But I do agree with you that they are some of the best battery's, one of the ones from one of the IIx's I picked up a while ago still has a near full charge. And it should also be noted that at the sale I picked them up from I saw examples of every battery apple have used leaking, so I guess it's more a that poor storage was the problem rather than the build quality of the battery.
But I do agree with you that they are some of the best battery's, one of the ones from one of the IIx's I picked up a while ago still has a near full charge. And it should also be noted that at the sale I picked them up from I saw examples of every battery apple have used leaking, so I guess it's more a that poor storage was the problem rather than the build quality of the battery.