Hacking EZ-Flash III battery

[Vacarack]

I have an EZ-Flash III 1Gb, and the battery died some time ago. I tried to replace it with a standard button battery but failed. In the process I lost the original battery. Can anyone tell me what the correct battery is for this flash cart?

 

[FAST6191]

Panasonic VL2020 is the one used by the EZ2, EZ3 and earlier EZ4 GBA size. You can still find them for not a lot today but you may have to search a bit as they also fix certain BMW key fobs and some sellers jacked the price up accordingly.

 

[Vacarack]

Sweet. Thanks!

 

[Vacarack]

I guess now, I just need to find one with the correct +/- leads.

 

[FAST6191]

Good luck finding one of those. I think the EZteam just bent a lead of one of the standard arrangements back rather than having fun with a tab welder. You can always throw a small wire on there as well, might not look pretty but will get the job done.

 

[Jayro]

I'd just solder in a new battery socket that's removable.

 

[FAST6191]

Space is at a bit of a premium in this instance. I guess you could drop down a size or two and use one of those instead, if you do then do make sure to use the same chemistry battery or one that is compatible, Panasonic have a spec sheet for the battery out there something. The EZ3 will not have proper charge regulation as much as a diode and a resistor or two but if it is one that needs fancy constant current phases, temp sensing and whatever then be aware.

 

[Vacarack]

I think this one will work (with minimal pin bending):

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LY3L69F/

 

[Vacarack]

Well, I got the above battery, soldered it in place, and left the cart in the EZWriter II all night long (green light on). No joy. Not charging. I don't need EZ Manger running, do I?

 

[FAST6191]

No, any powered USB port should have done it.

Do you have a multimeter to test the voltage? Most cells will come charged but you never know.

After this we get to start looking at broken components or connections somewhere on the EZ3.

 

[Vacarack]

Voltage out of the package was 2.96v. I figured it needs charging.

 

[slaphappygamer]

Hey there, did you ever get your new battery going? I'm looking to replace my battery for my ezflashiii also. I was going to get the same battery.

 

[koffieleut]

Can you use this battery's with gen 2 Pokémon games? Because the battery's I've ordered are dead within 7 months.

 

[how_do_i_do_that]

Can you use this battery's with gen 2 Pokémon games? Because the battery's I've ordered are dead within 7 months.

Gen 2 pokemon battery tends to have tabs that are 180 degrees apart. like the image below.

Spoiler

If your applying heat from a soldering iron to a battery with no tabs, your destroying the battery by applying excessive heat which shortens the battery life by alot. You can find battery with tabs on amazon if you don't like buying through a not well know site to you.

The battery visually shown above is from amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/10-Pack-CR2025-Batteries-Soldering-Tabs/dp/B00GQCZF88/

---

Just noticed your flag is listing Netherlands. Your going to need to find a vendor that sells something similar. Ebay tends to list these.

 

[koffieleut]

Like I said, I bought some 2025 from ebay last year, but my gen 2 carts are allready dead.
Maybe soldering a tab on top of the existing tab (pointing the opposite direction) could do it?

 

[how_do_i_do_that]

Like I said, I bought some 2025 from ebay last year, but my gen 2 carts are allready dead.
Maybe soldering a tab on top of the existing tab (pointing the opposite direction) could do it?

It might have been old stock, where the battery life would be shorter than the 3-5 years of a new battery. You don't need to extend the tabs if you can already reach the PCB contact tabs.

 

[Heinrisch]

I changed the battery in mine today and it seems to be working nicely!

I went on ebay and bought the cheapest Panasonic VL2020 battery I could find. If you are interested I bought this one: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Panasonic-ml2020-vl2020-BMW-3-5-7-x5-z4-e83-fernsteuerung-stick-Batterie/163567530738.

I took one of the leads from the dry battery and soldered it to the leads of this battery to get the pin correctly (don't know if this is recommended ).

Regarding this battery: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LY3L69F/
@Vacarack, I think it needs to be inserted "up-side-down", that is text downwards, to get the leads correct (+ to + and - to -).

 

[Jayro]

I would have soldered in a coincell holder, so you don't have to solder in a new battery every time

 

[Heinrisch]

I would have soldered in a coincell holder, so you don't have to solder in a new battery every time

If you can find a holder that fits, please share!

 

[slaphappygamer]

Oh! Maybe my battery is upside down!?! I have that battery in your amazon link. I never even thought about that. I mean, when is polarity labeled wrong??