Hacking Replacing button cell in Ezflash reform (ezflash iv)

[Ashes]

I decided to replace the button cell in my ezreform, because i see "battery is dry" message once and the device has started doing weird things like blackouts after Gameboy logo. I removed the button cell that comes with the device, and i have put one new CR 1220 3V.

The first time that i make it work appears "battery is dry" message in the begining. I read in a page that you have to "charge" the button cell: Plug the device into the wall jack, with the console on, and leave it two-three hours.

¿Any advice? I know that maybe the device have problems or has started malfunctioning, but i have the thought that with a button cell full of power the issues will stop. Because in the startup ezflash always checks the save files.

 

[FAST6191]

The CR family of cells will be one time use that can not be usefully recharged. Some of the older EZ4s and older EZFlash line used rechargable cells of the VL family which would have benefited from being topped up by sitting in a powered GBA slot or their cradles/linkers if they had them. To that end you would get no benefit in this case by "charging" it.

You would have got the message at first after the replacement as the power would have been lost when you were soldering it (I assume you did not take it off and put it back on within 20 or so seconds).

"and the device has started doing weird things like blackouts after Gameboy logo"
That is usually more a fault of the pins going into the GBA or the pins of the SD card slot. Clean those. Maybe also stick a bit of paper between the shell and the PCB to force better contact.

 

[Ashes]

The CR family of cells will be one time use that can not be usefully recharged. Some of the older EZ4s and older EZFlash line used rechargable cells of the VL family which would have benefited from being topped up by sitting in a powered GBA slot or their cradles/linkers if they had them. To that end you would get no benefit in this case by "charging" it.

You would have got the message at first after the replacement as the power would have been lost when you were soldering it (I assume you did not take it off and put it back on within 20 or so seconds).

OK. But with ezreform you don´t have to "unsolder" anything, is replaceable. Supposedly is take out old one and insert new one.

 

[Ashes]

I put a new button cell in the device. Now always starts without problems, but when i softreset supposedly saves, and then when i restart the console saves again. In the past when you do the softreset saves, and then when you restart the console no. That corrupts the save file and erase my games. I have a keyset.cfg file for softreset, maybe i will have to remove it from the micro sd.

What a crappy device friends!

 

[Ashes]

I take pictures. I can´t save and always says that the battery is dry when the button cell is new. Despite this with the battery change now always starts without problems or blackouts screens.

In the DSC_1725 picture, i make a red circle, what is that square for? it has to make contact with the lithium cell? Because as you can see in picture DSC_1727 the serial stack makes contact but new one no (DSC 1728). New batteries base diameter i think is shorter than old one (DSC_1733). In DSC_1730 picture you can see new one (left) and old one together. Now with old battery, it still has some energy, you can´t also save either and the same messages appears:

Always starts with GB logo, item describe screen for chinese or english, and Warning screen "battery is dry or first in". You can play normally but you can´t save. I put in micro sd Keyset.cfg modified file for softreset and works fine.

 

[Ashes]

I have to say that i was right in my suppositions.

You have a Ezreform and you want to change lithium cell? Ok but be wise about new cell dimensions. You can´t buy anyone from CR1220 model (cells with a size diameter of 20mm). It has to have the same diameter in the base of the serial one (see DSC_1733 photo). In my case i put a tiny rope between the cell and metal fastening, so that it protudes more, and so can touch whole chipset surface that has to touch. The device stands out a little more than normal, but is necessary with that specific cell to run without problems.

I recommend buying a stack of the same base diameter that the one in the device.


I can say about this brands:

Maxell CR1220. Don´t buy it for ezreform. The diameter of the base is shorter than necessary. In my case i had put a little plastic rope between metal fastening and the cell in the device to work without issues.

Panasonic CR1220. The diameter of the base is bigger than the Maxell CR1220, but shorter than the serial cell. The problems persist.



I will buy the same serial cell/stack or a similar one to continue making tests to this crappy device. Now i understand why in the past the cell was soldered in ezflash iv models. The stack has a "+" symbol and has to be inserted in the same position. The cell has to be in the right place to make contact with the right connectors and don´t move. If the cell moves, it resets and for example the game installed in the NOR disappears. The two connectors in the red circles (see the photo) are very important to not have problems. My knowledge of electronics is null but i can assure that at least one of those connectors is making all the mess (right one). Maybe left one is only soldering tin. Nobody of the community enters here to give an opinion.

If the cell isn´t in the right place, gameboy logo will come out but after this you will have black or white screens, or battery is dry messages. If you softreset of reset after having battery is dry message and appears save message, you can save in that game. But if problem persist with a language message (choose chinese or english), better not to play and save because will corrupt your game save losing everything played.

Be careful, the right message is always a save message after gameboy logo. And the right cell for the device is the same serial stack model. Good job Ez flash team.

 

[tomaitoma]

I have to say that i was right in my suppositions.

You have a Ezreform and you want to change lithium cell? Ok but be wise about new cell dimensions. You can´t buy anyone from CR1220 model (cells with a size diameter of 20mm). It has to have the same diameter in the base of the serial one (see DSC_1733 photo). In my case i put a tiny rope between the cell and metal fastening, so that it protudes more, and so can touch whole chipset surface that has to touch. The device stands out a little more than normal, but is necessary with that specific cell to run without problems.

I recommend buying a stack of the same base diameter that the one in the device.


I can say about this brands:

Maxell CR1220. Don´t buy it for ezreform. The diameter of the base is shorter than necessary. In my case i had put a little plastic rope between metal fastening and the cell in the device to work without issues.

Panasonic CR1220. The diameter of the base is bigger than the Maxell CR1220, but shorter than the serial cell. The problems persist.



I will buy the same serial cell/stack or a similar one to continue making tests to this crappy device. Now i understand why in the past the cell was soldered in ezflash iv models. The stack has a "+" symbol and has to be inserted in the same position. The cell has to be in the right place to make contact with the right connectors and don´t move. If the cell moves, it resets and for example the game installed in the NOR disappears. The two connectors in the red circles (see the photo) are very important to not have problems. My knowledge of electronics is null but i can assure that at least one of those connectors is making all the mess (right one). Maybe left one is only soldering tin. Nobody of the community enters here to give an opinion.

If the cell isn´t in the right place, gameboy logo will come out but after this you will have black or white screens, or battery is dry messages. If you softreset of reset after having battery is dry message and appears save message, you can save in that game. But if problem persist with a language message (choose chinese or english), better not to play and save because will corrupt your game save losing everything played.

Be careful, the right message is always a save message after gameboy logo. And the right cell for the device is the same serial stack model. Good job Ez flash team.

It's about the red letters in your opinion.
Should the metal part on the right be connected to "-"? (also the left metal part)
In my case, the diameter of the battery is strange, and it seems that it is connected to "+" and blacked out.