this post was submitted on 18 Dec 2025
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That sounds sketch asf. Just dump the save file with a flasher. That RAM chip is writeable from the cart pins or it wouldn't work as save data. Cheap flashers come in at ~$25. Dump, solder, reupload.
Why? The battery is just a current, and while the gameboy is on, it’s supplying the current instead.
What you’re suggesting is far more work and steps, and any transfer can corrupt.
There’s no way this can go wrong unless you turn the power off or disconnect the cartridges pins from the mount. Which can happen while using the transfers as well….
You don’t even need a computer, just the cart and a gameboy, and a screwdriver. It’s funny what people think is easier while including a dozen unnecessary extra steps that introduce issues at each step. And costs money.
IIRC from various board schematics at a previous job, typically you have the battery connected into the relevant voltage supply with a diode. So when that Vcc line for your memory module or real time clock is powered externally, the battery just sits idle since there's no voltage drop across the diode to get current flowing from the battery.
It works well because it's analog and fast and solid state. And yeah as long as you don't bump other parts or break something, if you swapped the battery on a powered system it should be fine.
How exactly are you going to get at the battery while the cartridge is inside the Game Boy, with the PCB facing inwards?
If you claim this is doable, let alone easy, I'd like to see a video of it.
As I said customized, you take your gameboy apart if needed, but usually that’s not even needed.
Edit
Don't worry buddy. A coworker flipped out on me once for replacing a cmos battery while a machine was on. 🤷
There's a bit of difference doing it on a gameboy, and doing it in a running PC with spinning fans and such.
If you know how to replace a CMOS battery, you know how to disable a fan. And even if you don't, it's not gonna bite your finger off 😂
Fair point. I was more concerned about dropping it in, and then catapulting a small metal disc into some very expensive electronics.
Lots of electronics instructions tell you to leave it on, so you don’t lose your data when removing the CMOS, no one reads documentation or want to educate themselves on how batteries and circuits work.
Yeah that's nice and all, and I get it, but the original person is referring to it being a HELL of a lot easier to just plug the cartridge into a USB adapter and dump the file to a PC. You know, instead of modifying their Gameboy or cartridges like that. But sure, if that's "easier" for you, cool. Most people don't want to go that far and aren't comfortable and "plug and play' is in fact easier.
You don’t have to modify anything… it just makes it easier. I even clarified that in the comment you responded too….
What’s more plug and play then replacing a battery? Adding extra steps and dumps is what makes it more work and isn’t anymore “plug and play”
It’s not easier to add more steps, and the battery is replaced the same way in both methods?
Why do you think doing less steps is MORE work?
You're removing a panel from the cartridge. That's literally more complicated than plug and play. You also need to make sure not to be a dumbass and connect and pins while removing the battery so you don't short anything. Fairly easy? Yes. Easier than PLUGGING IT IN LOKE NORMAL? No.
Oh yes batteries are very scary and shouldn’t be touched. Sounds like you just don’t understand how batteries work and are afraid of doing something simple. So you’ve made it more complicated and costly, to avoid… idk even know what. Replacing a battery isn’t sketchy, it’s friggen hilarious you claim it is. This applies to ANYTHING with a battery fyi.
It's not about the battery. You have to change it regardless of method used. But it's easier to just dump the memory and reload it. Then you even have a backup. You're just being pretentious honestly. I mean, it's not even about those games, it's about 3DS carts and you're over here jerking yourself off that you can change GBC carts.
How is adding steps and error potential easier?
In what world is more steps and more potential issues the easier method?
People have been doing this way since the 80s, without flag carts. What do you think people did before….
That's what I'm wondering as you're over here performing surgery and the rest of us are just plugging it into an adapter. But you clearly don't get that.
So Mr. Smartass, since this whole thing is about 3DS cartridges, let's see your magical way to hot swap those batteries. Let's see your SO EASY way. Constantly jerking yourself off claiming your some expert and you're not even talking about the carts that matter here. So let's hear it. Otherwise you were just being a pretentious ass showing off shit that's not even relevant here.
Touch some grass loser.
I fucking hate lemmy users sometimes dude...
Nobody is saying the battery itself is the dangerous part, though you beat up that strawman!
I asked the person, and they couldn’t articulate what the issue was. They seem to think removing a live battery is dangerous, they never stated otherwise.
Some people think you can’t replace a battery while the equipment is on, you can replace your car battery while it’s running. There’s literally no danger involved ever.
People who fix machines for a living make sure they neutralize energy sources wherever possible just because. There's no actual reason for turning off equipment before you work on it. You'll never drop a wrench or touch something hot. Just yolo that shit, what could go wrong?
You understand there are circumstances where you need to work live?
Yes LOTO/try is needed when working on actual dangerous stuff, batteries, which aren’t having a current run through since the equipment isn’t on. Isn’t dangerous. Have you ever seen a forklift charging station, my god, you disconnect those live from the chargers, such an issue….
Leash.
Put a blanket down.
If you are taking something “apart” to fix it, I would assume the person has some knowledge and a modicum of critical thought and will figure out ways to deal with mundane issues.
Nah you literally don't understand why the rules are the rules and you're a dangerous and shitty mechanic.
You’ve never worked in some place in -50 eh? Shut the vehicle off to work on it, and it ain’t starting again. And guess what, they don’t shut off while refueling either.
Spicy and risky, yet commonly done when needed, and perfectly safe with a few precautions as I pointed out.
Tradesman know there’s situations where the rules are changed, if you think they are white and black, you’re not a mechanic and are just lying.
You know there’s suits that have to energize live lines right? Obviously it isn’t done when not needed, but it’s done often enough, there’s rules and ways to do it safe. Shocking eh?
I know LOADS of tradies and I don't know a single one who would swap out a car battery live.
Nope, you're a dangerous person.
There’s being cautious, then there’s wrapping yourself in bubble wrap. You are implying and saying here that you should unplug a battery charger before removing the dewalt battery.
Those cautions are for the laymen’s that don’t know better, or would spill alcohol in the room and then remove the battery. Yes there is SPECIFIC cases where it’s dangerous, not all cases. You’re using them backwards. Which also, unplugging the charger would be the spark that caused the ignition ironically in that situation…
nice job handling being wrong
They aren't.
How’s it sketchy? It’s no different than doing it dead, and it removes plenty of other steps.
Flashers cost money, corrupt, lots of people want to stay true and that creates an avenue for cheating and other stuff that isn’t true to original.
You…. Uhh… don’t need to solder it back on. Conductive tape, this also makes it simpler for next time, since it’ll happen again.
And a piece of cardboard levels out the work area. These are all non-issues you are making into mole hills and then mountains.
You’re the one talking like your way is the only right way.
Someone was providing some knowledge about how to save their saves.