Replacing/modding the SEGA Game Gear Recharageable Battery Pack guide

[gamegenie]

this is a really good helpful website that I came across on the net after searching for information on how to replace the NiCad battery inside my dead Game Gear battery pack that I got from an ebay auction that including another battery pack (a working PowerBack), 3 games and a Game Gear (no sound but I fixed it with a new capacitor) all for $8 bucks.

http://www.jonathanen.com/pages/Help/Replace.html


the only modification/ or update I'd make to the information given above would be where to obtain the battery. He recommends the Sanyo RC battery, but that battery is discontinued and can't be found anywhere today.

But I found this site (see below) that offers same type of battery and even provides customizable connectors for the wire from the battery during check out, which will eliminates the task at the end of the above guide of having to rewire the new battery.

http://www.onlybatterypacks.com/

I placed a order today, and can't wait till I get my new NiCad battery. If it all works well I'm going to have 6 hours of gaming instead the original factory default of 30 minutes to a hour.

[gamegenie]

It worked. I can't believe I almost tossed away this DOA Battery Pack. It just needed a simple remodding.

I replaced that base 1300mah with a 2400mah NiCad.

[Sparksterz]

Huh, neat can it even charge using the same plug or did you have to change that too?

[gamegenie]

yes. Only needed to change the old battery within the Battery Pack. The charger board inside the Battery Pack functions just the same as before, and it took about 8 hours to completely charge the battery, when indication from the orange light went out on the battery pack, it was fully charged.

I've been using it on and off yesterday and today, playing the ultra rare Mega Man game.


I'm about to rebuild the other rechargeable battery SEGA made for Game Gear next. The PowerBack, that attaches to the back the Game Gear. the battery is smaller so I won't be able to get a 2400mah in it though, I had to settle for a 1500mah NiCad to replace the default 1300mah.

I would love to try a NiMH battery for the Battery Pack, but I'm unsure how the charger would react with that type of battery. I read so many warnings that a charged timer (which I assume is type of Charger in the Battery Pack and PowerBack) would destroy a NiMH.



I also learned a lot about NiCad, regarding it's charge and discharge procedure to sustain their charge life. Stuff I wish I would had learned as a kid when I first got my Battery Pack.

[gamegenie]

also in case anyone is looking to try this on their own.

The connector the battery in the original Game Gear rechargeable "Battery Pack" used is a male BEC connector.

The connector the battery in the newer Game Gear rechargeable "PowerBack" use is a JR Spektrum DX6 & DX7 connector.

[xelement5x]

Recently bought a replacement for my powerback off ebay and it seems to work pretty decent in place of the old one.

Ordered this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/154869594327

The first battery I got was the wrong size, however I contacted the seller and they sent me a replacement quickly. I did have an issue removing the original battery from the connector on the board, so I had to pull the whole connector off. I've soldered the wires from the battery directly to the previous points where the connector was and it seems to be working well.

Interesting thing I've noticed is this has a quick and normal charge mode on it which is kind of nice. I believe this replacement is NiMh (I can't even find NiCd cells anymore), so the quick charge would be nice to see how well it holds up.

[TheGreyGhost]

Super cool, been wondering about this for a while. Have several of these battery packs sitting around doing nothing. Now Im excited to give this a try