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Why does nobody talk about the battery corrosion in retro game hauls?
Scored a box of Genesis games from a yard sale. Opened them up and the save batteries are all swollen and leaking. Where do you even dispose of these things responsibly?
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sam_shah3h ago
Genesis save batteries from the 90s are like little green barrels of toxic nostalgia. They always leak and ruin the board if you don't catch them in time. Try asking at a hardware store for battery disposal, but prepare for some confused stares.
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eva4681h ago
Oh man, totally feel this. Found a SNES cart with the same issue last month, battery had eaten through half the traces. Like @sarah_fox33 said, it's not always toast, but mine was gone.
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davis.keith2h ago
Finding leaked batteries in a yard sale score is so disappointing. Those old Genesis carts are notorious for it. Disposal is always a hassle.
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xena_ross791h ago
Try using a cotton swab dipped in white vinegar to clean the corrosion off the board contacts. Sam_shah isn't wrong about hardware store confusion, but why not ask at an electronics recycling center instead? They're usually more equipped for battery disposal. Can a board be saved after a leak? It depends on how long the acid has been eating away at the traces. What's the worst cart you've ever lost to battery damage?
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