GUIDE: Change your EZFlash 3-in-1 Battery (w/ PICS) - GBAtemp.

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GUIDE: Change your EZFlash 3-in-1 Battery (w/ PICS), If your saves don't
Options
work, your battery might be dead.
Feb 1 2009, 12:08 AM Post #1
haircut
I purchased my EZFlash V 3-in-1 expansion just over a year ago. All of a sudden, my GBA games stopped
saving. They played fine, but refused to save. I searched all over and finally concluded that my battery
Newbie
must be dead. The battery is necessary to hold a game's SRAM save.

Group: Newcomers When your battery dies, you can buy a new 3-in-1, or if you're not scared of electronics, you can change
Posts: 3
it.
Joined: 29-January 09
Member No.: 155,718
If your games aren't saving and you've exhausted your options (using GBAExploader, flashing
the game to NOR, etc), you probably have a dead battery. Changing it will fix your woes.

Some people have mentioned soldering a new battery onto the PCB, but that's not necessary. You can
change your battery with just a few household items and NO SOLDERING.

Please note: This guide assumes you've opened up some electronic devices in the past and understand
the risks of doing so. If you slip up or push something too hard or rip a component off, your 3-in-1 will be
dead. I am not responsible for any damage you cause to your own belongings. I'm simply
showing you what I did to change my battery. If you want to try it, I'm not responsible for the
outcome.

You will need:

1. New Battery - CR1220, available from Radio Shack for just under $6
2. Electrical Tape
3. Scissors
4. Razor Blade, preferably with a handle to grip easily
5. Very small Philips screwdriver
6. Patience, and possibly an adult beverage

First, flip over your 3-in-1 and locate the small screw in the top left corner. You'll need to unscrew it with
a small Philips screwdriver.

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Once the screw is out, CAREFULLY pry the front and back of the 3-in-1 apart. Several components are
attached to the casing by sticky stuff, so go slow. You'll see this when you've got it open:

Pink circle: This is the battery.

Green circle: This is the sticky stuff that holds the cart together.

Use your razor to scrape the sticky stuff off the casing as it will probably be in your way later. Set the top
case out of the way and take a gander at the PCB. You'll notice the battery is attached to the board via
two metal tabs.

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Normally you would remove these and solder on a new battery. BUT, RadioShack doesn't typically carry
CR1220 batteries with tabs, only those without tabs. AND we don't want to solder. So we'll try something
else.

In the previous picture, you'll notice there's a little space between the battery and the connection tab.
Awesome. CAREFULLY stick your razor blade into that gap.

You're going to pry the tab off the top of the battery. Take a deep breath and work the blade across the
battery, underneath the tab. The tab is connected at two small points and with a little twisting of the
razor, you should be able to get them to pop off. When you succeed, you'll see this:

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Notice that I sort of mangled the top tab. Try to avoid that to ensure a snugger fit when you're finished.

Now you need to disconnect the bottom tab in much the same way as you did the top. This time it's
harder though because you're working UNDER the battery. Go slow. Small twist of the blade. Pop. Pop.
You'll have a better feel for the amount of pressure needed after having removed the top tab.

Battery out and tabs empty:

Grab your new battery and double-check that it matches what you pulled out. Your new battery probably
won't have a rubber coating like your old one, but that's okay. Again, you need a CR1220 3v.

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To attach the new battery, we need electrical tape. Cut a 1.5-2 inch strip. Now turn it lengthwise and cut
strips down the length of the tape, a few millimeters wide each. Imagine running the tape through a
paper shredder - that's what you're going for. Lay one strip sticky-side-up UNDERNEATH the bottom
battery tab.

Now lay your new battery BETWEEN the tabs with the positive + side up. Try to make the tabs very flat
against the battery so you have a good connection. Fold the tape strip around the battery and make a
good seal. Now, take several more strips of tape and repeat the process from another angle or two until
you're satisfied that the tabs are well connected to the battery. There's no good way to illustrate the
process, so here's the end result:

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Make sure everything is lined up and then put the casing back together. Replace the screw. Hopefully if
you were careful to not bend the tabs and pressed your tape flat, everything will fit, or bulge only slightly.

All done. Your GBA games should now save just fine. Much cheaper than ordering a new 3-in-1 +
shipping + waiting on delivery.

Post #
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Feb 2 2009, 10:21 AM Post #2

triassic911
Great guide!

They call me Hadouken

because I'm down-right
awesome

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Feb 3 2009, 03:22 AM Post #3

ssjkakaroto
Thanks for the guide haircut!

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Feb 3 2009, 07:01 PM Post #4

Arctic
Great guide! Thank you!

Before known as playallday

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Feb 3 2009, 08:30 PM Post #5

mysticwaterfall
This a great guide, awesome for a first post. Bookmark for later when my battery eventually dies.

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Feb 3 2009, 09:44 PM Post #6

aphirst
Wow. O_O

GBAtemp Regular
On the EZ Forums the best we would work out was to de-solder the blighter! Excellent skills!

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Feb 19 2009, 01:01 AM Post #7

Tozarian
Dude, for a guy with only 3 posts, this is awesome! Thanks alot.

GBAtemp Regular

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Feb 24 2009, 05:57 AM Post #8

Chris_Skylock
I hope my friend, Michelle will read this guide and fix her ez flash. nice guide. very....well...simple.

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Feb 24 2009, 12:28 PM Post #9

Smartpal
This might come in handy when I get my 3-in-1.

Giggdy!

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Feb 24 2009, 06:31 PM Post #10

Agu Fungus
Will this work with M3 lite? It also uses a small battery.

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Feb 25 2009, 09:43 PM Post #11

Jdbye

QUOTE(Agu Fungus @ Feb 24 2009, 06:31 PM)

Always Remember 30/07/08
Will this work with M3 lite? It also uses a small battery.

Group: Suspended It might. If you open it up and it has similar metal tabs you should be able to use the same method.
Posts: 1,071
The battery might be different though.
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From: Norway
Member No.: 39,407

Feb 26 2009, 01:52 AM Post #12

how_do_i_do_that
same battery, just a different manufacturer.

Blue Wizard is about to die.

Nevermind, just killed him.

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Feb 27 2009, 02:26 AM Post #13

triften
This is an excellent consumer service. I'm not having trouble with my 3-in-1 Plus right now, but I had
battery trouble in the past. AND MANY OTHERS have had battery problems, too.
Advanced Member

This guide was long overdue, and I'm ecstatic that someone has found a way to replace the battery
Group: Newcomers without soldering. THANKS A LOT!!
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Joined: 12-May 08
Member No.: 124,987

Feb 28 2009, 11:19 AM Post #14

UltraMagnus
nice guide, and not a terrible bodge like most "solderless" guides are either.

hic sunt dracones

this should be moved to the ez flash sub-forum and stickied

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Mar 22 2009, 12:51 AM Post #15

Shin-Ra
My EZ doesn't save anymore.
However I tested the battery with a voltimeter and i get 3.1V
Member
Tried everything, but the EZ doesn't save anymore.

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Group: Newcomers Should i change the battery?

Posts: 11
I don't want to waste time and money on it if the problem isnt the battery.
Joined: 10-March 09
Member No.: 161,191

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