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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_shah7mo 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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cora3757mo ago
Ah, the gift that keeps on giving, corrosive battery acid. Nothing says 'preserving memories' like literally eating your game saves.
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wademorgan7mo ago
Yep, @cora375 nailed it. Battery acid is the WORST. Just last year I opened a Pokemon Blue cart that looked fine on the outside, but inside the battery had leaked all over the board. The corrosion had eaten through two trace lines, and I had to use a magnifying glass and a steady hand to bridge them with wire. That feeling when you power it on and the save is STILL gone? Heartbreaking. I've seen Genesis carts where the acid pooled in the shell and literally melted the plastic. It's a real testament to how fragile these pieces of history are, and why proper storage MATTERS.
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eva4687mo 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.keith7mo 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_ross797mo 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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