originally posted on old NLG site...
Model 40x reel slots will not boot with a dead battery.
the FAIL LED on the I/O board will come on, preventing
the game from starting.
There is a better way to replace the batteries on a Wms 40x.
The whole point of this AA remote pack is to not use lithiums.
Lithiums are expensive and not readily available from my
local drug store.
What i do is use a 4 bang AA battery pack. In the first "cell" of the
4 banger, i put a 1n4004 diode (band towards the red wire).
This prevents any "back flow" of battery charging (the circuit
can not charge your new AA batteries with the 1n4004 diode
installed). It's not required on a Williams, but it's a damn good idea.
next i put in THREE "aa" batteries. Not 2, but 3. That's about
4.6 volts (there is a voltage drop with the 1n4004 diode), which
is below 5 volts, and the RAM likes that.
The advantage to 3 AA batteries is obviously longer battery
life. Two AA's will die rather quickly. Those stupid lithium
3.6v solder-in batteries are expensive too.
Next I hang the battery pack on the board in the corner
where there's nothing else mounted. The battery holders
i get already have double sided foam tape on them, so it's
just "peel and stick".
screw buying those expensive 3.6 volt lithium batteries!
I get my 4 bang AA battery holder for 60 cents, and
three AA batteries for less than $1.
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