-=> Jasen Betts said to Greg Mayman
 -=> about "SILICON CHIP ON LINE" on 05-20-04  08:13.....

 JB> if you used 3 D size cells soldered together it'd almost certainly
 JB> outlast the rest of the computer.

I didn't write the date on the pack when I fitted it, but it must
be coming up to a couple of years. I'll check the battery voltage
when I get time. I'm pretty sure it will still be way up near the
same as new cells...

 JB> if it comes in at less than their voltasge (4.5) volts it won't effect
 JB> them. 

True. "If..."

But that charging voltage comes off the 5v rail, and the forward
drop of the isolating diode decreases as the current goes down,
so almost certainly some charging current will flow.

Usually the charging circuit is through a link plug on the board,
so it's a fairly simple matter to trace the circuit back and
remove that link.

If you can't trace it out, connect a voltmeter instead of the
external battery and power up the computer. If you see some
reading on the meter, remove the link plugs in the general area
one at a time until the voltage disappears.

   ,-./\
  /     \ From Greg Mayman, in beautiful Adelaide, South Australia
  \_,-*_/    "Queen City of The South"    34:55 S  138:36 E
       v

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