>"Rick Kelly" <rmk@toad.rmkhome.com> said:
>
> Christian Smith said:
>
> >Not sure if this problem affected the Classic, but the IPX and other old
> >sun4c had poor NVRAM backup batteries, which should be about ready to
give
> >up the ghost anytime now, though I've not seen the problem first hand.
The
> >hardware FAQs will give details of how to remedy the problem.
>
> Sun NVRAM will eventually die. It affects them all about the same.
Consider
> that the IPX is from the 1992 or 1993 period. That is 10 years ago. Long
> periods of storage seem to shorten battery life. I've had SS10 and SS20
> NVRAM die as well. Considering the chip is <$20 and takes 2 minutes to
> replace, it's not a big deal.

Actually, I suspect the alleged accelerated discharge is due to storage
in places that aren't "room temperature" (attics, garages, etc.).

Since the replacement chip will also eventually fail (20 year old SPARCs??
:>),
I figured it was easier to just remove the dependancy on the "Top Hat"
battery (it contains a battery and a crystal).  I soldered a small connector
onto the top of the BBSRAM module and use it to connect an external
battery pack to the device (which I fasten to the inside wall of the case
using a velcro patch).  This puts an end to the "dead BBSRAM module"
problem -- for me, that is!  :>

--don