Your old computer might be rotting away!
If you have an old computer sitting away in your attic, or your basement, it could be rotting away right now due to the PRAM battery leaking, or even exploding all over the board!
Starting in the late 1980s, Apple starting using half-AA lithium batteries to backup the system settings of all their Macintosh and Apple IIGS computers. These batteries were used up until the mid 2000s when they were replaced with coin cells.
When these batteries leak, they cause MAJOR damage to the motherboard of the computer! Most leak slowly, but the red Maxell Super Lithium batteries are known to EXPLODE and spray their guts all over the board, leaving carnage behind.
You should remove any battery found in a vintage Mac, regardless of brand. The information below on which batteries leak more than others is just for interest's sake. All batteries can and will leak.
see examples below.
Know Your Varients!
Several different brands of these batteries were found in old Mac computers. Some leak more than others, but all old batteries should be removed, regardless of brand.
Tadiran
Rarity: Common
Spiciness Rating: 3/5
Longevity Rating: 3/5
Still in production?: Yes
Tadiran batteries are found in Macs beginning at the time when Apple switched to using battery holders instead of direct soldering, up until the 1/2AA batteries were phased out. They don't leak very often, but they have in many cases leaked just as bad as other brands. However, this is likely skewed by how common they are. A lot of people have also run into ones that still hold charge as well, though will far more dead ones to match, as is expected for decades old batteries. Still, have to give them credit for holding charge for that long.
Top image by 3lectr1c
Bottom image courtesy of @volvo242gt on the 68kMLA forums
Maxell
Rarity: Common
Spiciness Rating: 5/5
Longevity Rating: 1/5
Still in production?: No
Maxell batteries are also quite common, starting in Macs at the same time as the Tadiran batteries, through the late 1990s. They appear to be the first to have begun to leak, beginning in the mid 2000s. Now, you'll more often see an exploded one then an intact one. They've definitely got the worst reputation out of all the brands, but others have begun to leak just as bad recently as they all age. I've seen a total example of one of these batteries that still held charge, giving it a quite poor longevity rating as compared to the Tadiran batteries.
Images courtesy of @chue, @Johnnya101 and @macuserman on the 68kMLA forums.
Saft
Rarity: Common
Spiciness Rating: 4/5
Longevity Rating: 1/5
Still in production?: Yes
Saft batteries became common in the mid-late 1990s, and are rarely found in earlier machines, but are quite common in your early G3 era systems. They have begun to gain a pretty poor reputation in recent years, as people have begun to find G3 era systems with those batteries - exploded, just like the Maxells. I've gone from seeing no posts online about leaky Saft batteries to seemingly a new one every month now, so it's safe to say that these are becoming the new Maxells as they pass the two-decade mark. They are a popular choice for replacements, as Saft still produces them. Buying a new one shouldn't be an issue (unless you leave it installed for 20 years), although I'd still prefer a Tadiran battery because they seem to hold up better.
Image by 3lectr1c
VARTA
Rarity: Common
Spiciness Rating: 1/5
Longevity Rating: 3/5
Still in production?: Yes
Contrary to their NiCad and NiMH clock batteries, their Lithium batteries have held up very well with a good reputation for nearly never leaking. These batteries are found (from the factory) exclusively on early Mac II and SE systems without battery holders (soldered), and were the main choice for such systems. In addition, like the Tadiran batteries, many have found these VARTA batteries still working today, which is always surprising. Of course, the majority are dead. I have heard one account of these leaking, so like any 30 year old battery, you can't trust them. Still, good job Varta! You can still purchase 1/2AA Varta batteries today, though they are slightly different to the originals, with an unrecognizable casing, but otherwise just about the same.
Image courtesy of @lesca on the 68kMLA forums
Sonnenschein
Rarity: Rare
Spiciness Rating: 2/5? Not enough data.
Longevity Rating: NO DATA
Still in production?: Maybe? (See below)
Sonnenschein batteries were found in various mac models in the early 1990s, but they were never very common. I haven't heard many accounts of them leaking, but at least one has reported that one went nuclear just like the Maxells do, so it can definitely happen. I have no data on their longevity. Sonnenchein does not have a good internet presence, but I was able to find eBay listings for new 1/2AA batteries from them, so they may still be in production. The photos in the listing I found show a 2018 manufacture date, but it's likely that the bulk listing in question has been up for a few years anyway.
Image courtesy of @volvo242gt on the 68kMLA forums.
The Unknown Black Battery
Rarity: Extremely Rare
Spiciness Rating: NO DATA
Longevity Rating: NO DATA
Still in production?: Unknown
Well, I only confirmed the existence of these batteries a few days ago. I'd heard accounts of a brandless black battery before, but assumed they simply missed the brand on a VARTA battery somehow. Nope, they exist. All I can confirm is that they were used in the SE/30 at least, and during 1989, at least. I've never heard of one leak, but I've seen two total mentions of it on the internet ever, so I really have no data whatsoever on them.
Images courtesy of @lma114 on the 68kMLA forums.
Page last updated (MM/DD/YYYY): 05/20/2024
Update Reason: links updated
Back-Navigation
Home < Repair Portal < Knowledge Base < Battery Leaks