From Trash to Awesome | Evercade EXP Not Working On Battery?
43About a year ago, I was trying to develop a cleaner for the Evercade series of systems. I had a HyperMegaTech Super Pocket, which is a fantastic device, and I also had an Evercade VS home console. I know that there are very slight differences between the cartridge slots on each, and I wanted to make sure what I was designing would fit all of these systems. I didn't want to pay full price, so I went onto eBay to see what I could find, and there it was. An Evercade EXP for only $60, but the listing stated that it wouldn't work off the battery. I figured it would be worth it for what I needed from a design standpoint, and placed my order.
When I got it I confirmed that, while it worked perfectly while connected to a power supply, it did not work off the battery for more than a few seconds. This told me there was a power issue with the battery, either a charging issue or a default issue. I started searching for a replacement battery but no one, not even Blaze Entertainment, the manufacturer and distributor of the Evercade, sold replacement batteries. I wasn't going to give up and reached out to some people I know who have connections with Blaze, and one very tall friend was able to procure a replacement battery for me.
I did some research before the battery arrived, and it appeared that this was somewhat of a common issue with launch EXPs. It seems that the charging circuitry on the battery had issues with certain batches from the box, which left me very optimistic that I could indeed repair this system.
To get into the EXP I only needed 5 tools. A #00 Phillips screwdriver, tweezers, a dental pick, pliers, and a spudger. Unlike Nintendo and Sega who use security bits or tri-wing screws, the EXP uses average ordinary Phillips screws. Awesome! There are 6 plugs on the back of the system that need to be removed to access the main screws. I used the dental pick to remove the plugs, and then removed each of the 6 screws. To separate the halves of the system I inserted my spudger at one corner and worked it around the system until I had 2 halves. Here we go!
Inside the system, I disconnected the ribbon cable that connected the main board to the face housing the display, D-Pad, and all the buttons. Since I didn't need this for now I set it aside. Next, I had to remove the 10 screws holding the 3 main boards down to the back of the chassis. I was hoping initially I could just remove the screws holding the PCB over the battery, but the battery connector itself was under the center PCB. I couldn't remove the center PCB without removing the other side under the D-Pad membranes, so guess what? I got to remove all 3 boards, YEAH!
The 2 side PCBs were easy to remove, but the center one is somewhat clipped into place. You also have the headphone and USB-C ports that key into the bottom as well. I used my spudger to unclip the center PCB and we were in business. The battery connector was easily identifiable; you'll likely need a pliers to remove the battery connector, it is WAY tight! Once I unplugged the battery, it was time to remove the battery from the back of the shell. Evercade uses very thin double-sided tape to adhere it to the chassis so it doesn't flop around, and I was able to pry it free with my spudger.
From here it was time to start the reassembly process. I put a small square of double-sided tape on the new battery and plugged it into the system. My tape was a bit thicker than what was on the original, but the PCB sat on it just fine. Make sure as you reassemble the system you unscrew the screws before reinstalling them. This ensures you're using the existing threads and not cutting new ones. Also, reinstall any buttons that may fall out during the process. I had an issue with the Tate Button not working properly, and it took me a few times to realize the rubber membrane was twisted 90 degrees, causing it to get caught on the button it was supposed to press.
With everything back together I plugged the EXP into a USB-C charger and the button LED popped right up. I let it charge for about 30 minutes before testing it, and it powered right up and connected to the charger. It also indicated it was charging in the top-left corner. So far, so good! Then I disconnected it from the power supply and....
IT WORKED! In the end, all the issues I was having with this system was directly related to the battery and charging mechanism. I would love it if Blaze made these batteries available to the general public, eventually these batteries will wear out and need replacement. But for now I am thrilled that my $60 investment is now working good as new!
#Evercade #Repair #EvercadeEXP #BlazeEntertainment #
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