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tell me about new Tadiran PRAM
Posted by: mraroid on 2015-07-05 10:17:51
Hi...

I saw a color classic on ebay.  The seller said it had "Brand New Genuine Tadiran PRAM- recent manufacture date".

I think my CC will work fine with what it has.  What is the advantage of upgrading to newer Tadiran PRAM?

jack

Posted by: TheWhiteFalcon on 2015-07-05 10:24:36
Nothing, it's just a new battery which means it won't be leaking. That does not mean prior batteries haven't leaked.

Posted by: EvilCapitalist on 2015-07-05 11:49:58
There's a thread on here about how Maxell batteries have a nasty tendency to explode when they fail, Tadiran batteries seemed to be better at just running out as opposed to violently exploding and taking the whole motherboard with them.

Posted by: Schmoburger on 2015-07-05 12:06:54
Yep I would take the fact it has a new battery with a pinch of salt... basically it meant he spent a couple of bucks to make the ad look better. Not that I am actually denouncing the guy or implying he is being shifty at all, as that is not my intent. I just liken advertising a new PRAM battery when selling a vintage Mac to be like advertising a 6 year old Prius and mentioning in the ad that it still has a half a tank of petrol. 🙂

Now as for Tadiran batteries, whilst Ive never seen one explode, they do seem to leak quite readily once they go flat... so whilst they wont explode in a superheated chemical reaction that instantly demolishes the surrounding area, they will still cause sometimes irreparable damage if they are left to leak after being discharged.

Posted by: sstaylor on 2015-07-05 16:06:38
Er, "violent explosion" may be  a bit of hyperbole.  After some long time (10-20 years?) old batteries can get extremely hot and spray noxious, corrosive chemicals all over the inside of your computer.  This is bad.  But they're not going to blow your computer to bits.  And the Tadiran batteries do seem at least somewhat less likely to do so than other brands (lookin' at you, Maxell!)

So it's a nice bonus, but nothing to write home about.  Good reminder to pull those old batteries out of your vintage equipment though.

Posted by: Paralel on 2015-07-05 17:52:10
Actually, considering the motherboards I have seen, explosion is fairly accurate. The force required to move battery contents that far across a motherboard has to have some force behind it.

Posted by: MinerAl on 2015-07-05 22:18:01
I had Tadiran "explode" in an SE/30. I really don't think it's a matter of brand, but time.

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