Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
There are many videos like this. This one is mine. If you're just starting out in the world of collecting old computers, try to inspect what you're thinking of buying to make sure battery leakage hasn't happened. Or, if it has and you feel like taking the chance, check that a repair may actually be possible. These failures can also happen with nonrechargeable batteries, such as the 1/2 AA lithium types used in many older Macintosh computers. There, the failure is even more violent and destructive.
Other than to call it a miracle, I can't explain why the battery in that cash register never leaked. Royal Business Machines recommended that it be replaced yearly, although it is soldered in place. Before being powered up, the battery showed a slight negative (reverse polarity) output voltage of about -2.8 mV. Betting on old these old batteries not to leak or explode is a very bad idea.
There are many videos like this. This one is mine. If you're just starting out in the world of collecting old computers, try to inspect what you're thinking of buying to make sure battery leakage hasn't happened. Or, if it has and you feel like taking the chance, check that a repair may actually be possible. These failures can also happen with nonrechargeable batteries, such as the 1/2 AA lithium types used in many older Macintosh computers. There, the failure is even more violent and destructive.
Other than to call it a miracle, I can't explain why the battery in that cash register never leaked. Royal Business Machines recommended that it be replaced yearly, although it is soldered in place. Before being powered up, the battery showed a slight negative (reverse polarity) output voltage of about -2.8 mV. Betting on old these old batteries not to leak or explode is a very bad idea.
