Reel touch top box battery replacement.

[rarestamx]

I have a Denver Duck reel touch, That has been working correctly last 10 years now, and still is. Battery was changed 5 years ago. I'm wondering how long the top box battery lasts ? Would it be best to change it now, Or wait till it dies. I have my RFA, ATA, BGM numbers written on the housing, So that's not an issue. Also keyboard for programing. Just wondered if less hassle working then crashed. Thanks

[qbert]

That is a really good question.
The short answer is let it crash.
I say this because if your Reel Touch machine is a bios 1(red white and blue splash screen when you power it up) the battery can go dead in the top box and it will continue to function.
If it is bios 2 (yellow and green energy star splash screen) you will get a CPU information has changed when the top box tries to boot.
You would then change the battery and plug in the keyboard, turn on the machine and keep pressing the delete key on the keyboard until the bios screen comes up. Then set the time and date. Next "load optimized defaults". Save the information in the bios then turn unit off and remove the keyboard. You should then be good to go.
You really don't gain any benefit in this instance to change the battery early because if you replace the battery you will still have to perform the keyboard procedure.
I  also try not to disturb the top box any more than I have to because of the age of these units.
That being said if you want to change the battery now so that error message from a dead battery won't come up at an inopportune time( Like you have a bunch of folks over and you want to show off your machine)

I hope this helps the Duck is still my all time favorite Reel Touch
Rich

[rarestamx]

That is a really good question.
The short answer is let it crash.
I say this because if your Reel Touch machine is a bios 1(red white and blue splash screen when you power it up) the battery can go dead in the top box and it will continue to function.
If it is bios 2 (yellow and green energy star splash screen) you will get a CPU information has changed when the top box tries to boot.
You would then change the battery and plug in the keyboard, turn on the machine and keep pressing the delete key on the keyboard until the bios screen comes up. Then set the time and date. Next "load optimized defaults". Save the information in the bios then turn unit off and remove the keyboard. You should then be good to go.
You really don't gain any benefit in this instance to change the battery early because if you replace the battery you will still have to perform the keyboard procedure.
I  also try not to disturb the top box any more than I have to because of the age of these units.
That being said if you want to change the battery now so that error message from a dead battery won't come up at an inopportune time( Like you have a bunch of folks over and you want to show off your machine)

I hope this helps the Duck is still my all time favorite Reel Touch
Rich

It is a bios 2 machine, I understand what your saying. Will wait for crash. 5 years seems along time on a battery, How long will they go ? They do not charge just like the 504 doesn't correct. Thanks Rich

[qbert]

You are correct they do not charge.
The top box is just like an old home computer pentium 3 vintage and the battery could last a couple of years more.