[Techtoolslist] Sunday Projects II: Replacing a DS1216B RealTimeClock?

[Jess Askey]

Heya.... It has been a busy day for me... one more posting before Game of Thrones comes on.....

I have a DS1216B 'SmartWatch' by Dallas/Maxim in my Fluke 900.... These are little real-time-clock IC's with embedded in double height potted 28-DIP that sits under your RAM. In this case, the battery is in the potted bottom part of the socket and is now officially dead, rendering the IC useless for keeping time.

Here is a pic of one for reference..

http://sg.rs-online.com/largeimages/R0133242-06.jpg

So, I have found a few options and Im curious if any of you have gone down this path before on this device or on others? (SG motherboards have a similar chip, Bally gambling machines, Apple IIE/C, etc)...

Option #1: Buy an NOS DS1216B from Ebay... they are pretty cheap.... $15, but they have date codes from the late 80's.... likelihood of the battery being solid.... Poor.
Option #2: Look at this cool thing that the Apple collectors made.. https://www.ultimateapple2.com/catalogzen154/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_16&products_id=70 . More expensive $45, but has a small replaceable battery
Option #3: Hack into mine and try and put a larger (and longer life 3.6V Lithium battery on it). Cheap, but hacky.... Mounting a battery clip to my PCB with epoxy or double sided tape sounds problematic (maybe)
Option #4: anyone else know of more options?

Right now Im leaning towards #2 or #3, It doesn't matter if I destroy mine, it is already dead and I have it off the device motherboard now too. #3 would be good if I could secure the battery decently on my motherboard (it will be hanging upside down too, so the double sided tape definitely is not a good idea.