Leaving batteries in atari lynx + using ac adapter?

[JagLynx4Life]

Hi All,

 

This might sound like a silky question but it's been awhile but I've recently purchases some nice Panasonic eneloop AA I plan on using for my lynx. In the past I'd use the Best Electronics battery pack or ac adapter. My question is, will it damage my lynx if I left the batteries inside my lynx and plug in my AC adapter?

 

The reason I ask is, if I recall I might have damaged my original lynx II when I was a kid due to this. I think I was running low on the alkaline batteries playing Dracula Undead (near the end) and I plugged in my ac adapter so that I would not lose my progress. What do you guys think? Ever since, I've always either used My battery pack/ac adapter... What do you guys think? Thanks!

[gilsaluki]

Leaving batteries in the battery compartment and at the same time plugging in a power adapter should not hurt a thing. The power adapter simply over rides the batteries for it's primary power source. Engineers at Epyx and Atari were smarter than that. There would have been a LOT of warranty returns if it were a bad to leave the batteries inserted. And we all know how cheap Atari was towards the end. It's a well engineered product that's almost 30 years old. Just don't leave batteries in the compartment for long periods of non-use.

[JagLynx4Life]

That's what I figured. Just wanted someone to confirm. Thanks for your response!

[Trew]

Related... am I correct in assuming (as you seem to suggest gilsaluki) that when the AC is plugged in, this becomes the primary power source over batteries. Sometimes I used to take just one out when plugging my Lynx in, just to make sure I was using the AC and not batteries.

[gilsaluki]

Not sure I understand the question Trew. Yes, the adapter is the primary power source. You say, " Sometimes I used to take just one out when plugging my Lynx in, just to make sure I was using the AC and not batteries. " So, did the Lynx stay powered up? That answers your question, right? What am I missing here?

[Trew]

No that's not my question. Obviously when there are only 5 batteries in the Lynx, they aren't providing the power... I am deliberately taking one out to make sure of that! I am asking that when there are the full 6... AND the AC adapter is plugged in, that the power is taken via the AC and not the batteries? I strongly suspect it is, but was just seeking confirmation.

[+Stephen Moss]

The power socket for the AC adaptor has a switch built in, when the AC adaptor is inserted it breaks the connection with the Ground side of the batteries to the Lynx power rails which should ensure that either the batteries or the AC adaptor are powering the Lynx but not both at the same time.

[sirlynxalot]

How long is too long to reasonably keep batteries in. For instance, I put new batteries in my lynx in December 2014, played my lynx about 1-3x a month, and recently took the batteries out as I figured its probably better to be safe than sorry and leave them in/forget about them and have them leak at some point in the next 6 months. Of course the batteries have an expiration date that is a long time from now, but isn't there something about having them plugged in that causes them to be more prone to leaking?

Edited May 19, 2015 by sirlynxalot

[Rick Dangerous]

Good thread, all things a new Lynx owner wonders about.

 

I bought a Lynx a few years back and the guy at the gameshop put in batteries for me. Within a few months they were leaking. I meticulously cleaned the Lynx and I'm very cautious now about keeping newer fresh batteries in it. Be careful.

[7800fan]

The way the circuit is designed, if you leave the batteries in and have a cart plugged in, the battery will always be drawn to power the few component that handles power on button. If you remove the cart, it will cut off the batteries (and external AC adapter) and not be sucked dry.

 

Still it is wise to remove any batteries if you're not planning to use any battery powered device for a while.