IC-7300 Memory battery replacement

Some time in 2019 we exachanged few e-mails with Zaba OH1ZAA, about internal memory battery issue in IC-7300. Some of  7300 owners perhaps did not noticed anything is wrong, but many more ( reading e-mails sent to me ) suffering internal clock failing after every OFF period. This is rather minor issue, but can be very annoying when You are using audio recording feature during Es openings, or just internal clock set to UTC to have correct time. Loosing time/date settings causing recorded files to have wrong time stamp when saved on SD card. This could be very important when on dxpedition, and we want to recover some QSO's.

Below is my successful attempt to solving this issue, [ thanks for pushing me Zaba :-) ] fast and easy to made but of course, be warned :    

Any mistake can cause serious damage to your radio. So if You are not experienced in SMD soldering or using soldering iron at very FRAGILE environment - do not try to perform the operation! I will be not responsible for any damage You can make doing the MOD.   

Start with placing the RIG upside down and unscrew bottom cover. 
You'll see whole radio - take look at lower right part marked by red arrow.

There's very small button battery, according to Zaba's research it's only 1mAh capacity.

 

In usual conditions when radio is powered daily there's small amount of current ( ~6mA) charging the battery. But when left unpowered - battery voltage degrading soon. After 1 month without power, found mine has only 0,63V which is way below voltage needed to keep clock running well.

In next steps we will replace it with ordinary CR2032 Li-Ion battery.
Start with preparing new battery socket. No matter new or salvaged from old PC motherboard, any type will do. And of course we'll need CR2032 or similar battery. It's not critical what type of battery we'll use, except it's 3V one. Standard PC clock battery is thousand more times capable than factory one.

Next - prepare some wires and solder it to the socket.

Be very careful removing old battery - it's SMD one, and we need to be very fast and very carefull doing this. First - avoid too much heat, secondly it's close to uPC.

 Battery pads cleaned after removal

Now we are ready to install new battery. In my radio I did it this way - socket is glued safely with double sided adhesive tape onto uPC. Do not put the battery first. In case something is wrong this could damage your radio. After soldering the wires and checking for any short circuit, mistake with polarity slide the battery into socket.

This operation completes the mod. No more clock failure, at least for next 5-10 years :-)

73,  QSH / OCV

NOTE: 

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ANY UNAUTHORIZED COPYING WITHOUT ASKING IS DENIED. 

IF YOU WANT TO PUBLISH THE MOD ON YOUR SITE/BLOG YOU ARE ALLOWED TO DO SO, POINTING THE ORIGINAL SOURCE. 

THANK YOU.