Ensoniq SQ2 Battery Replacement
(This information also applies to the Ensoniq KS-32 Keyboard)

    When the internal battery on my Ensoniq SQ2 32 voice keyboard died, I started searching the internet for some information on replacing the battery.  During this search I had a revelation, the internet still does not have anything that you could possible want to know on it.  Needless to say, I found very little about replacing the battery.  Ensoniq is now in the Emu branch of Creative Labs (SoundBlaster) and they only keep a very small section of their web site devoted to Ensoniq products (Ensoniq Site).  I didn't see any information relating directly to the SQ here, but they did have an email link for Ensoniq product tech support, so I emailed them asking about replacing the internal battery.
Here is the reply:

The battery is a Panasonic BR 2032 (or compatible) 3v lithium. That battery is available through any electronics parts store or from EPR. The battery is soldiered into place. Keep in mind that we do not do repair support or encourage end user repair. If you attempt the repair, you are on your own. Your unit can be serviced by EPR or one of the service centers listed below.

One of the service centers listed below can repair your unit.  If none of the service centers are near you, you may have to make arrangements to send it to one of them for repair. Below is a the current list of EMU authorized service centers:

Click here to View their List

    Of course none of these service centers were in my area so I set out to see if I could replace the battery. I also decided that once I did I would make a nice web page with pictures and details on replacing the battery (unfortunately, my pictures didn't turn out, but if you have a camera, please take some pictures while replacing the battery so I can post them here).

First, please note that I will not be held responsible if your keyboard (or yourself or anyone else
or anything else) gets damaged in attempting anything mentioned on this page!
This information comes with absolutely no guarantees.  
Use this information at your own risk!

Please note:  Before you remove that battery from the keyboard, you will want to make sure that you back up any custom sounds that you have created and back up any sequences that are stored in the keyboard.  If the battery is already dead, then your custom sounds and sequences are already lost, so you don't have to worry about losing anything.  Removing the battery will erase all of the memory, however, once a new battery is put back in, all of the factory default sounds will automatically be loaded again.  To back up any custom sounds that you may have, you can use a program called KS32 Edit (http://www.hitsquad.com/smm/programs/KS_editor/).  Seeing as I haven't made many custom sounds, I have hardly used this program.  To back up your sequences, you should be able to back them up using any midi recording program, however, the details depend on your particular program (email me if you can't figure it out).

So went out and purchased the battery (a CR2032, which is a compatible battery) from Batteries Plus for $2.99 (as of 3/29/02) and then opened up the keyboard and easily found the old battery.  I have been told you can also purchase this battery from Radio Shack for $2.99 (as of 2/26/03).  As the tech support mentioned, the battery is soldered onto the main board, see diagram:



The battery itself has no prongs on it, the prongs are a part of the main circuit board.  The biggest problem we had in replacing the battery ourselves is getting the old battery out.  It is soldered or probablyspot welded to these prongs on both the top and the bottom.  We tried using a soldering iron, which is not recommended because it is not a good idea to apply heat to a battery (it may explode), to warm the solder just enough so that we could pry the battery loose, but we did not have any luck so I wouldn't even try this method if I were you.  After trying this for a couple hours, we gave up and put the keyboard back together.  After a couple weeks I called Batteries Plus again and asked if they would be willing to try replacing the battery in my keyboard.  They said they would look at it.  So I took it in and they used exacto hobby knifes to slowly pry the prongs away from the battery.  They did not use heat.  They basically just broke the solder by wiggling the knife back and forth.  Then they took the keyboard to the back room and soldered the new battery in place (again not recommended unless you really know what you are doing because heat can cause batteries to explode).  They did charge $5 for labor, which I think is a great deal and my keyboard works perfectly again.

Moral of the Story:  Call a Batteries Plus store (or other electronics store if there are no Batteries Plus stores in your area) to see if they would be willing to try replacing the battery for you and then hand over $8 for labor and a new battery and your keyboard should be good as new.

Installing a Battery Holder:  Several users have asked if installing a battery holder would be possible so that next time the battery goes dead you won't have so much trouble simply replacing the battery.  A few users have tried this and a few have also been successful.  Here is a page that contains the information I have received via email from users who have tried this option: Installing a Battery Holder.  As with all of the other information on this page, I am not responsible for any damage that may arise from trying to install a battery holder, and the other users who have kindly provided me with this information also do not take any responsibility for any damage that may be caused by installing or trying to install a battery holder.

Please email me and let me know if you found this page valuable or have any comments on it.
If you take some pictures while replacing the battery, please send some along so I can put them up here.
 avr@u.arizona.edu