Replacing the Backup Battery
The AlphaSmart 3000 has a backup battery, so that it doesn't lose your texts when you replace the regular batteries. You can actually see it through the translucent case – it's right above the “end” key. It's a regular CR2032 button cell, the type that's still widely used, e.g. in the Apple AirTags.
My two AlphaSmart devices came with working backup batteries. One of them even held on to texts that the previous owner had written on it. But since I didn't know how old they really were, I decided to replace them both. Which, fortunately, is a pretty straightforward process.
- First, switch off the AlphaSmart and remove the three batteries it uses to operate. Leave the battery compartment open.
- There are eight screws on the bottom of the AlphaSmart. You need to remove them all. There are three screws near the bottom, three in the middle, and another two at the top. They are standard screws with Philips heads, all the same type and length, so you don't have to keep track of which screws belong where.
- Next, flip the AlphaSmart back up, with the keyboard in front of you.
- Before you lift off the top cover, be aware that there is a ribbon cable that connects the top and bottom half to the left of the display. So carefully start lifting the top from the right.
- Unplug the ribbon cable so that you can put aside the top cover.
- You need something to push the backup battery out of its housing before you can grab and remove it. A small screwdriver should do.
- Now simply push in the new battery.
- Don't forget to plug in the ribbon cable before putting everything back together again.
Once you've put in the three batteries again and switch on the device, it will recognise that it was completely without power and will display this message:
I didn't actually try what would happen when you answer “no”. Maybe next time.
This will be followed by a note that the AlphaSmart will now restart:
Simply press Enter.
And that's it. Your AlphaSmart will now have eight empty files again for you to fill with text. Which it will safely keep even if you remove the batteries.