[jinto36]

Ten years ago I went through my Apple collection to remove those RTC batteries when people started reporting that they were exploding. I have an Apple "set top box" prototype- didn't have one with a ROM that allowed to actually function as a standalone system, but it was still a really neat artifact. The battery had exploded and turned the inside of the case into a rusty mess. That was a painful moment of realization. I also lost a Mac Classic to a bursting battery but I managed to get the batteries out of my other systems in time. I also have a Bandai Pippin and since that's also basically a Mac it's also got the same RTC battery, and luckily it wasn't all that hard to disassemble non-destructively to remove it. Those batteries did tend to last a really long time, and I imagine in some systems the clock is probably still keeping time until the moment the battery melts.

If you've had old Apple systems on the shelf for a long time- or an Apple IIgs which also had a battery-backed RTC- get those original batteries out!

[krallja]

My IIgs still has its original "Manufactured In West Germany" battery, still at 3.0V and keeping the RTC running! I'll need to remember to remove it before it goes back in cold storage, or when it finally drops below an acceptable Vcc.