The battery keeps the data in the RAM alive. Without it, it would revert back to factory
settings when you shut off the power. Today we would use Flash memory for this, but battery backed RAM was one of the better options back then.

As far as curing what ills your drummer, I can only suggest reseating anything that is socketed, in case oxidation is making a bad connection somewhere.

--> Steve

--- In oberheim@yahoogroups.com , "sokkerkid10101" <sokkerkid10101@...> wrote:
>
> Hey all, first of all- hi
> I was running out of options until I found this wonderful group!
>
> Secondly,
> I just purchased an oberheim drummer off ebay and it started giving me problems immediately. The issue is that, if I let it sit and rest for a bit, it starts up fine and works great, until after about 1-3 minutes when all of the function become inaccessible. AKA it shows "0" for preset, and it is unchangeable, as well as all other functions show "oF" and I cannot change it. This will happen immediately if I just switch it from on to off.
>
> I have it opened up here (got scared that I had destroyed it on one or two occasions while playing with the ram and eprom). I am trying a new battery but i don't have my soldering iron here at school so it is just sitting between the tabs.
>
> what does the battery do btw
>
> And I have a new 32K X 8 ram on its way.
>
> Any other suggestions
>
> Thank you!
>