Will using 45 W power adapter harm my PowerBook G4?

I've answered this many times before based on what other say. It's not good to use the 45W adapter on the 15-inch and 17-inch models because it does not get enough power. It can harm the computer, so I've heard.

(Coming from someone who is currently using his 15-inch, me!, while connected to the 45W adapter of my 12-inch one here at my desk!).

It also takes longer to charge the battery.

On the other end, the 65W AC adapter won't harm the 12-inch PowerBooks because the machine will only draw the power it needs.

I think this is why using the 45W adapter with the 15 and 17-inch PowerBooks is not good because it will be "looking" for more power that it DOES need, but it won't get it, putting "strain" on the unit, battery, etc.

Message was edited by: Pismo 900

Here is a previous thread where I discussed all about it:

http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=5573005

I forgot to say that the reason my 15-inch is connected to the 45W is because I was too lazy to disconnect it from my desk. I was using a 12-inch PowerBook before I got this one, which i did just recently on eBay.

So all my connections arranged on my desk would have to be re-routed at the moment to put the 65W in place.

But I don't plan to make it a permanent thing. (Using the 45W with the 15-inch).

Good luck with the adapter purchase. They should have them at the Apple Store retail, or if not, of course, the online store or other Apple resellers online.

I worked at AppleCare when the 65W power adapters came in. Back then, in training, we were told that the 45W won't charge the PowerBooks needing a 65W, but can be used to work with it. So if it charges, you're probably lucky, even if it takes longer. Never were we told that it would harm the computer.

Hope this helps.

From a 15" manual:
Important: For optimal performance, use only the power adapter that came with your
computer, or purchase an additional 65W Apple Portable Power Adapter.

Nothing written there not to use a 45W

Non binding advice.

Message was edited by: macten

Oh, it does charge, at least for me it does. But it does quirky thing during charging like one minute it will say "charged" and then the next, "99%" and then later "97%" then back to "charged."

This is most likely because of the low wattage and the computer trying to pull the charge it needs, 65W.

Vice versa, it is capped. If you use the 65W adapter with the 12-inch PowerBook that shipped with a 45W, but Apple replaced in later years with the 65W (probably to consolidate products), it won't harm the computer because it will only pull 45W from the 65W.

On the other way, 15-inch, trying to pull 65W from 45W strains the computer.

That's what I learned, at least.