Fix & follow up on Topic: Powerbook G3 Wallstreet Battery issues

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Fix & follow up on Topic: Powerbook G3 Wallstreet Battery issues

My answer was VERY simple! I too had a Wallstreet G3 that the battery suddenly stopped charging. Bought two new batteries, still the red X through the menu icon. Read forum after forum about logic boards, PRAM battery replacement (mine is dead)Battery Reset v 2.0, resetting power manager,loose contacts inside bay, copper (I think) interferring with A/C port, faulty power adapter, etc. & addressed the easy ideas putting off any inside hardware fixes.

Today decided to revisit a fix so I could break down and order whatever parts I thought I needed & put a battery in & the red X on the battery icon appeared, but then went away - so very briefly - then back to the red X. So having read today again about faulty power cords & remembering the copper touching the port problem, reached back & wiggled power cord to be sure it was pushed in OK & suddently the screen dimmed & I got the message window that I am running on reserve power & unless I plug into A/C right away the computer will shut down...words to that effect which meant that I had lost A/C power to the port just by a simple wiggle; so I pushed it a bit and held it in & the screen brightened so I knew it was back on A/C! After experimenting with pushing it in & around some more & having it dim, get the message & then come back on, when I left it on I noticed the battery icon had the lightening flash on it and the power strip showed the right bay battery was charging!! I WAS THRILLED!

Got to the root of the problem & did not spend a dime or replace any hardware! It has been an hour now (I haven't touched the power cord since)& it is still charging with the icon 1/3 filled with red and the first of the 5 blank indicators for the right bay in the power strip filled gray.

Hallelujah!

Macintosh PowerBook G3 Wallstreet, Mac OS 9.2.x, Do-it-yourselfer

Posted on Oct 10, 2009 12:58 PM

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Answer 1

amarnina Author

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Oct 10, 2009 5:30 PM in response to amarnina

I see I should have indicated it is the D/C port that might have been part of the problem that the power adapter plugs in to.

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Answer 2

Oct 11, 2009 5:43 PM in response to amarnina

The DC power inlet on many of those models can suffer a problem if the power plug is struck while plugged in (or possibly if it is jerked off the table by someone walking by and tripping on the power cord). The solder joint on one or more of the three large contacts inside is fractured, and it no longer makes a consistent good connection to the power inlet/sound board on which it is mounted.

It is a lot of work to tear it down, but once you get to the "scene of the crime" the re-soldering is easy, as the parts are large and widely-spaced.

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Answer 3

amarnina Author

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Oct 12, 2009 1:49 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thank YOU so very much for taking the time to tell me about the DC power inlet because I found your answer after troubleshooting whether or not I thought I needed a new power cord or had a faulty port because I discovered when applying pressure to just the power cord housing right at the point of entry being careful to not disturb the actual cord it still caused the computer to behave erratically so I think you are absolutely right.

I purchased this from e-Bay a couple of years ago and am thrilled with it (am a Mac user from its very beginning and have had several open to swap harddrives, upgrade memory, etc.) so have been researching replacing the PRAM battery since a new one came with the computer which former owner didn't put on and since I have discovered it IS a TOTAL teardown I know why, but if my husband is comfortable soldering a electronic, I'll have him follow your directions when I get to the PRAM battery.

How would I recognize what needs soldered and any tips I should know on type of solder, etc? Any online fixit photos you can point me to? I'm all set on the tear down.

Thanks again!!!

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Answer 4

Oct 12, 2009 3:38 PM in response to amarnina

This site provides very good illustrated teardown procedures in hopes that you will eventually buy some parts from them. This is a link to the start of the Wallstreet teardown to get at the power/sound card:

http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Repair/PowerBook-G3-Wallstreet-DC-Sound-Card/14/1

When you get a look at it, the problem is really obvious. There are three large metal legs that come out of the power-inlet socket and are surface-soldered to the circuit board. Factory soldering of that connection is simply not strong enough for the abuse the p[art gets.

Just use "regular" electrical solder. It has a rosin care, and does not need to be neutralized afterward. Plumbing solder uses an acid core or acid flux, and is not OK for electronics.

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