Replace Power Supply in iMac G4 (see further specs in message)

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EdmondVO Author

Level 1

30 points

Replace Power Supply in iMac G4 (see further specs in message)

Hi,

I have this iMac G4: Apple iMac G4 1.25 20" "FP" (USB 2.0) Specs

Identifiers: iMac USB 2.0 - M9290LL/A - PowerMac6,3 - A1065 - 1992

Info taken from Everymac dot com

When pushing the Power button on the back of the white half sphere most of the time it does not start. So repeated efforts were necessary until it stopped starting at all.

Brought it to a repair shop specializing in all kinds of Macs and they also found that sometimes it started but after a while starting was not possible anymore.

Sorry, they said your Power Supply is faulty. You need a new one they told me. At that time they could not find a replacement (refurbished) one and they said it would be or could be very costly.

So let it go for a while

But I want the iMac resurrected after all and went to look for a Power Supply myself, although being total novice in this field.

Simple question: Is the Apple Part #661-3104 the part that I need.

If not, which part would I need for this specific iMac

Many thanks in advance for your help

Posted on Jan 9, 2022 1:43 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

den.thed

Level 10

90,946 points

Jan 10, 2022 4:27 PM in response to EdmondVO

That does seem to be the correct power supply for the iMac G4 that you have indicated.

https://www.macpalace.com/product/661-3104-power-supply-614-0207-614-0317-api3st03-api3st03-pcb1-002-pscf161101a/

https://www.macpartsdepot.com/614-0207-614-0317-661-3104-imac-power-supply-api3st03-api3st03-pcb1-002-pscf161101a.html

http://www.powerbookmedic.com/parts/922-3104/Power-Supply.html

The question is, are you 100% sure that the power supply is bad.

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Answer 2

Feb 11, 2022 12:59 AM in response to EdmondVO

I have the exact same model of iMac (and I am also fully aware that it is a very old machine :-) ), and also have a power suppply that is acting up. What I noticed is that I need to have it plugged in for about a minute before pressing the power button, otherwise it will not start. I opened it up and could clearly see that at least one capacitator was starting to leak, so that may be the problem in my case.

Anyway, the parts numbers for a replacement power supply I have found are these:

Apple Part 922-3104

http://www.powerbookmedic.com/iMac-G4-20-Power-Supply-p-24716.html

Apple Part 661-3104

https://www.usedmac.com/products/661-3104-imac-g4-flat-panel-usb-20-125ghz-20-power-supply

(Now I am not sure if the parts number differs depending on which region you are in and what voltage that is default in your country)

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Answer 3

Mal-S

Level 5

5,062 points

Feb 11, 2022 2:34 AM in response to EdmondVO

I'm not familiar with this model. Does it have and external power block which is faulty or is it internal to the computer?

You could see if you can find a donor iMac of the same vintage and then cannibalise the parts.

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Answer 4

SeaPapp

Level 7

26,492 points

Jan 10, 2022 4:11 PM in response to EdmondVO

If you look at I fix it dot com you can find a complete service manual for the lampshade iMacs.

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Answer 5

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,452 points

Jan 9, 2022 10:10 PM in response to EdmondVO

You realize the computer is 30 year old don't you? You are pretty much on your own on this one as parts for that machine have not been in production for over 20 years. This means if you somehow found a parts machine you would have to scrounge the power supply and hope it works.

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Answer 6

EdmondVO Author

Level 1

30 points

Jan 10, 2022 1:56 AM in response to rkaufmann87

Dear R. Kaufmann,

Of course I realize that this iMac is aged as I bought when it appeared on the market. At the moment the exact part I mentioned is actually for sale so there is no reason to scrounge. Furthermore I am not really on my own as I know two excellent repair shops in my home town. One of them was founded in 1998. They excellently repaired on of our other older MacBooks.

I started working with computers in 1985 with an Amiga a Macintosh and the glorified doorstop that is now called PC. So I know my way around them as a user. But as a user only, repairing them and deciding what parts I need that is a totally different affair. In thát field I am a novice. Finding the part number was not so difficult, but did I find exactly the right part. That was the question an still is.

Mac Support through Twitter did not respond an had to be prodded a bit, but is coming back with answer that are very general and not helpful. So one of the ways to find out is here in the community. I’ll be posting and asking questions in other places, especially in Germany, as retro-computing is pretty big there; both Amiga and the iMac.

So the question is still the same: Is the Apple Part #661-3104 the part that I need.

If not, which part would I need for this specific iMac

Best Wishes for 2022! 8-))

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