New (A 1148) & old (A1078) batteries models for PB15":inter-exchangeable?

Question

New (A 1148) & old (A1078) batteries models for PB15":inter-exchangeable?

In a previous post I indicated how it turned out that I have a A1148 battery model in my LoRes August PB15" (supposed to work with A1078). Too long to explain here.

It works flawlessly for the moment (4 cycles, 4500 mwatts 3:33 right now, just unplugged the power adapter).

I understand that the difference btw the two models comes more from how the computer handles the battery than from the battery specificity by itself.

However, I am not 100% sure on the way to calibrate the A1148 battery in the previous generation PB. More important, would you think totally safe to completely drain the A1148 in a non HiRes PB15" ?

I someone has an answer it would be great. Otherwise, I will call Applecare.

Thanks

Luc

PB 1.5 Ghz , G5 DP 1.8Ghz , G4 400 Mac OS X (10.4.3) airport express, iPod 3 & video

Posted on Dec 4, 2005 2:55 AM

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Answer 1

Dec 4, 2005 3:45 PM in response to Luc Thiberville

No idea what the situation is the battery. I'd be wary of getting a definitive answer from Applecare - chap I spoke to last week didn't know there were two different batteries (neither did I).

They must have made some change to the battery otherwise why have a new part number? It's much more of a pain to add a part to a manufacturing operation than it is to keep an old one.

Good luck.

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Answer 2

Dec 4, 2005 4:43 PM in response to Luc Thiberville

I have the "old" battery on a HiRes PB with no problems so far, it just works as good as the one that came with my PB. I think the new battery has a new processor inside or its cells are from another manufacturer, thus the new part number.

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Answer 3

carl wolf

Level 6

14,631 points

Dec 6, 2005 5:09 PM in response to Luc Thiberville

The new battery has a slightly higher watt-hour rating. The old and new batteries are interchangeable.

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Answer 4

Dec 7, 2005 10:57 AM in response to carl wolf

Well,

This afternoon my A1148 battery went nearly dead (capacity at full charge : 930 mw after 6 cycles, this morning 4550). Not sure if this comes from the use with the LoRes PB15 " though. Reset PMU twice did not change a thing.

Another call to apple care / Store is probably necessary, unless some of you have a solution here. Maybe completely drain the battery and let sit it drained for several hours before recharging ?

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Answer 5

JDee

Level 5

6,491 points

Dec 7, 2005 12:09 PM in response to Luc Thiberville

Hi Luc --

I am not 100% sure on the way to calibrate the A1148 battery in the previous generation PB. More important, would you think totally safe to completely drain the A1148 in a non HiRes PB15" ?

Take a look (if you haven't already) at this Apple Kbase article entitled "Calibrating your computer's battery for best performance." http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86284

It details two different procedures for calibrating a PB's battery, one for "all iBooks and PowerBook G4 computers" and another, different one, for the aluminum PowerBook G4 (15-inch Double-Layer SD)."

It would appear that the new calibration procedure was necessitated by the new battery used in the new Double-Layer PBs, at least that's my interpretation of the following excerpt of that Kbase article:

The battery calibration for the PowerBook G4 (15-inch Double-Layer SD) has been updated because of a new battery released with this computer. With these computers, follow these steps to calibrate your battery:

So, it would seem that regardless of what computer you're using, you may want to follow the new calibration procedure for the new battery and the old procedure for the old battery. Though, as you'll see from the article, the foregoing is hardly made explicitly clear.

-- JDee

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Answer 6

Dec 7, 2005 2:02 PM in response to JDee

Indeed, I just tried every proposition. The new A1148 battery is simply dead after 6 cycles. The capacity is going down and down (496 right now), the battery pretends to be fully charged after 15 min or so, and cannot unplug the powercord for more than 5 mins.

This A1148 belongs to a bad batch, as many of them apparently, as can be appreciated in this (somewhat biased I agree) forum.

I will call applecare, or the apple store or both. I am a little furious about me, as I simply messed up things btw the battery that came with a new PB HiRes and the second battery that I ordered at the same time..Here is the whole story :

I bought a HiRes PB on the 8th of november along with a second battery.

I received the complete order on 23th of november and sent back the PB HiRes for a refund on the 1st of december because of the horizontal line problem (everyone is talking about that issue..). But I did not cancel the second battery order that I wanted to use into my LoRes PB. When I asked to the Apple Store rep she told me that all the 15" batteries were the same (her mistake).

Now, why I have a (defective) A1148 battery in my LoRes PB :

The key factor is that I was not the only one to have gone confused and messed up things. Guess what ? When I ordered the second battery on the same online purchase, Apple Store sent me the old model (A1078) along the new book... I did not realize this at once, fully charged the two batteries, and did not think at all to take back the second battery from the new PB ( I did not know they were different) .

Because I kept the original box of the second battery, I know now that the one I sent back along with the defective PB was not from the new series.

I am now trying to explain this to applestore, fortunately they have been comprehensive so far and they do speak French, whereas they are located in Dublin, Ireland.
...

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Answer 7

Dec 9, 2005 11:13 PM in response to JDee

Called AppleStore. My story was understood at once, and they are taking the A1148 back and sending me a A1078. Great service as always in my experience. I like these guys.
They make Happy customers. Feedback positive.

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Answer 8

JDee

Level 5

6,491 points

Dec 10, 2005 5:59 AM in response to Luc Thiberville

That's great news, Luc.

You know the drill.......calibrate the new battery properly as soon as you get it -- here's how: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86284 -- and watch it closely afterwards that to make sure it's functioning properly.

And, of course, post back if you need any help or have any questions.

Bonne chance!

-- JDee

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Answer 9

Dec 19, 2005 8:39 AM in response to JDee

I eventually received my replacement A1078 battery (remember, that is what I received, but went back with the lined PB 15"). Apple store sent me the A1148 model. Therefore, I guess the two models are fully exchangeable.

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