nathanschwam
Level 1 (4 points)
Desktops

Q: Is PowerBook G4 12” battery truly dead?

I am not sure if my PB 12” battery is truly dead or if there may be another reason it died fairly quickly:

  • 7 – year old PB G4 (bought early ’05)
  • 225 cycles per system profiler
  • I think it’s the original battery (I don’t think I got it replaced by the recall though I thought I might have had more cycles after 7 years – I don’t travel too much with the PB so I wasn’t expecting a super high number.)
  • Battery indicator says ‘X’ not 0%.  When it says ‘X’, the System Profiler says the battery is not installed!  The indicator will say 0% for a few minutes if I remove the battery, put it back in, then turn on the computer – that’s how I could access the cycle count.

 

Any clues here as to whether the issue could be something other than a dead battery?   What other information would help (I know I can go into Terminal and get a more detailed battery status information)?  Thank you for your expertise.

PowerBook, 12" G4 1.33mhz

Posted on May 24, 2012 12:44 PM

Close
nathanschwam

Q: Is PowerBook G4 12” battery truly dead?

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by BGreg,

    BGreg BGreg May 24, 2012 2:54 PM in response to nathanschwam
    Level 6 (17,522 points)
    May 24, 2012 2:54 PM in response to nathanschwam

    If you run it on battery only, how long will it run? Does it get below 50% capacity then shut off?

     

    Reset the PMU and see what the battery status says: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1431

  • by nathanschwam,

    nathanschwam nathanschwam May 24, 2012 3:25 PM in response to BGreg
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    May 24, 2012 3:25 PM in response to BGreg

    Will check the PMU out and report back.   It won't charge at all right now - if the adapeter cord is unplugged the computer won't turn on at all or even try.Thank you!!!

  • by BGreg,

    BGreg BGreg May 24, 2012 3:36 PM in response to nathanschwam
    Level 6 (17,522 points)
    May 24, 2012 3:36 PM in response to nathanschwam

    There's only 4 components to the charging circuit .... power adapter, DC-in card, battery, and logic board. If it won't run off the adapter, and you know the adapter is good, check out the socket it plugs into on the PowerBook. If you use a pen, does the socket wiggle? If so, the DC-in card is probably in need of replacement.

     

    Unfortunately, there's not automated tests for the charging circuit, so you use logic and start cheap ... power adapter, battery, DC-in card, logic board.

  • by nathanschwam,

    nathanschwam nathanschwam May 24, 2012 3:45 PM in response to BGreg
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    May 24, 2012 3:45 PM in response to BGreg

    My apologies for not saying earlier - the computer does work fine off the AC adapter.  Please let me know if you think that affects whether the battery may not be shot.  Thank you again!

  • by Texas Mac Man,

    Texas Mac Man Texas Mac Man May 24, 2012 6:26 PM in response to nathanschwam
    Level 8 (46,611 points)
    May 24, 2012 6:26 PM in response to nathanschwam

    Here's what the Service Manual says:

     

    Battery won't charge

    1. Make sure that power adapter connector is fully inserted.

    2. Remove any connected peripherals.

    3. Try known-good power outlet. Green or amber light should glow at power adapter

    connector.

    4. Try known-good power adapter and power cord.

    Note:

    Verify that power adapter connector glows amber or green. If the power

    adapter light is green, turn over the computer and press the battery button. One to

    five lights glow to show the battery’s level of charge. One blinking light indicates that

    the battery does not have sufficient charge to turn on.

    5. Remove battery and reseat it.

    6. Reset the power manager by pressing the key combination Control-Option-Shift-Power.

    Warning: Make sure you do not hold down the "fn" key when resetting the

    power manager.

    7. Update to Mac OS 10.2.4, or boot from external device with 10.2.4.

    8. Replace DC-to-DC board.

    9. Replace logic board.

     

    Battery won't charge completely

    1. If battery reaches 96 percent and doesn’t charge further, this is normal operation.

    Refer to Knowledge Base article 88344 "PowerBook G4, iBook: Battery Does Not

    Show Full Charge in Mac OS X".

    2. If battery charges to 95 percent or less and stops charging before reaching 100

    percent, replace DC-to-DC board.

     

     Cheers, Tom

  • by nathanschwam,

    nathanschwam nathanschwam May 24, 2012 9:50 PM in response to Texas Mac Man
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    May 24, 2012 9:50 PM in response to Texas Mac Man

    Thank you Texas Mac Man - -my replies are in CAPS below:

     

    Battery won't charge

    1. Make sure that power adapter connector is fully inserted.  APPEARS TO BE OK.

    2. Remove any connected peripherals. DONE - OK TO LEAVE USB KEYBOARD/MOUSE AND ETHERNET LINES CONNECTED?

    3. Try known-good power outlet. Green or amber light should glow at power adapter

    connector.  BOTH COLORS DO COME ON - AMBER NOT VERY LONG - I ASSUME BECAUSE IT WON'T TAKE A CHARGE.

    4. Try known-good power adapter and power cord. USED MY SECOND 50W ADAPTER ALSO.  SAME RESULT.

    Note:

    Verify that power adapter connector glows amber or green. If the power

    adapter light is green, turn over the computer and press the battery button. One to

    five lights glow to show the battery’s level of charge. One blinking light indicates that

    the battery does not have sufficient charge to turn on.    TURNED COMPUTER OFF, TURNED IT OVER, AND GOT THE SOLITARY BLINKING GREEN LIGHT.

    5. Remove battery and reseat it.  DID IT.  NO CHANGE.

    6. Reset the power manager by pressing the key combination Control-Option-Shift-Power.

    Warning: Make sure you do not hold down the "fn" key when resetting the

    power manager.  DID IT EARLIER FROM A SUGGESTION ABOVE AND NO CHANGE.  INITIALLY THE CHARGE WENT UP TO 74%, BUT A FEW MINUTES LATER IT WENT TO 0%  AND THEN TO THE 'X' AS IF THERE WAS NO BATTERY THERE.

    7. Update to Mac OS 10.2.4, or boot from external device with 10.2.4.

    8. Replace DC-to-DC board.

    9. Replace logic board.   DID'NT DO # 7 - 9.  DON'T THINK I HAVE THE SKILL FOR THE LATTER TWO.

     

    PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THIS INFO HELPS AT ALL Nathan

  • by dalstott,

    dalstott dalstott May 25, 2012 9:02 AM in response to nathanschwam
    Level 4 (2,625 points)
    May 25, 2012 9:02 AM in response to nathanschwam

    A 7 year old battery of any kind is on it's last legs. I am amazed that it has served you this long. The older a battery gets the more succeptible it becomes to sudden failure. Rather than wonder why it died it is best to bury it with honor and purchase a new one. 

  • by Texas Mac Man,

    Texas Mac Man Texas Mac Man May 25, 2012 9:05 AM in response to nathanschwam
    Level 8 (46,611 points)
    May 25, 2012 9:05 AM in response to nathanschwam

    It's a longshot, but try this.

     

    Boot into Open Firmware by pressing Cmd-Opt-O-F at startup. Then type

     

    reset-nvram

     

    hit the Return key and then type

     

    reset-all

     

    hit the Return key

     

     Cheers, Tom

     

    Message was edited by: Texas Mac Man