Orange charge light but no charge

I have the same problem. It's not a battery problem (not in my case anyway) as I have two, and have the same trouble with both. As well as the adapter ring lighting up orange, the on-screen battery indicator also indicates it is charging, yet looking in system diagnostics confirms that the adapter is connected, but not charging. I also tried starting up exclusively from the mains power (with the battery taken out) but when the apple icon appears the screen flickers before the computer goes dead. It's as if there's not enough power coming through the adapter.

Does anyone know if this suggests a faulty adapter, or an internal problem, i.e. with the internal power circuit? PMU and RAM resets have had no effect.

yet looking in system diagnostics confirms that the adapter is connected, but not charging.

Sorry, not system diagnostics, system profiler.

PowerBook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.3)

yet looking in system diagnostics confirms that the

adapter is connected, but not charging.

Sorry, not system diagnostics, system
profiler.

PowerBook G4
Mac OS X (10.4.3)

yet looking in system diagnostics confirms that the

adapter is connected, but not charging.

Sorry, not system diagnostics, system
profiler.

PowerBook G4
Mac OS X (10.4.3)

Must be something magnetic in the ionsphere: mine has had the same symptoms. I was going to buy a new battery, but now maybe not. I think on mine the pmu module can be replace seperate from the logicboard? I was thinker perhaps the internal battery??? Really open to answers.

Just left mine it at Apple. The guy says it's def. not the battery or the adapter, but is most likely the DC in board or the logic board. He did exactly the same tests as I did, so I'd maybe suggest doing the same: -

- Reset the PMU
- Turn on with the adapter not connected, then connect it, and check System Profiler for the adapter status.

If it confirms it's connected but not charging then it may be a similar problem to mine. Note that a Hardware Test using the Software Install and Restore CD will not confirm a fault of this type within the DC in board or logic board. That's what the Apple guy said anyway.

I'll update when I get it back. I just hope it's not the logic board, as he quoted that as over 400 pounds, whereas a DC in board problem is just over 50.

PowerBook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.3)

Talking of wierd things in the Ionosphere....

My Powerbook has just developed similar symptoms during the
last week - it now refuses to power on

The AC connector is always orange even with the battery removed (believe it should be green in this case)

I have been told it is the Logic Board/PMU too

Problem now fixed, but alas it was the logic board. Quite expensive with no remaining warranty. The Apple technician said that in these instances (where the symptons are similar to those above) it's a toss-up between a bad logic board or DC in board. Sorry, not much help I know, but if you're suffering similarly, a trip to Apple is probably your best bet.


PowerBook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.5)