The Mac Bot

Q: Didn't use or even plug in PowerBook (G4 Ti 867MHz), now battery isn't charging

I have a Titanium PowerBook G4 @ 867MHz. I've put it away as I haven't needed to use it. It hasn't been plugged in for at least two months.

 

Now, the aftermarket battery doesn't want to charge (properly).

 

When I plug it in, the ring on the plug changes to orange in less than 10 seconds, and it stays that way - until I turn it on. Then, it goes to green and the menu bar icon says "Not Charging." If I remove and re-insert the battery, the adapter glows orange, but the menu bar still says "Not Charging." Sometimes the system denies that there's even a battery inserted.

 

I downloaded coconutBattery and it says the battery has 6/4294 mAh (and counting) and seems to be VERY slowly trickle charging when it's off/asleep. I've left it plugged in, asleep for two nights and that's how far it got.

System Profiler says the battery is in good condition.

 

However, if I put the PowerBook to sleep and unplug it, it will remain asleep for a little bit (like 5-10 min).

 

I've reset PRAM (command-option-P-R) and reset PowerManager (I think, pressed the button beneath the keyboard in the top right).

The lights on the bottom of the battery don't respond either (even when the button is pressed).

 

Basically, can my battery be saved and get normal again? I'd love some help with this!


PowerBook, Mac OS X (10.5.8), G4 Titanium, 867MHz, 1 GB RAM

Posted on May 20, 2014 5:34 PM

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Q: Didn't use or even plug in PowerBook (G4 Ti 867MHz), now battery isn't charging

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  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer May 21, 2014 1:14 AM in response to The Mac Bot
    Level 6 (14,259 points)
    Desktops
    May 21, 2014 1:14 AM in response to The Mac Bot

    If the computer were put away with a low or near dead battery, it may not come back to a workable level of storage capacity. Yet at the same time, if a battery/computer is put away with fully-charged cells, it may not be able to keep a full capacity charge later.

     

    These lose power in storage; they also lose the ability to charge and be recharged

    even if they are not in use, not installed, and never used. A new battery can go bad.

    So to buy one and store it unused is not a good investment. Low cycles, and it may

    easily be as dead as one that saw major yet correct useage patterns w/ longer life.

     

    The newer computer designs use a better technology,

    and have some different handling rules. Generally...

    newest portable macs do not need traditional calibration.

     

    •Apple Portables: Calibrating your computer's battery for best performance

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1490?viewlocale=en_US

     

    Given the replacement batteries for the PB G4 Ti series are harder to get, places such as OWC may no longer have something suitable; they do have iBook G4 batteries. PowerBookmedic may have replacement or rebuilt batteries. A competent battery shop may be able to correctly replace the cells inside a PB Ti battery; however the matter of the controller chip in the battery may be an issue if that somehow is bad.

     

    Another item that may go south is the DC-in Board, as it controls power and routes it between charger, battery and to run the Mac from AC. Then there is a matter of the PRAM battery, which some models have, on the logic board; or a capacitor in place of that small cell.

     

    Your method of resetting the Power Management Unit

    appears to match Apple suggestion from Support:

     

    •Resetting PowerBook & iBook Power Management Unit (PMU)

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1431

     

    Not sure what else to check... The time here is late.

    Good luck!