Thread
Black PowerBook 45W adapter with white iBook
I checked all the specs. 45 watts, 24v DC out. So going by that, it should have worked. The PowerBook plug is different from the iBook plug, so I had to make my own patch wires. I used the wires from the multimeter. I checked the polarity too. Inside is +, outside is -.
I'm about 80% sure that I connected the wires correctly from the tip of the power adapter to the DC plug on the iBook. Well, I got a spark on the adapter tip as soon as I touched the + wire to it. I also heard a crackle from the iBook side. I smelt the usual burning smell of failure, coming from the iBook DC in.
I think I toasted the iBook's DC in, but I'm not sure. The battery is dead, so I can't turn the iBook on.
But my question is, shouldn't the black PowerBook adapter have worked? This is the same one that powers a 5300ce.
I'm about 80% sure that I connected the wires correctly from the tip of the power adapter to the DC plug on the iBook. Well, I got a spark on the adapter tip as soon as I touched the + wire to it. I also heard a crackle from the iBook side. I smelt the usual burning smell of failure, coming from the iBook DC in.
I think I toasted the iBook's DC in, but I'm not sure. The battery is dead, so I can't turn the iBook on.
But my question is, shouldn't the black PowerBook adapter have worked? This is the same one that powers a 5300ce.
I have this same one. Doesn't the iBook share that plug type?
No. The iBook's plug is more of a barrel. I thought it was the same size as an RCA phono plug, but the iBook plug is actually a little bit smaller in diameter.
So, if I understand correctly, you ran wires from the DC in outlet to the contacts of the PowerBook adapter's plug. While it was still plugged in. Without simultaneous current across the - and + contacts, just +.
To quote Bunsen:
To quote Bunsen:
But I don't understand. It doesn't make a complete circuit, therefore, no electricity flows, until I touch the last wire.
When you touched the + wire without the - wire already touching, you may have allowed a brief voltage spike. As for the complete circuit problem, well perhaps the battery provided a place for the current to go.
Prodded around with a multimeter and came to the conclusion that it was the actual connector. The pins inside it had been bent out of shape. Unfortunately I destroyed the connector whilst trying to repair it and to my dismay the replacement parts cost upwards of £8, so I just ordered a whole new DC board.
From memory, this is wrong for starters. There are two contacts on the inner pin, like a headphone jack. One of them is + and the other is -. The outer ring is just a ground shield, connected to the sheath of the cable and thence to ground in the adapter.
Yes, but on the Powerbook Adapter, the center prong is + and the shroud is -.
I was thinking last evening of the differences between the PB adapter and the iBook adapter, and now I know what happened. The iBook has an extra circuit for the bi-color LED, but the PowerBook does not. I think that I applied voltage to the wrong pin inside the iBook.
The fun continues.
The fun continues.
I just Double Checked....
The Power "brick" from a powerbook 1400, interchanges w/ the smaller "brick" from a PBG3, interchanges w/ the "Yo-Yo" from a clamshell i-Book.
Gotta go to a later i-Book [dual usb] or a PBG4 to get to a plug w/ a smaller diameter shield, as well as a smaller "plug".
Cant say about the later i-Book/PBG4 plug but I have personally replaced the plug on a PBG3 brick with a Phono Plug [no shield whatsoever] and It worked fine.
Finally This requires a "stereo" RCA plug... as I recall the tip was unconnected, the first ring was ground and the last ring is B+... Now that last is strictly from memory... but it was something like that. I can certainly check it!!
I think that if you were to use a smaller stereo phono plug [3mm comes to mind] that it would certainly work... IF you wired it to the correct "rings"
I will look for the info pages that I used and post back.
HTH somewhat
RP
The Power "brick" from a powerbook 1400, interchanges w/ the smaller "brick" from a PBG3, interchanges w/ the "Yo-Yo" from a clamshell i-Book.
Gotta go to a later i-Book [dual usb] or a PBG4 to get to a plug w/ a smaller diameter shield, as well as a smaller "plug".
Cant say about the later i-Book/PBG4 plug but I have personally replaced the plug on a PBG3 brick with a Phono Plug [no shield whatsoever] and It worked fine.
Finally This requires a "stereo" RCA plug... as I recall the tip was unconnected, the first ring was ground and the last ring is B+... Now that last is strictly from memory... but it was something like that. I can certainly check it!!
I think that if you were to use a smaller stereo phono plug [3mm comes to mind] that it would certainly work... IF you wired it to the correct "rings"
I will look for the info pages that I used and post back.
HTH somewhat
RP
Followup:
I finally got around to reassembling the iBook over this weekend since it had been in pieces around my room for about a month. I took it into Ye Olde Campus Bookstore Apple Shoppe this morning at 9 AM and they had the appropriate charger in the back room. Plugged it in, and the orange ring came on and the battery charged up to about 90% capacity in just under 2 hours.
Came back and booted it up to OS 9. Good. It turns on, and the battery holds a charge (verified by green lights and Control Strip). Airport works too, so does the DVD drive, and the RAM is actually 384 MB, so not as much as I had hoped.
The bad:
1.) No sound -- neither speakers nor headphone
2.) No backlight
3.) I still don't have my own charger cord
I finally got around to reassembling the iBook over this weekend since it had been in pieces around my room for about a month. I took it into Ye Olde Campus Bookstore Apple Shoppe this morning at 9 AM and they had the appropriate charger in the back room. Plugged it in, and the orange ring came on and the battery charged up to about 90% capacity in just under 2 hours.
Came back and booted it up to OS 9. Good. It turns on, and the battery holds a charge (verified by green lights and Control Strip). Airport works too, so does the DVD drive, and the RAM is actually 384 MB, so not as much as I had hoped.
The bad:
1.) No sound -- neither speakers nor headphone
2.) No backlight
3.) I still don't have my own charger cord
Fixed by resetting the PMU as per instructions on Apple Support.
Last problem is now the backlight. Going to be tricky...
It could be the inverter, but that's unlikely. I have replaced at least 4 backlights in various laptops, all successfully. Take your time, be patient, think things through, and do your research. You can do it. It costs about $15 for a bulb.
I think that it's the cable. I'm getting everything lined up, though. First order is to get a power adapter. Second is to disassemble the iBook, then test to see if it's loose cabling or some easy fix that won't need a replacement. Then order parts as needed.
The goal is to disassemble and reassemble the iBook exactly once more, a final time, and make the mean time between those two points as short as possible.
I think that it can be done.
The goal is to disassemble and reassemble the iBook exactly once more, a final time, and make the mean time between those two points as short as possible.
I think that it can be done.
ive had to change an inverter and cable in a G3 700mhz one time.
I've never seen both go like that, but I suppose a shorted cable could blow the inverter. Glad you figured it out.
Fyi, Dog Cow -
If you need to, you can get replacement power adapters from PowerBook Medic for around $25 USD. They are sold in the same black config as a 1400 adapter. Also try ebay and the like.
Also, when the connector on the yo-yo power adapter for my Pismo shorted out, I thought I'd try making a home-brew version of that specialized plug. It didn't quite work that well. Somehow, when that plug was made Apple snuck in a resistor and tied it in series between either tip-to-sleeve or ring-to-sleeve. I don't recall what the ohm value was (I think somewhere around 47 ohms or higher). Somebody may want to try and trace out the schematic for that plug. I don't have my original anymore, since I threw it out a while ago.
I did manage to salvage the rest, although I ended up using my Dremel tool to cut the plastic case apart of that yo-yo. All that's left is the center portion and the output shielded cable, which works perfectly fine. Maybe I'll find some use for it in another project, unless someone here would like to give it a new home.
73s de Phreakout. :rambo:
If you need to, you can get replacement power adapters from PowerBook Medic for around $25 USD. They are sold in the same black config as a 1400 adapter. Also try ebay and the like.
Also, when the connector on the yo-yo power adapter for my Pismo shorted out, I thought I'd try making a home-brew version of that specialized plug. It didn't quite work that well. Somehow, when that plug was made Apple snuck in a resistor and tied it in series between either tip-to-sleeve or ring-to-sleeve. I don't recall what the ohm value was (I think somewhere around 47 ohms or higher). Somebody may want to try and trace out the schematic for that plug. I don't have my original anymore, since I threw it out a while ago.
I did manage to salvage the rest, although I ended up using my Dremel tool to cut the plastic case apart of that yo-yo. All that's left is the center portion and the output shielded cable, which works perfectly fine. Maybe I'll find some use for it in another project, unless someone here would like to give it a new home.
73s de Phreakout. :rambo:
Thanks for the tips. I have just secured a good deal on a 3rd-party power adapter, and should have it in hand this coming week.
Indeed. There is almost certainly a 3rd circuit in there somewhere that handles the bi-color LED for the charge indicator.
Hopefully by this time next week, I will have all the parts together and the iBook repaired. The battery seems to be in decent shape. It did successfully charge and support the iBook for over an hour of time.
Uh, well.... Let's just say that I'm on the market for a new motherboard. 8-o
You probably had power hooked up backwards if I read your post right. The early PB had a 2-contact "barrel" plug, center POS 24V, outside NEG. Wallstreets and later G3s use a 4-contact plug like a stereo headphone with an added outer shield like an RCA plug. The wiring on the plug is, TIP=ADB data for smart charger/battery, RING=NEG, SLEEVE=POS 24V, SHELL=GROUND (usually connected to NEG inside laptop). iBooks use a smaller 2.5mm version of the 4-conductor plug with the tip hooked to the green and orange LEDs. Since the sleeve is the last contact to enter the socket when you insert a live plug, it is the "hot" one, not the tip as you might expect.
If you do replace a broken plug on your AC adapter with a stereo headphone plug, be sure to insulate the sleeve from the outer shield of the laptop or you'll have a short. The outer shield contact isn't required for operation, and the most common failure of Apple's AC adapters is the wire fraying and shorting where it enters the plug.
If you do replace a broken plug on your AC adapter with a stereo headphone plug, be sure to insulate the sleeve from the outer shield of the laptop or you'll have a short. The outer shield contact isn't required for operation, and the most common failure of Apple's AC adapters is the wire fraying and shorting where it enters the plug.
Well, the solution for next time is to not pull stunts like I did. 
) Haste makes waste.
However.
It's worse than that. I had the power problem solved. In fact, I had everything solved. I was watching DVDs on it Saturday evening and on Sunday morning. The battery was charging, and had probably a good 2-hour life on it. The only thing left to fix was the backlight cable. It was loose. Putting the screen in the right position and squeezing the left of the trackpad would get it to stay on.
So I decided to open up the iBook on Sunday afternoon and see what I could do about fixing the cable. Since I needed to have the power on to test if the backlight was on, the iBook was booted up, but it was completely apart, and the screen was detached too. The battery was in and the AC cable was in too.
For some reason ... I don't know why ... I decided to pick up the iBook and move it. That was the mistake. When I set it back down, I think that some component came in contact with metal. Either a short circuit, or high voltage ran across the wrong component.
Anyway, as soon as I set it down, I heard a high-pitched noise. It got higher in pitch. After about two seconds, I pulled out the AC plug, and it stopped. Plugging the AC back in resumed the pitch.
I think that at this point, I had already done the deed. I put the plug back in again, and after some seconds, the noise got higher and higher in pitch, then stopped. I heard a little pop, and smoke wafted out of the iBook.
Now I've got an iBook which will work from the battery, but it does not recognize the AC cord (even System Profiler does not acknowledge it). I also heard a crackle from the DC in board when I put the plug in again to confirm. So I think that I even blew up the replacement DC in board which I had installed on Saturday.
It's not dead, but it's in worse shape than when I originally obtained it. :-/
) Haste makes waste.However.
It's worse than that. I had the power problem solved. In fact, I had everything solved. I was watching DVDs on it Saturday evening and on Sunday morning. The battery was charging, and had probably a good 2-hour life on it. The only thing left to fix was the backlight cable. It was loose. Putting the screen in the right position and squeezing the left of the trackpad would get it to stay on.
So I decided to open up the iBook on Sunday afternoon and see what I could do about fixing the cable. Since I needed to have the power on to test if the backlight was on, the iBook was booted up, but it was completely apart, and the screen was detached too. The battery was in and the AC cable was in too.
For some reason ... I don't know why ... I decided to pick up the iBook and move it. That was the mistake. When I set it back down, I think that some component came in contact with metal. Either a short circuit, or high voltage ran across the wrong component.
Anyway, as soon as I set it down, I heard a high-pitched noise. It got higher in pitch. After about two seconds, I pulled out the AC plug, and it stopped. Plugging the AC back in resumed the pitch.
I think that at this point, I had already done the deed. I put the plug back in again, and after some seconds, the noise got higher and higher in pitch, then stopped. I heard a little pop, and smoke wafted out of the iBook.
Now I've got an iBook which will work from the battery, but it does not recognize the AC cord (even System Profiler does not acknowledge it). I also heard a crackle from the DC in board when I put the plug in again to confirm. So I think that I even blew up the replacement DC in board which I had installed on Saturday.
It's not dead, but it's in worse shape than when I originally obtained it. :-/
Ow! You're not the only one who's moved a running gadget and let the magic smoke out, though. :I
Yeah, well at least I have gained experience, and I won't likely repeat the mistakes (yes, plural) that I made on this one again.
(First time that I've ever disassembled and attempted repairs on a laptop!)
(First time that I've ever disassembled and attempted repairs on a laptop!)
Actually, that's not entirely bad, Dog Cow. All that was damaged is the DC-In board. If the rest of the machine works fine, then you just need to replace that one part, along with anything else you were planning on fixing.
73s de Phreakout. :rambo:
73s de Phreakout. :rambo:
No, I don't think that's true. I think that I blew up a component on the logic board that has to do with the managing power from the battery and AC plug. I think that I also blew up the replacement DC-in board which I had purchased.
I wish you were right, because that would just set me back another $6.
But, as always, we shall see... I'm not ready to give up yet, though.
There's a short on the motherboard. Last night, I had some time to strip the iBook completely down. I had the bare motherboard connected to the battery and the LCD screen (data + power). Attempting to plug in the AC adapter made a small pop, and the indicator light on the adapter dimmed and flashed regularly. I assumed that was because it is a switching-type power supply, and it was attempting to save itself and/or the iBook due to an exceptional condition.
I think that the short is most likely due to the component that blew up on Sunday and released its magic smoke. I still have not identified which component it was. I could not locate any scorch marks or other signs.
Also, I disassembled the screen and used the volt meter on the inverter board. The 4 wires going into the board tested OK. They had DC voltage. However, the two wires coming out of the plastic connector that connects to the LCD panel did not register on the volt meter. However, the LCD panel still shows an image. It's just the backlight will not come on with any amount of fiddling.
Just to recap: the iBook will still boot up and load whatever OS is on the HD. I can still use it with an external monitor (which is what I did last night), and it claims that the battery still has about 2 hours of life left on it.
However, due to the fact that the logic board has a fault, and now the inverter board also appears to have a fault, I think that I'm going to call it quits on this poor machine. I'll save some of the components (AirPort, RAM, HD, DVD, battery) and recycle the rest.
I think that the short is most likely due to the component that blew up on Sunday and released its magic smoke. I still have not identified which component it was. I could not locate any scorch marks or other signs.
Also, I disassembled the screen and used the volt meter on the inverter board. The 4 wires going into the board tested OK. They had DC voltage. However, the two wires coming out of the plastic connector that connects to the LCD panel did not register on the volt meter. However, the LCD panel still shows an image. It's just the backlight will not come on with any amount of fiddling.
Just to recap: the iBook will still boot up and load whatever OS is on the HD. I can still use it with an external monitor (which is what I did last night), and it claims that the battery still has about 2 hours of life left on it.
However, due to the fact that the logic board has a fault, and now the inverter board also appears to have a fault, I think that I'm going to call it quits on this poor machine. I'll save some of the components (AirPort, RAM, HD, DVD, battery) and recycle the rest.
RIP. 
:'(
Alas, poor Yorrik (sp?), I knew him well.
73s de Phreakout. :rambo:
:'( Alas, poor Yorrik (sp?), I knew him well.
73s de Phreakout. :rambo: